The Legal Aid Society's Civil Practice is seeking a Staff Attorney to join the Legal Clinics team within its Immigration Law Unit (ILU). This position will assist in ILU's limited scope legal clinic and community education work, including helping legal clinic clients and working with clinic volunteers and other community-based organizational partners. In collaboration with other team members and other ILU and LAS staff, the staff attorney will also help develop training materials and client-focused resources.
The ideal candidate will have wide-ranging immigration legal experience, be a talented leader with a deep commitment to public interest practice and be able to build strong relationships with stakeholders
in the legal, court, and service communities.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES- Ensure accountability and maintenance of practice standards
- Assist with clinic workflows and ensure quality of application submissions
- Prepare immigration applications or other submissions for clinic participants
- Provide individualized consultations to clinic participants
- Conduct presentations to clinic participants and other community-based organizational partners
- Assist in training clinic volunteers
- Identify legal trends and share relevant findings with ILU and LAS staff
- Train and present on immigration legal topics related to legal clinic work, as needed
- Help with community outreach events, as needed
- Help develop best practices to share with other providers
- Work with ILU and other Civil Practice administrative staff to ensure that ILU case matters are timely updated with data required for grants management
- Foster and encourage teamwork and communication
- Represent the Civil Practice and Legal Aid in the community
- Other duties as assigned
Professional Development and other duties as assigned- Participate in continuous professional development
- Continuously learn about forms of bias in the workplace and demonstrate affirmative behaviors that support an inclusive work environment
- Other duties as assigned
QUALIFICATIONSRequired qualifications:- Admission to NYS Bar preferred, but will consider those who are admitted to any state bar and qualified to practice federal immigration law
- At least 4 years of experience in immigration law
- Experience in a wide variety of immigration legal matters, both affirmative and defensive
- Demonstrated commitment to representing or working with individuals from marginalized communities.
- Excellent writing, analytical, oral advocacy, and organizational skills
- Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively on an interdisciplinary team and manage a high volume of cases
- Ability to work with pro bono attorneys, law student interns, and volunteers
Preferred qualifications: - Proficiency in Spanish or French is desirable, but not required
- Experience working in a legal clinic model is desirable, but not required
SALARY AND BENEFITSThe salary range represents a good faith estimate of the range we expect to pay for this role. The actual salary offered may vary depending on many factors, including but not limited to job-related knowledge, skills, and experience, as well as collectively bargained salary steps for unionized roles.
Salary Range: $86,520 - $157,075The Legal Aid Society offers a generous benefits package including health insurance, paid vacation, disability, and life insurance, and more.
Click here to read more about benefits.Higher Education and Loan ForgivenessThe Legal Aid Society is a qualified employer for the purposes of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness. This position allows an employee to take advantage of PSLF and other State and Federal loan forgiveness programs. Additionally, employees who are New York residents may be eligible for assistance from New York state to assist with loan repayments, depending on years of practice. To learn more, click the links below.
studentaid.govhesc.ny.gov/loan-forgiveness-programsWORK AUTHORIZATIONAll applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States for any employer without sponsorship for a work visa or permit. We are currently unable to sponsor employment visas or permits. (However, for citizens of Canada and Mexico, LAS will provide a letter documenting employment status that is needed to obtain a TN visa.)
HOW TO APPLYAll applications must be completed online via the career portal. We do not accept emailed applications. Submit the following documents as a combined PDF: