Staff Attorney - Representation of Unaccompanied Children (Hybrid In-Person/Remote)Locations: Phoenix, AZ; Tucson, AZ; Los Angeles, CA; Northern California; El Paso, TX; other locations
Schedule: Full-time preferred; part-time considered
Compensation: $80,000 - $94,000 annually
About the PositionUniversal Strategic Advisors LLC (US Advisors) seeks immigration attorneys to represent unaccompanied children who are in the care of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) or have been released to sponsors. The attorney will represent children before the Immigration Court and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The attorney will also give legal rights presentations at ORR care provider facilities and prepare applications for asylum and Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS).
This position is grant-funded and depends on the award and continued availability of program funding.
Key Responsibilities- Represent unaccompanied children in removal proceedings before the Immigration Court and in affirmative matters before USCIS.
- Give legal rights presentations to children at ORR care provider facilities.
- Review case histories and screen children for all available forms of immigration relief.
- Prepare and file asylum applications, SIJS petitions, and supporting evidence.
- Appear as friend of the court on dedicated juvenile dockets when appropriate.
- Communicate clearly with children, ORR and care provider staff, government agencies, and other stakeholders.
- Carry a caseload of about 50-70 matters (full-time) and meet all filing and court deadlines.
- Keep accurate case records and provide timely data for weekly program reporting.
Required Qualifications- Juris Doctor degree.
- Active bar membership in good standing in any U.S. state, territory, or the District of Columbia. No current order suspending, restricting, or disbarring you from the practice of law.
- At least one year of immigration law experience.
- Strong written and oral advocacy skills.
- Ability to work with children and young people from diverse backgrounds in a trauma-informed, culturally responsive way.
- Ability to travel within your assigned area to ORR facilities, immigration courts, and USCIS offices.
- Ability to pass all background checks that ORR and the prime award require for anyone with access to unaccompanied children. These may include fingerprint-based criminal history checks and child abuse and neglect registry checks. Checks happen after a conditional offer of employment.
Preferred Qualifications- Experience with asylum, SIJS, T/U visas, or other humanitarian relief.
- Experience with state juvenile, family, or probate court proceedings for SIJS predicate orders.
- Professional proficiency in Spanish and/or knowledge of an Indigenous language from Central America or Mexico.
Compensation and BenefitsThis position is grant-funded. Pay within the posted range depends on experience, qualifications, and the program budget.
