Job Description
The Legal Aid Society, the nation's oldest and largest social justice legal services organization, has been providing free legal assistance to low-income New Yorkers for over 140 years. Our dedicated staff of attorneys, social workers, paralegals, and other professionals work tirelessly to provide high-quality, comprehensive legal services to over 300,000 New Yorkers each year. Our mission is to fight for justice for low-income individuals and families in New York City by providing a range of legal services and advocacy. We are committed to serving our clients with compassion, dignity, and respect, and to ensuring that they have access to justice and the opportunity to build better lives for themselves and their families.
The Juvenile Rights Practice (JRP) is a division of The Legal Aid Society that provides legal representation and advocacy to children in New York City who are involved in child welfare, juvenile delinquency, and PINS (Persons in Need of Supervision) proceedings. JRP is looking for experienced Staff Attorneys to join their team and work on immigration matters for Juvenile Rights clients in several trial offices. This is a unique opportunity for attorneys who are passionate about addressing fundamental issues of immigration within an interdisciplinary model of representation.
The Staff Attorney must have a minimum of 3 years of relevant experience in a trial office setting. They should also have a demonstrated commitment to serving low-income communities and a strong interest in maintaining a high standard of representation and client service. The Staff Attorney will be part of an interdisciplinary team of social workers, paralegals, and other supporting roles, all working towards the goal of providing high-quality legal representation to children in need.
This role will involve directly representing clients before United States Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS), the asylum office, and the immigration courts. The Staff Attorney will also be responsible for responding to and addressing emergent immigration policies that affect clients, as well as providing regular trainings and consultations to JRP staff on immigration issues. They will work closely with colleagues across Juvenile Rights, Civil, and Criminal practice areas, and will have the opportunity to engage in ongoing professional development and training.
Key Responsibilities:
- Directly represent clients before USCIS, the asylum office, and immigration courts - Respond to and address emergent immigration policies affecting clients - Provide regular trainings and consultations to JRP staff on immigration issues - Assist in maintaining a high standard of representation and client service - Work with an interdisciplinary team to identify clients with immigration needs - Mentor trial attorneys to obtain SIJS predicate orders from family court - Conduct out-of-court case preparation, including interviewing, investigating, document review, and witness preparation - Draft motions, briefs, and other documents in support of client immigration matters - Collaborate with colleagues across practice areas - Engage in ongoing professional development and training - Maintain and prioritize workload, including case management reports
Qualifications:
- New York State Bar admission required - Minimum of 3 years' experience as a practicing attorney - Experience working with children or within the child welfare and/or juvenile justice system preferred - Experience working in immigration law preferred - Commitment to children’s issues and juvenile justice - Ability to effectively communicate with children, adolescents, and family members - Demonstrated commitment to anti-racism and serving racially and socioeconomically oppressed communities - Excellent writing, communication, organizational, and oral advocacy skills - Interest in developing new approaches to representing children with immigration issues - Proficiency in Spanish or other languages is highly desirable - Ability to work independently and collaboratively in an interdisciplinary team and handle a full caseload
Salary and Benefits:
The salary range for this role is $83,844 - $147,907. The actual salary offered may vary depending on factors such as job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The Legal Aid Society offers a generous benefits package, including health insurance, paid vacation, disability and life insurance, and more.
The Legal Aid Society is also a qualified employer for the purposes of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. Employees may also be eligible for assistance from New York state to assist with loan repayments, depending on years of practice.
How to Apply:
To apply for this role, please visit our career portal and submit a cover letter and resume as a combined PDF. We do not accept emailed applications. If you have any technical difficulties or questions regarding this posting, please email **MEMBERS ONLY**SIGN UP NOW***.
Equal Employment Opportunity:
The Legal Aid Society is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer. We prohibit discriminatory employment actions and treatment of our employees and applicants for employment based on race, color, religion or creed, alienage or citizenship status, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, marital status, genetic information, military status, domestic violence victim status, arrest or pre-employment conviction record, credit history, unemployment status, caregiver status, salary history, or any other characteristic protected by law.
Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion:
At The Legal Aid Society, we are committed to creating a work culture of respect, diversity, and inclusion. We believe in providing high-quality, comprehensive legal services to all New Yorkers, regardless of their background or circumstances. We strive to build strong relationships with our clients and understand their unique circumstances, and we are dedicated to fighting for justice and dismantling bias in all forms. We encourage our employees to continuously learn and participate in efforts to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in our workplace and in the community.
