Description

Catholic Charities is looking for the right people; people who wish to serve their community as a part of a family friendly organization doing good within the Houston-Galveston area. We attract and retain the best talent by investing in our employees. People of all faiths helping people in need.

Join our team as a Staff Attorney: Pro-Bono Coordinator in the Unaccompanied Children program! The Staff Attorney is responsible for providing strategic outreach and community engagement, pro se legal support and assigning legal matters to pro bono attorneys. They will also provide direct representation for immigrants in removal proceedings. Direct legal representation includes entering an appearance as the attorney of record on matters and in proceedings before the USCIS, Asylum Office, State, Federal and Immigration Courts, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, agencies within the Department of Homeland Security, Department of State, as well as appellate agencies such as the Administrative Appeals Office and Board of Immigration Appeals. The Pro Bono Coordinator will provide pro se support and services to clients by providing targeted outreach, legal education, legal workshops, legal intake and legal research. They will also recruit and train pro bono attorneys to represent unaccompanied children in removal proceedings.

The Expertise We Are Looking For

The Expertise We're Looking For

• You have a Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D.) degree from an ABA accredited law school

• You are licensed to practice law in the State of Texas; or

• You have an active license from another U.S. jurisdiction and be eligible to waive into the State Bar of Texas within 12 months of hire

• You are Bilingual (English/Spanish)

The Skills and Assets You Bring, and More

• You are detail oriented and organized with excellent time management and collaboration skills

• You have excellent legal research and writing skills

• You have excellent verbal and written communication and negotiation skills

• You can handle a high-volume caseload and multiple deadlines simultaneously

• You are knowledgeable and proficienct in basic typing skills and computer applications

• You demonstrate multi-cultural skills and sensitivity

• You have strong analytical, conceptual, problem-solving, and decision-making skills

What you Deliver

• You will be a Direct Representation provided to immigrant clients before the USCIS, Asylum Office or Immigration Court on a range of immigration matters including removal defense. Conduct legal intakes and screening; interviewing client and others who can provide information or statement in furtherance of the principle client’s immigration matters; draft, prepare and assemble relevant immigration petitions and case summaries for pro bono recruitment; conduct legal research; write memoranda of law, motions or briefs in support of applications and petitions filed before USCIS, Asylum office, state court, Immigration and Federal Courts, the Board of Immigration Appeals, Administrative Appeals Office, EOIR and other immigration agencies; prepare the client for interviews and court hearings.

• You will maintain client physical and electronic files for both direct representation clients and all Pro Bono attorney client cases according to program data and documentation requirements, including case notes, correspondence, filings, funder data completion, calendars and dockets.

• You will participate in and coordinate outreach campaigns and events targeting the immigrant community. You participate in Charlas by presenting and performing legal consultations. You participate in program and agency community legal education and outreach efforts, particularly as they relate to issues of immigration law, providing direct information to prospective clients, attending information sessions on asylum, deportation, and other immigration relief, and conduct legal workshops and engage pro bono counsel in the provision of legal services.

• You will identify policy issues and coordinate with other units within Cabrini Center and the immigration bar in advancing advocacy agenda to promote immigrant rights Pro Bono Recruitment and Mentoring: Develop and implement policies and procedures to ensure that the Cabrini Center provides high quality Pro Bono and direct legal services to clients and provide periodic training to Cabrini staff to maintain quality and standard of service. Work with Cabrini Leadership to evaluate program efficacy and engage in priority setting in line with community needs.

• You will comply with all contract requirements. Provide data and statistical information for grant, contract and other reporting purposes. Provide accurate and timely monthly data, time logs, and reports for internal use, funder use, and other entity use. Participate in trainings, webinars, meetings, calls, etc. as required by funders.

• You will attend and participate in mandatory unit and Cabrini staff meetings, stakeholder meetings, pro bono recruitment opportunities and other agency meetings. Participate on calls and meetings organized by funders, city-wide advocacy groups, local service providers and national support centers.

• You will perform other duties as assigned, such as assisting and training staff in legal and regulatory changes, participating in coalition activities, participating in staff retreats, United Way activities, agency fairs and speaking engagements, assisting with special organizational projects/events, and any other duties as assigned.

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Catholic Charities is an equal opportunity employer. We actively foster an environment that is free of racism, discrimination, bias, and harassment where all individuals are treated with dignity, safety, and respect. Successful applicant must comply with federal contractor vaccine mandate requirements.

The work you do will help us advocate for the vulnerable among us, a network of support services to people of all ages and from all walks of life and religious backgrounds.