Founded in 1933, the IRC is a leading nonsectarian, voluntary organization providing relief, protection and resettlement services for refugees and victims of oppression or violent conflict. One aspect of the IRC is to assist refugees resettling in the United States. The IRC opened a Denver office in 2016 to provide reception and placement services to newly arrived refugees. Since then, IRC has served more than 2,400 refugees, Special Immigrant Visa recipients, asylum-seekers, asylees, Amerasians, Cuban Haitian Entrants, secondary migrants, immigrants, Afghan humanitarian parolees, and survivors of torture. Wraparound program services and holistic supports aim to realize positive impact in clients’ safety, health, education, economic wellbeing, and power. Some services are limited to refugees and other Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR)-eligible populations, while others are open to a broader population of refugees, immigrants, and forcibly displaced people. Through a combination of direct and pro bono representation, IRC fills a gap in legal assistance for non-detained individuals in removal proceedings before the Denver Immigration Court.

The IRC in Denver’s approach is client-centered, empowerment-focused, trauma-informed, and multigenerational. Advancing racial equity and narrowing the gender gap are priorities for the IRC in Denver. The team’s efforts in this space are ongoing and evolving. Current work is focused on participating in learning and dialogue to deepen understanding and awareness of systemic inequities and systems of oppression; building an internal organizational culture that reflects a commitment to antiracism and gender equality for clients as well as staff, volunteers, and the broader community; engaging clients more deeply in making decisions that affect them, whether at the individual, household, program, or organizational level; using our power and influence to advocate for rules, policies, and laws that address inequities experienced by the people we serve and seek systemic change for the benefit of all who are impacted by these inequities; undertaking intentional efforts to shift dynamics and promote power sharing between leadership and the broader team as well as between staff and clients; and examining and changing practices in recruitment, recognition, and other areas of employee engagement and talent development to prioritize access to opportunity and work toward full inclusion and belonging for clients, staff, and volunteers who identify as Black, Indigenous, People of Color, and LGBTQI, as well as those who have lived experience as refugees and immigrants.

JOB OVERVIEW:

IRC seeks a Staff Attorney to join the IRC in Denver to represent asylum seekers and other individuals facing removal before the Denver immigration court. The Staff Attorney will bring experience representing asylum seekers in immigration court and a passion for this area of work. The position will work in collaboration with community partners and will be part of the Removal Defense Community of Practice, led by IRC’s Immigration Technical Unit (TU) at IRC’s headquarters, which supports IRC’s 24 legal service programs across the US.

The IRC in Denver aims to broaden access to immigration legal services across Colorado and provide a continuum of legal assistance and support for non-detained individuals seeking relief before the Denver Immigration Court. The IRC will provide these services by hiring a dedicated Staff Attorney responsible for providing both full, direct representation and a subset of limited-scope legal services to individuals in removal proceedings. Two-thirds of the clients that receive direct representation under this funding will reside in rural areas of Colorado that are historically underserved, such as Summit, Eagle, and Garfield counties. The Staff Attorney will regularly travel to these rural communities for in-person consultations and provision of legal services, utilizing partnership offices and library conference space for confidential meetings. The Staff Attorney will also conduct community-based know your rights sessions and legal orientation presentations, as needed.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

Direct Legal Representation and Program Management

• Conduct intakes with IRC clients and community members and provide direct legal representation to individuals in removal proceedings before the Denver immigration court.
• Provide limited scope assistance to individuals in removal proceedings such as submission of the I-589 application for asylum, motions to change venue, change of address forms, motions to terminate, etc.
• Regular travel to underserved areas of Colorado to consult with individuals in removal proceedings.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge and expertise of changing asylum and immigration policies through independent research and analysis, regular trainings, and peer-to-peer consultation.
• Coordinate closely within IRC’s multidisciplinary teams to identify needs and facilitate referrals to services offered in-house and through partnerships with external providers.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date physical and electronic files with detailed case notes, enter data in a timely manner, and meet all case reporting requirements within established timelines and standards.
• Ensure client and program data is collected consistently, managed appropriately, and reported accurately in accordance with program reporting requirements set by IRC.
• Position may supervise legal assistants and/or interns.
• Participate in community-based coalitions related to immigrant rights and access to counsel.
• Serve as a strong advocate for human and immigrant rights.

Community Partnerships and Workshops

• Create and maintain a viable outreach strategy to cultivate and maintain strong relationships with community-based organizations, local immigration attorneys, and nonprofit legal providers.
• Collaborate with other IRC departments and partners to offer community-based workshops or information sessions when demand exceeds capacity to provide direct legal representation.

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

• Law degree (JD or LLM) from an ABA-accredited U.S. institution and admission to any state bar;
• 1-3 years of experience providing direct representation in immigration court and/or before USCIS to asylum applicants and other immigrants seeking humanitarian relief; recent law school graduates with substantial clinical legal experience may be considered;
• Excellent legal research, writing, analytical, and organizational skills;
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both orally in a courtroom setting and in writing;
• Bilingual in one or more languages of the immigrant population (i.e., Spanish, French, Arabic), with a strong preference for individuals with Spanish-language skills;
• Deep commitment to immigrant rights and working with immigrants in need of humanitarian assistance;
• Trauma-informed and sensitive listening and communication skills;
• Adaptable and flexible self-starter with ability to work independently as well as collaborate with others, juggle multiple priorities, and meet deadlines in a demanding work environment.
• Must have a valid driver’s license, reliable vehicle, active insurance policy and ability to travel frequently in and around Colorado to attend hearings and interviews and engage with clients and community partners.

Working Environment:

• Standard office environment with option for hybrid/remote work; regular travel for participation in community outreach and legal assistance events required.
• Ability to occasionally work flexible hours, including nights and weekends, may be required.

Posted pay ranges apply to US-based candidates. Ranges are based on various factors including the labor market, job type, internal equity, and budget. Exact offers are calibrated by work location, individual candidate experience and skills relative to the defined job requirements.

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusivity: IRC is committed to building a diverse organization and a climate of inclusivity. We strongly encourage applications from candidates who can demonstrate that they can contribute to this goal. 

Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances. 

Professional Standards: The IRC and IRC staff must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way – Global Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti-Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

Equal Opportunity Employer: We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

US Benefits: We offer a comprehensive and highly competitive set of benefits. In the US, these include: 10 sick days, 10 US holidays, 20-25 paid time off days (depending on role and tenure), medical insurance starting at $145 per month, dental starting at $7 per month, and vision starting at $5 per month, FSA for healthcare, childcare, and commuter costs, a 403b retirement savings plans with up to 4.5% immediately vested matching contribution, plus a 3-7% base IRC contribution (3 year vesting), disability & life insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program which is available to our staff and their families to support counseling and care in times of crisis and mental health struggles. 

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