What are the responsibilities and job description for the Removal Defense Attorney position at Law Office of Miguel Palmeiro?
About the firm
The Law Office of Miguel Palmeiro, LLC is an immigration-only law firm based in Arlington, Virginia. We represent individuals and families before the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), USCIS, the Board of Immigration Appeals, the National Visa Center, and U.S. consulates. Our multilingual team emphasizes careful preparation, clear communication, and respectful representation.
The position
We are hiring a full-time Removal Defense Attorney to assume meaningful responsibility for an active EOIR docket and assist with selected USCIS matters. This is an in-person Arlington position with appearances before immigration courts in Virginia, Maryland, Washington, D.C., and other locations as assigned.
Professional fluency in Spanish and prior experience representing clients before EOIR are required. This is not an entry-level training position.
Core responsibilities
- Manage assigned removal-defense matters from intake through resolution.
- Appear at Master Calendar Hearings, Individual/Merits Hearings, and bond hearings.
- Prepare and review defensive asylum, cancellation of removal, motions, briefs, written pleadings, declarations, exhibits, and supporting evidence.
- Develop case strategy, identify legal and factual issues, and communicate risks and next steps clearly to clients.
- Prepare clients and witnesses for testimony in English and Spanish.
- Review ECAS/eROP records, monitor court orders and deadlines, and maintain accurate case notes and tasks in Docketwise.
- Work with paralegals to ensure filings are complete, accurate, timely, and properly supported.
- Assist with selected USCIS matters and interviews, including asylum, family-based, adjustment, waivers, and humanitarian cases.
- Participate in weekly attorney, EOIR, and case-review meetings.
Required qualifications
- J.D. from an accredited law school.
- Active bar admission in good standing in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.
- At least two years of immigration-law practice with meaningful EOIR/removal-defense experience.
- Personal experience appearing at Master Calendar Hearings and Individual/Merits Hearings.
- Professional Spanish fluency sufficient for consultations, witness preparation, client counseling, and review of Spanish-language evidence.
- Experience handling USCIS matters.
- Strong legal research, writing, oral advocacy, case-management, and deadline-management skills.
- Ability to work in person in Arlington and travel to hearings as required.
- Eligibility to register and practice before EOIR.
Preferred qualifications
- Experience with defensive asylum, cancellation of removal, bond proceedings, motions to reopen or reconsider, and BIA appeals.
- Familiarity with ECAS/eROP and Docketwise.
- Admission in Virginia, Maryland, or the District of Columbia.
- Experience supervising or reviewing paralegal work.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $95,000.00 - $120,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Paid time off
Experience:
- EOIR/removal defense: 2 years (Required)
Language:
- Spanish (Required)
License/Certification:
- U.S. bar license in good standing (Required)
Ability to Commute:
- Arlington, VA 22201 (Required)
Work Location: In person
Salary : $95,000 - $120,000