What are the responsibilities and job description for the Staff Attorney position at Lutheran Social Services of New York?
POSITION: Staff Attorney
REPORTS TO: Supervising Attorney; Director, Immigration Legal Program; Executive Director for Community Services
CLASSIFICATION: Full Time
STATUS: Salaried Exempt
Position Summary: The Staff Attorneys will provide immigration legal information, consultations, and limited representation to asylum seekers, special immigrant juveniles, and other immigrants. The Staff Attorneys will be responsible for training and overseeing the work of the Navigators at these sites.
Key Areas of Responsibility:
• Attorneys will assist in the development of materials and programming.
• Attorneys will train Navigators to conduct legal orientations and information workshops based on the needs of clients.
• Attorneys will host legal clinics and conduct group information sessions on immigration legal remedies.
• Attorneys will have designated “office hours” to meet individually with clients to review their documents, to provide a consultation, and to answer questions that Navigators cannot answer.
• Attorneys will provide limited scope representation and assist eligible clients to file forms and motions with both EOIR and USCIS, such as motions to change venue, change of address forms, and applications for asylum, EADs, and TPS.
• Attorneys will assist clients with other urgent Immigration legal needs, such as contacting ICE for check-ins.
• Attorneys will supervise Navigators assisting clients in filing forms and motions and with other urgent Immigration legal needs.
• Attorneys will use Immigration Legal Program (“ILP”) case management systems, develop necessary systems for client records, and supervise the management of files by staff.
• Attorneys will supervise the recording and reporting of services provided by the program.
• Attorneys will participate in weekly staff meetings with ILP team and will meet weekly with Navigators.
• Attorneys will train pro bono attorneys and volunteers for legal clinics and pro se events.
• Attorneys will attend relevant trainings and meetings by I-ARC, EOIR, USCIS, DHS, and other agencies to stay current on law and policy. Attorneys will identify similar trainings and meetings that should be attended by Navigators.
• Other duties as assigned.
Education/Licensure:
• JD from accredited law school.
• Bar admission preferred but recent law graduates will be considered.
Skills & Abilities:
• Two years’ experience in immigration law highly preferred.
• Fluency in Spanish highly preferred.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to engage with individuals from all walks of life.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Critical assessment and analysis skills.
• Ability to manage time effectively, multi-task, determine priorities, and work independently.
• Knowledge of and experience working with refugees or immigrants preferred.
• Knowledge about immigration law/system is a plus.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications
Special Position Requirements
• Must be able to pass an FBI background check as well as a CA/N check for every state in which they have resided in the last five years.
Salary : $70,000 - $85,000