Immigration Staff Attorney

Immigration Practice  

Nearly a third of the residents of the Bronx were born outside the United States, and many face the unprecedented threat of detention and deportation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Our attorneys help people facing criminal, family, and civil proceedings make informed and strategic decisions to protect their rights. We are also one of the three public defender organizations leading the nation’s first-ever universal representation program for detained immigrants facing deportation.  

Responsibilities

• Advise non-citizens with pending criminal or family court cases on the immigration consequences of contemplated dispositions and mitigate the impact of their involvement with the legal system 
• Represent non-citizens in applications for immigration benefits, including: citizenship, adjustment of status, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, and remedies for “victims of crimes” 
• Represent both non-detained and detained non-citizens who face deportation in official removal proceedings 
• Represent clients before the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) Immigration Court on the full scope of matters relating to removal cases, such as: bond hearings, challenges to removability, applications for relief (including, but not limited to requests for: Asylum, Withholding of Removal, Deferral of Removal under the Convention Against Torture Protection, Adjustment of Status with Waivers of inadmissibility, Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) and Non-LPR Cancellation of Removal, Special Immigration Juvenile Status, and U & T visas) 
• Appeal to the Board of Immigration Appeals 
• Collaborate with colleagues and external partners in developing and implementing defense strategies involving federal litigation, collateral appeals, policy advocacy, media engagement, and participatory defense 
• Train and mentor interns 

Qualifications

To be eligible, candidates must have:  

• J.D. from an American Bar Association-accredited law school OR 
• Admission to practice in New York or eligibility for admission to the New York State Bar Pro Hac Vice 

Candidates must demonstrate:  

• Commitment to directly defending people with limited financial resources placed in removal proceedings or facing immigration consequences based on contact with the family regulation and/or criminal legal system  
• Experience working in and with immigrant and/or low-income communities targeted by carceral systems 
• Ability to effectively and respectfully communicate, collaborate and connect with people with various backgrounds, identities and experiences  
• Ability to work well independently as well as collaboratively with an interdisciplinary team of lawyers and non-lawyers 
• Commitment to fierce advocacy, and willingness to strategically challenge authority in defense of clients 
• Effective research, writing and courtroom advocacy skills 
• Strong legal analytical skills and capacity to employ non-legal resources in cases 
• Ability to multitask, maintain order and meet deadlines in a fast-paced, high-stakes environment  
• Meticulous attention to detail 
• Ability to think critically and creatively in fast-paced settings, finding innovative solutions to unique obstacles 
• Ability to receive constructive feedback, demonstrate introspection and shift behavior accordingly 
• Ability to exercise excellent judgment, discretion, and confidentiality with sensitive matters 
• Spanish language fluency and the ability to conduct client interviews in Spanish is highly preferred 
• A valid driver’s license (or the ability to obtain one), as the role sometimes requires travel to detention facilities outside of NYC where clients are held (vehicles are provided) 

This is a hybrid position that will require substantive in-person work.  

Salary is commensurate with experience. For candidates with 0-5 years of directly relevant experience, the salary range for this position would be approximately $83,504-$94,554. Full-time employees are also eligible for a comprehensive benefits package including but not limited to medical, dental and vision coverage; a 403(b) plan with employer contribution; and a generous vacation, sick leave, and parental leave policy.  

Approximately 70% of The Bronx Defenders' staff, including attorneys and non-attorneys, are represented by UAW Local 2325 - Association of Legal Aid Attorneys (AFL-CIO). This position is within the bargaining unit.  

This position is exempt. By law, non-exempt employees are compensated hourly based on their annual rate and therefore are entitled to over-time, whereas exempt employees are not.  

To apply, please visit our Careers Page and upload your resume and a cover letter in one document.

Applications will be considered on a rolling basis. 

The Bronx Defenders is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to maintaining a workplace that embraces staff with a diversity of backgrounds, identities, and experiences. We acknowledge the ways in which systemic oppression and injustice can undermine access to professional opportunities and are committed to conducting hiring and promotion processes that are equitable and accessible to those commonly excluded from the workforce. We do not discriminate against and in fact specifically encourage applicants from marginalized communities to apply, including those who identify as Black, Indigenous, people of color, queer, transgender, gender non-conforming, disabled, neurodivergent, and those directly impacted by criminal, civil, family, and immigration legal systems. We value lived as well as professional experience and particularly welcome applications from the Bronx community that we serve.