Background:

Esperanza Immigrant Rights Project, a program of Catholic Charities of Los Angeles, Inc., is a non-profit law firm which provides community education and legal representation to immigrant adults, families, unaccompanied minors, individuals with mental health issues, and in cases involving crimmigration. Esperanza is one of the few programs across the country that provides services to pro se detained and non-detained immigrants. Esperanza has proudly provided legal services to immigrants and their families in Southern California for over 15 years. More information can be found about Esperanza at www.esperanza-la.org

Summary:

The Staff Attorney will work under the supervision of a Managing Attorney to provide legal representation to immigrants in removal proceedings and related state court proceedings, focusing particularly on cases involving detained adults, detained unaccompanied minors and minors released to sponsors in the LA Immigration Court jurisdiction. The Staff Attorney will be expected to carry a caseload consisting of a variety of affirmative and defensive immigration cases for both adults and children. The Staff Attorney will further participate in Esperanza’s Community Education Program, providing large group “Know Your Rights” presentations and legal screenings to immigrants at the Adelanto Detention Facility, some Los Angeles County jails, shelters for immigrant youth, Esperanza’s offices and at the Los Angeles Immigration Court. The Staff Attorney will report directly to their assigned Managing Attorney.

Responsibilities:

• Provide zealous representation to Esperanza clients in front of the Executive Office for Immigration Review, the Board of Immigration Appeals, Citizenship and Immigration Services, and various California state courts.
• Provide community education services, including Know Your Rights presentations, intakes of potential clients, and pro se workshops.
• Perform all administrative and data-entry tasks required.
• Follow all Esperanza internal policies and procedures regarding representation and community education standards.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctorate degree;
• Active, California State Bar License, or license from another jurisdiction and commitment to sitting for next available California Bar Exam;
• Experience in public interest law and/or immigration law preferred;
• Strong legal research and legal writing skills required;
• Interest in working with young, newly arrived immigrants, clients with criminal histories or past gang affiliation, and those suffering from mental illness is required;
• Spanish fluency required.

Location:

Our office is located at 1530 James M. Wood Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90015.

To apply go to: Employment Opportunities - Catholic Charities of LA (catholiccharitiesla.org)