Contract Attorney, Children's Program

Description

Who We Are

The Amica Center for Immigrant Rights fights for the rights, safety, and unity of immigrant communities, standing with those trapped in our nation’s fundamentally flawed immigration system. We engage in unwavering legal defense and strategic litigation for immigrant children and adults facing detention and deportation in the Capital Region and beyond, because everyone has the right to be free, safe, and supported.

Our Work Environment:

Amica Center’s Children’s Program is a highly collaborative work environment. We are committed to providing high-quality, trauma-informed legal and social services and a culture of professional growth and support for staff. Although aspects of our work are completed in smaller teams, we work towards integrated and client-focused services across the program by embracing interconnectivity. We strive to create systems that provide structure while fostering innovation and adaptability. Supervisors in our program share a commitment to teaching, mentorship, and work life balance.

Position Summary: 

A Contract Attorney in the Children’s Program works collaboratively with staff and leadership to:

• Ensure that clients receive high-quality legal services while detained and after release to our local area,
• Provide direct legal services to unaccompanied immigrant children,
• Track time and case work to ensure contractual and grant compliance.

General Duties and Responsibilities

Representation:

• Takes on (or works with others on) a caseload of full legal representation of clients in removal proceedings before the local immigration courts, USCIS, and state courts in the following types of case: Asylum, Withholding of Removal, protection under the Convention against Torture, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, U-Visas, and T-Visas.
• Manage potential client follow-up after intake, including sponsor intake, assessment of legal relief.

Organizational Services:

• Assist other program staff in completion of their workload during high-work/low- bandwidth periods.
• Oversee the timely and accurate entry of case information into shared databases.

[1] This list is illustrative and not intended to be a complete classification of all job functions or tasks.

Competencies Required:

Legal Proficiency

The Contract Attorney utilizes their expertise in immigration law and procedure to provide high quality, innovative, client-centered and culturally competent representation. The Contract Attorney stays abreast of developments in the law and ensures that their supervisees are trained in new legal developments. The Contract Attorney competently supervises direct reports and paralegals on legal strategy, research, writing, and client relationships.

Client and Programmatic Proficiency

The Contract Attorney contributes to the effective management of the program's shelter, client, and in-office obligations to ensure that clients receive zealous representation, funding obligations are met, and that the program collaborates effectively within the organization and with peer groups. The employee proficiently manages their and their supervisees’ caseloads and skillfully supervises junior staff, ensuring that they perform job duties and are supported in their professional growth.

Administrative

The Contract Attorney ensures that all administrative aspects of their and their supervisees’ work are carried out without managerial intervention, including timekeeping, file upkeep, database entries, etc.

Qualifications Required:

• JD and at least three (3) years of relevant experience in immigration law.
• Experience working with children’s clients required.
• Written and oral Spanish fluency.
• It is expected that the candidate will need to travel for work-related business. As a result, the candidate must possess a valid driver's license and be comfortable operating a vehicle upon hiring. This role requires travel, but qualified individuals with disabilities may be accommodated in a reasonable manner under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
• Favorable results on background check including driving record, Child Protective Registry, and state and federal criminal records, required.
• Committed to principles of equity and inclusion.
• Ability to work in a hybrid work environment and fulfill job responsibilities in-person as required.

Duration: 3 months

Requirements

See above.