Immigration Staff Attorney

Job Title:                           Immigration Staff Attorney 

FLSA Classification:         Exempt 

Reports To:                       Practice Group Director 

Supervises:                      Paralegals and Legal Secretaries as required  

Compensation:                $78,000.00 - $115,000.00 annually 

Inland Counties Legal Services is seeking an Immigration Attorney to join our Immigration Team in Riverside.  Inland Counties Legal Services, Inc. is a nonprofit organization providing legal services to low-income persons residing in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. ICLS targets services to seniors and those in the greatest social or economic need. Legal services are provided by attorneys, or paralegals under the direct supervision of an attorney. Levels of service include advice and counsel, limited action (includes negotiations and preparation of legal documents), as well as direct representation before administrative law and civil courts.  ICLS provides legal assistance in a variety of areas of law.  The eight practice groups are: Outreach, Consumer, Housing, Family Law, Immigration, Systemic and Impact, Health Law, and Public Benefits.  Visit our website at www.inlandlegal.org for more information.  

Overview of Position

The Immigration Practice Group assists victims of domestic violence and related crimes to obtain or maintain lawful status.  Applicants with experience working with victims are strongly preferred.  ICLS currently operates under a 4-day work week arrangement while maintaining full-time status. Thus, staff will work approximately 80% of hours, while getting 100% of pay. Staff can arrange their work week to the extent possible, while prioritizing client/program needs and coordinating with their practice group director and colleagues.  
 

Specific Duties and Responsibilities 

• Represent clients in immigration matters before U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the Executive Office for Immigration Review, and other appropriate agencies. 

• Maintain a varied immigration caseload that may include humanitarian relief, family-based immigration, adjustment of status, naturalization, removal defense, and other matters consistent with the Immigration Practice Group’s priorities. 

• Conduct client interviews and consultations and provide legal advice, counsel, limited-scope services, and referrals as appropriate. 

• Investigate and develop cases through legal and factual research, records review, background checks, FOIA requests, evidence gathering, and other appropriate investigative tools. 

• Prepare and file immigration applications, petitions, motions, briefs, declarations, and supporting documentation. 

• Prepare clients and witnesses for USCIS interviews, Immigration Court hearings, and other proceedings, and provide representation at such proceedings as appropriate. 

• Identify legal issues, deadlines, detention matters, emergency circumstances, and other issues requiring prompt action or supervisory consultation. 

• Exercise sound professional judgment in case assessment and strategy and communicate significant developments, risks, and case-strategy decisions to supervisors as appropriate. 

• Work collaboratively with paralegals and other Immigration Practice Group staff to develop, prepare, monitor, and advance client matters. 

• Maintain accurate, timely, and complete case records, notes, deadlines, documents, and other information in accordance with ICLS policies and Immigration Practice Group procedures. 

• Participate in case review, supervision, team meetings, trainings, and professional development activities designed to support high-quality legal representation. 

• Participate in community outreach, legal education presentations, clinics, and other community-engagement activities throughout ICLS’s service area. 

• Develop and maintain professional relationships with community-based organizations, government agencies, courts, legal-service providers, and other organizations serving immigrant communities. 

• Identify matters appropriate for referral to other ICLS practice groups or outside organizations and coordinate referrals when necessary. 

• Assist with grant reporting, program data, and other reporting requirements as appropriate. 

• Work collaboratively with other ICLS practice groups and departments when client matters involve overlapping legal issues. 

• Explore and support effective models of service delivery, including appropriate use of technology. 

• Ensure that legal services are provided consistently with ICLS priorities, policies, procedures, professional obligations, and standards for high-quality client service. 

• Perform other duties consistent with the attorney’s skills, professional responsibilities, and assigned role. 

Desired Education and Experience 

• Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school. 

• Active membership in good standing in the bar of a U.S. state, territory, possession, or the District of Columbia. 

• Experience in immigration law is preferred. 

• Experience obtained through law school clinics, internships, externships, fellowships, or other supervised immigration practices will be considered. 

• Experience working with survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, or other trauma is preferred. 

• Demonstrated commitment to serving low-income, immigrant, and underserved communities. 

• Strong legal research, writing, oral advocacy, interviewing, and client-counseling skills. 

• Strong organizational and case-management skills, including the ability to manage deadlines and multiple matters simultaneously. 

• Ability to work independently while seeking supervision and guidance appropriately. 

• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work collaboratively with attorneys, paralegals, administrative staff, community partners, and clients from diverse backgrounds. 

• Ability to travel throughout ICLS’s service area as required. 

The recognition of our common humanity is the first step in fostering a diverse environment. The sum of our unique differences is greater than our individual parts. Our unique stories and experiences allow us to better solve the challenges that our community faces. Staff approach professional relationships with humility across the spectrum of diversity, including race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, immigrant status, religious identity, physical and mental disabilities, and/or limited English proficiency with a willingness to consider unique perspectives. Inland Counties Legal Services provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.