University of Southern California

Staff Attorney, Immigration Clinic

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Be an Early Applicant

University Park, CA, USA

In-Office

70K-145K Annually

Edtech

The Role

ATTENTION: This position is full-time, exempt, benefits-eligible, and 1-year fixed-term with possible extension. All candidates must submit a cover letter and resume in order to be considered for this position. Applications must be received by May 31, 2026. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis and the position may be filled before the deadline.

The USC Gould School of Law Immigration Clinic is seeking applications for a full-time Staff Attorney position.

This position will be primarily responsible for handling a docket of removal defense cases and providing support to the USC Student-Staff Immigrant Legal Assistance Center (ILAC). The staff attorney will work under the supervision of the co-directors of the Immigration Clinic.

The Removal Defense staff attorney will primarily handle a docket of Immigration Clinic removal cases and USCIS cases. Cases handled will be both detained and non-detained immigration court cases (removal defense, suppression, bond hearings, applications for relief, e.g., asylum, CAT, cancellation of removal) and U.S. district court representation (petitions for writs of habeas corpus). The Removal Defense staff attorney will also provide support to ILAC and ILAC cases and consultations and will work with other staff attorneys and oversee and supervise law students enrolled in the Immigration Clinic as needed.

The Immigration Clinic represents clients before USCIS, the immigration courts, the Board of Immigration Appeals, U.S. District Courts, and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Law students enrolled in the Immigration Clinic during the academic year represent clients in immigration court pursuant to EOIR and DHS student practice rules under the supervision of the co-directors and, when appropriate, staff attorneys.

Preferred Qualifications:

J.D. degree;
admission to and active California Bar license (attorneys admitted outside of California will be considered - but CA Bar membership is generally required for district court practice);
minimum of 1 year of experience practicing immigration law (newly admitted attorneys will be considered and are encouraged to apply);
experience with representation of clients before USCIS and or immigration courts (including as a law student or accredited representative);
strong case management skills;
strong interviewing and evaluation skills;
strong writing skills;
strong organizational skills;
ability to work independently.
fluency in Spanish.

The annual base salary range for this position is $70,304.04 - $80,000.00. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state, and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.

Learn more about our benefits and perks here: https://employees.usc.edu/benefits-perks/

The Gould School of Law (Gould) considers candidates that demonstrate, through ideas, words and actions, a strong commitment to USC’s Unifying Values. Gould holds a unique position in society, and within the university, as every aspect of these principles are influenced by and can be protected through legal rules and institutions. At Gould, we are proudly committed to maintaining a community in which each person respects the rights of others to live, work, and learn in peace and dignity, to be proud of who and what they are, and to have equal opportunity to realize their full potential as individuals and members of society.

Minimum Education: J.D.
Minimum Experience: 3 years
Minimum Field of Expertise: Demonstrated experience providing legal guidance. Proven leadership ability. Practiced use of discretion and decision-making ability. Excellent written and oral communication skills and a proven ability to build and maintain deep and meaningful relationships with community members and outside agencies.

USC is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or USC policy. USC observes affirmative action obligations consistent with state and federal law. USC will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal records in a manner consistent with applicable laws and regulations, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for employers and the Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, and with due consideration for patient and student safety. Please refer to the Background Screening Policy Appendix D for specific employment screen implications for the position for which you are applying.

We provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants with questions about access or requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact USC Human Resources by phone at (213) 821-8100, or by email at [email protected]. Inquiries will be treated as confidential to the extent permitted by law.