Staff Immigration Attorney

POSITION SUMMARY:

Catholic Charities of the East Bay (CCEB) works with youth, children, and families to promote self-sufficiency, strengthen families, and pursue safety and justice. The Immigration Legal Services Department has provided relief for immigrants and refugees for more than 35 years. With a team of attorneys, DOJ-accredited representatives, immigration counselors, paralegals, legal assistants, and support staff serving Alameda and Contra Costa Counties, CCEB is one of the largest providers of immigration legal services for low-income individuals and families in the East Bay.

The Staff Immigration Attorney serves as a legal expert within the Immigration Legal Services Division and reports directly to the Managing Attorney. The position maintains an active caseload while providing legal representation, case consultation, mentorship, legal strategy, and quality assurance support to Immigration Counselors and other legal staff. The position focuses primarily on affirmative immigration legal services before U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and related administrative agencies and does not routinely engage in removal defense or federal court litigation.

The Staff Immigration Attorney serves as the division's second attorney and provides continuity of legal operations by supporting the Managing Attorney with legal guidance, complex case consultation, and operational leadership when delegated or during the Managing Attorney's absence.

In collaboration with the Managing Attorney and Program Manager, the Staff Immigration Attorney supports the delivery of high-quality affirmative immigration legal services by promoting legal excellence, ensuring consistency in legal practice, monitoring changes in immigration law and policy, supporting staff development, and advancing best practices throughout the Immigration Legal Services Division.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Direct Legal Representation

• Conduct legal consultations and case assessments to determine eligibility for immigration benefits and forms of relief.
• Provide direct representation in affirmative immigration matters, including family-based immigration, adjustment of status, naturalization, citizenship, consular processing, waivers of inadmissibility, DACA, VAWA, U Visas, T Visas, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS), affirmative asylum applications, and related immigration benefits.
• Prepare and review immigration applications, supporting documentation, legal briefs, declarations, and correspondence.
• Represent clients before U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and other administrative agencies as appropriate.

Legal Leadership and Quality Assurance

• Provide legal consultation, mentorship, and guidance to assigned Immigration Counselors and legal staff.
• Under the direction of the Managing Attorney, facilitate case review meetings and legal strategy discussions.
• Assist staff in identifying immigration remedies and developing effective case strategies.
• Monitor developments in immigration law, policy, and procedure and communicate relevant updates to staff.
• Develop and maintain legal resources, templates, and best practices for program staff.

Training and Staff Development

• In collaboration with the Managing Attorney and Program Manager, support onboarding and training new staff, interns, volunteers, and accredited representatives.
• Coordinate professional development opportunities and continuing legal education activities.
• Foster a collaborative and learning-oriented team environment.
• Support the professional growth and development of Immigration Counselors and legal staff through coaching, mentoring, and legal consultation.

Community Engagement

• Conduct community education presentations and immigration workshops.
• Represent CCEB at community meetings, coalitions, and professional networks.
• Build and maintain collaborative relationships with community partners and referral agencies.

Program Support

• Support grant implementation, reporting requirements, accreditation activities, and quality improvement initiatives.

• Maintain accurate and timely case documentation and data entry.
• Assist leadership in achieving program goals, contract deliverables, and organizational objectives.
• Other duties as assigned

SUCCESS METRICS

• Maintain a high level of client service and positive immigration case outcomes.
• Achieve program performance goals and grant deliverables.
• Provide effective legal supervision, mentorship, and support to assigned staff.
• Ensure compliance with legal, ethical, and organizational standards.
• Maintain productive caseload and consultation benchmarks.
• Support staff development, retention, and continuous learning.
• Contribute to accreditation, quality assurance, and continuous improvement efforts.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY:

• May provide day-to-day legal supervision, mentorship, and work direction to Immigration Counselors, DOJ Accredited Representatives, paralegals, legal assistants, interns, and volunteers as assigned. May facilitate case reviews, legal strategy discussions, staff training, and quality assurance activities while serving as a subject matter expert in affirmative immigration law. Formal personnel supervision remains with the Managing Attorney unless otherwise assigned.

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school.
• Active membership in good standing with the California State Bar.
• Minimum three (3) years of immigration legal practice experience in affirmative immigration matters.
• Five (5) or more years of immigration legal practice experience preferred.
• Prior supervisory, mentoring, or leadership experience preferred.
• Significant experience representing clients before USCIS and other administrative agencies.
• Advanced knowledge of family-based immigration, naturalization, adjustment of status, consular processing, waivers, DACA, VAWA, U Visas, T Visas, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS), affirmative asylum, and related immigration benefits.
• Bilingual English and Spanish proficiency highly desirable.
• Experience working with culturally diverse and underserved populations.
• Must be able to work in Richmond office location full time with travel to other locations/CCEB offices as needed.

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Strong legal analysis, judgment, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to mentor and develop staff while maintaining accountability.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong organizational and case management abilities.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Commitment to cultural humility, equity, and client-centered services.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues, community partners, and stakeholders.

Key Competencies

• Advanced immigration legal expertise
• Legal mentorship and staff development
• Strategic case analysis
• Quality assurance and legal compliance
• Community partnership building
• Conflict resolution and problem-solving
• Mission alignment and ethical practice