Staff Attorney, Rapid Response

Nylag•New York, NY

21h•$88,265 - $101,009

About The Position

The New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG) seeks a highly motivated Spanish-speaking Staff Attorney for a full-time position representing immigrant New Yorkers at imminent risk of detention and deportation as part of NYLAG’s partnership with the Rapid Response Legal Collaborative (RRLC). The job requires a proactive ability to solve problems under time pressure, the strongest commitment to clients, and a desire to work at the forefront of the effort to protect due process and immigrants’ rights during an extremely challenging time. This attorney in this position will provide legal representation before the immigration courts, Board of Immigration Appeals, and federal courts for detained and non-detained immigrants, including immigrants with final orders of removal.

Requirements

Juris Doctorate from an accredited school
Admission to the New York State bar
Fluency in Spanish required
Minimum 2 years experience working in removal defense required, 4 years preferred
Excellent writing, speaking and organizational skills
Ability to communicate effectively with clients, community organizations, attorneys, the judiciary, and the public
Ability to work in a collaborative setting with other professionals
Demonstrated commitment to immigrant rights, criminal justice, and/or social justice issues
Experience working with survivors of trauma and at the intersection of criminal law and immigration law
Ability to work independently and under pressure

Nice To Haves

Experience working with detained and/or post-order clients preferred

Responsibilities

Represent immigrants with final orders of removal in appeals, motions to reopen and other proceedings before the immigration courts, Board of Immigration Appeals, and Circuit Courts of Appeal.
Appear in both the detained and non-detained Immigration Court s on a regular basis to represent immigrants in removal proceedings.
Prepare and file appeals to the Board of Immigration Appeals and Second Circuit Court of Appeals as needed.
Collaborate with other attorneys in drafting and filing habeas corpus petitions and other federal litigation as needed.
Prepare and file motions, briefs, forms, affidavits, other supporting documents, motions, and legal memoranda for submission to USCIS and the Immigration Court.
Provide pro se assistance with motions to reopen, applications for asylum, and other related matters.
Screen clients for eligibility for immigration relief, motions to reopen, and grounds for appeals, and develop a strategy for representation.
Interview clients in and out of detention, as well as their witnesses.
Conduct client consultations of detained and non-detained clients and track client cases, progress of applications, and follow up for funding purposes.
Represent NYLAG to our funders and collaborative partners including sharing materials, and attending meetings, conferences, and trainings.
Supervise interns, volunteers, and pro bono attorneys as needed; and
Any other job duties as required.