Senior Immigration Attorney

Job Announcement

Senior Immigration Attorney

Position:                      Senior Immigration Attorney

 Program:                      Deportation Defense and Legal Advocacy Program

 Compensation:            $100,000 Benefits for full-time employees include medical, dental, vision, long-term disability, life insurance, flexible spending account, commuter benefits, paid holiday, paid sick leave, generous vacation with Summer Recess and Winter Recess, and 401(K) with employer matching. 

Schedule:                     M-F 9:30-5:30PM (flexible), Exempt Position

To apply:                     Please visit https://www.missionaction.org/about/careers/ and submit cover letter, resume, three references, and a writing sample.

Deadline:                     Immediately interviewing on a rolling basis until position is filled.

About the Program:

Since 2008, Mission Action’s Deportation Defense & Legal Advocacy Program has been a local leader in providing pro bono legal defense for individuals and families facing deportation.  We use creative legal and advocacy strategies to challenge prolonged detention, constitutional violations, and other injustices in the immigration legal system.  We represent individuals threatened with deportation through challenges to the charges of removability, as well as through applications for relief, including asylum, withholding of removal, relief under the Convention Against Torture, waivers of inadmissibility and deportability, and applications for U-visa, T-Visa, and VAWA relief. 

Position Summary:

Mission Action seeks a full-time senior immigration attorney to represent and provide legal assistance to low-income community members in removal proceedings.

Responsibilities include:

·       Conduct intake with potential clients, screen for claims for relief, and provide legal counsel and advice.

·       Provide full-scope representation to individuals facing removal before the Immigration Court, the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS), the Board of Immigration Appeals, and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

·       Stay informed of developments in agency practice, policy, and law.

·       Supervise legal assistant(s) and/or accredited representative(s), as needed, including regular check-ins, assisting with workload management, document review, and approval of administrative requests.

·       Lead special project initiative(s), in consultation with Legal Program Director and team.

·       Participate in agency meetings, community activities, collaborative meetings, and trainings.

·       Engage in outreach, education, and advocacy in the area of immigrant rights on the local and state level.

·       Maintain and establish relationships with community partners and immigration service providers.

·       Perform other programmatic tasks, as necessary.

Other Organizational Duties 

·       Conduct business in accordance with the Mission Action Employee Handbook, exercising sound judgment and serving the best interests of the agency and the community; 

·       Work within the framework of the agency’s mission, vision, values, theory of change, and organization’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, restorative justice, trauma-informed work, and language justice; 

·       Commit yourself to treating each community member with respect and dignity; 

·       Perform other duties as assigned. 

Qualifications:

·       Juris Doctor or equivalent and active bar admission.

·       3-5 years of experience practicing removal defense and/or advanced ability to independently represent individuals in removal proceedings.

·       Ability to communicate effectively with monolingual Spanish-speakers (i.e., advanced Spanish skills).

·       Ability to work effectively and compassionately with survivors of trauma and clients with mental illness.

·       Strong commitment to service low-income and underserved communities, with an ability to relate to and communicate with a broad range of clients and colleagues.

·       Demonstrated commitment to immigrant rights and community empowerment.

·       Familiarity and demonstrated commitment to Mission Action’s mission, values, and organizational work.

·       Strong organizational, problem-solving, and analytical skills.

·       Excellent written and oral communication skills.

·       Ability to work as part of a team and independently to manage priorities and prioritize workflow.

·       Strong computer knowledge, ability to use Windows and Microsoft Office.

·       Commitment to providing culturally competent services.

Mission Action (www.dscs.org) is an equal-opportunity employer which values lived experience and seeks applicants of the greatest diversity possible. We encourage people of color, women, older people, members of the LGBTQ community, and individuals with disabilities, including HIV and community members who grew up in the Mission District. Pursuant to the SF Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment, qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.