Closing Date: 17th July, 2024
Description:
Summary of Position:The Staff Attorney is responsible for provision of direct immigration legal services, including counsel and representation, to immigrants and their families in Iowa.
Essential Functions/Responsibilities:
The Key Responsibilities of This Position Include the Following:
- Maintaining a diverse caseload of immigration cases, with an area of specialization in naturalization and citizenship cases.
- Represent clients, most in naturalization and citizenship cases, before USCIS.
- Organize and schedule client appointments, including in-house clinics
- Maintain client files and cases in the case management system.
- Provide legal representation as needed at regional clinic site(s).
- Collaborating with grant partners to coordinate services to clients and to meet reporting requirements
- Overseeing/training volunteers for naturalization application assistance
- Work with other staff to represent the organization publicly to the media and with public education and participation in coalition efforts.
- Participate in regular meetings and trainings with other Iowa MMJ staff and networks.
- Provide regular written reports, including statistics, on work.
- Other duties as assigned. Collaborate with other staff on projects related to fundraising, communications and other projects as assigned.
- Promote justice within our United States system of immigration laws, policies and social practices.
Qualifications:
Basic Qualifications:
- Member licensed and in good standing of any state Bar.
- Strong commitment to Iowa MMJ's mission, vision and values.
- Passionate about migrant justice with a familiarity with both the complexities and injustices of the U.S. immigration system.
- Demonstrated ability to work in collaboration with diverse groups of people (including people of diverse faiths and ethical/spiritual traditions, races, ethnicities, people with disabilities and LGBTQI people).
- Ability to be flexible and self-directed while working in a high-volume, fast moving work environment.
- Ability to work some evenings and weekends.
- Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.
- Proven computer skills (Microsoft office platforms, Google Drive) and ability to learn new platforms.
- Demonstrated dedication to high quality and ethical work product.
- Competency with legal and policy research.
- Ability to maintain appropriate role boundaries and to maintain appropriate professional standards of confidentiality and conduct.
- Demonstrated organizational and problem solving skills, ability to maintain accurate records.
- Commitment to client confidentiality.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Ability to effectively communicate in languages in addition to English.
- Access to reliable transportation and ability to travel statewide and/or to out-of-state events.
- Demonstrated experience working with immigrant and refugee populations and/or people who are victims of crime, domestic violence and sexual assault.
- Demonstrated commitment to working in public interest in immigration or related areas.