Description:
Position Overview:Through An Organization in New York City, NY's Immigration Legal Services, we don't just offer legal aid; we provide a pathway to hope and opportunity. We believe that every young person, regardless of their circumstances, deserves the chance to pursue their educational goals with dignity and without fear. We empower young people to navigate the complexities of the immigration system, understand their rights, and pursue pathways to legal status and stability. We aim to ensure that young people have access to high-quality legal representation and support as they seek to build their futures.
An Organization in New York City, NY has been invited to join The Acacia Center for Justice Unaccompanied Children Project, a testament to our unwavering dedication to serving the most vulnerable young people. This national network of legal service providers embodies the spirit of compassion and justice, ensuring that every child who enters the United States as an unaccompanied minor receives the support and guidance they deserve, regardless of the perceived strength of their case or their immigration history.
As we embark on this journey with The Acacia Center, we are seeking a staff attorney who shares our passion for justice and our unwavering commitment to empowering young people. This attorney will play a pivotal role in expanding An Organization in New York City, NY's Unaccompanied Children's Program. In order to best serve Spanish-speaking children, we offer a generous professional development budget to enable the successful candidate to improve their Spanish language skills
This is a full-time on-site position located in Manhattan (New York). The successful candidate will be expected to provide legal representation to unaccompanied children on a variety of legal matters. This includes but is not limited to the representation of immigrants in removal proceedings, SIJS applications, and affirmative applications for asylum or other protection.
Responsibilities include:
Intake and Orientation:
- Conduct comprehensive intakes with clients to assess their eligibility for immigration relief.
- Perform follow-up legal screenings as necessary to ensure thorough assessment of client needs.
- Adhere to An Organization in New York City, NY and The Acacia Network's philosophy of universal representation for unaccompanied minors.
- Conduct legal orientations, including Know Your Rights trainings, to empower unaccompanied children with essential legal knowledge.
- Complete applications, filings, and motions on behalf of clients with accuracy and attention to detail.
- Appear in immigration and/or family court as necessary to advocate for clients' interests and rights.
- Provide comprehensive legal representation to children in immigration matters, including but not limited to asylum, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS), U Visas, and T Visas.
- Assist clients in preparing supporting evidence and affidavits.
Additional Responsibilities:
- Facilitate internal and external referrals to education, healthcare, and other essential services to ensure holistic support for clients.
- Maintain accurate documentation and reporting of service delivery to ensure compliance with funding requirements and uphold organizational standards.
- Supervise and provide guidance to paralegals, interns, and volunteers to ensure efficient and effective service delivery.
- Proactively identify and propose additional responsibilities aligned with the organization's mission and the candidate's skills and interests to best serve underserved youth
- Some student drop-in responsibilities and other tasks at the discretion of the organization's Executive Director
Qualifications and Requirements:
Education and Licensing:
- Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school.
- Active bar license in any U.S. jurisdiction.
Experience:
At least 1 year of demonstrated experience in immigration law, encompassing removal defense, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS), asylum, and U and T visas. Preferred: 2+ years of experience in immigration law or a related field.
Skills and Attributes:
- Strong interest in adopting a comprehensive approach to addressing the needs of young people.
- Demonstrated creativity in problem-solving and a knack for innovative thinking.
- Strong communication skills, both written and verbal.
- Excellent organizational skills, including time management, record-keeping, and the ability to manage multiple assignments and deadlines independently.
- Conversational Spanish.
Exceptional interpersonal skills, enabling effective collaboration with young people, management, and program staff.
