Immigration Staff Attorney

Position: Full-time, exempt position

Salary: $105,000 - $145,000 / annually DOE

Benefits: Health benefits, vacation, 401b eligibility, wellness/self-care, and sick-day policies.

Availability: Immediately

OVERVIEW OF TODEC Legal Center (Training Occupational Development Educating Communities)

TODEC combines community organizing, community advocacy, civic engagement, community outreach and

education and legal services to empower low-income immigrants and refugees in California. We believe our

clients and all immigrants are agents of change and we prepare them for leadership in all four of these program areas.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Staff Attorney must understand TODEC’s community work and must be passionate about TODEC’s mission. Staff Attorney is part of a legal department of immigration specialists and primarily responsible for removal defense representation, providing client consultations, screenings, and assisting them with any applications for relief, researching legal issues related to their claims, preparing all necessary filings, and representing clients throughout removal/affirmative proceedings with greater attention to complicated cases, representation, research, and analysis. Staff Attorney will have the sensitivity, compassion, and cultural competence that’s required to work with vulnerable immigrant communities.

KEY DUTIES

• Support TODEC’s Removal Defense support services.
• Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, interviewing potential clients and determining whether they qualify for relief, assisting them with any applications for relief, researching legal issues related to their claims, preparing all necessary filings, and representing them throughout their removal/affirmative proceedings.
• Litigate both affirmative and defensive cases before USCIS, EOIR, the BIA, and the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.
• Conduct training or presentations on various immigration, immigrant, and/or immigrant worker related topics, when necessary and as needed.
• Provide accurate and culturally competent legal services.

ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

• Work alongside a diverse legal team to create infrastructure and sustainability within the immigrant legal services program, including, but not limited to, managing in-house training opportunities for DOJ accredited representatives and volunteer base for in-house legal assistance.
• Support legal program activities, and/or to refer clients to approved providers on issues outside our expertise.
• Assist with meeting grant deliverables that fund the immigration legal program.

COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY

• Support Team, as needed, with legal workshops, mobile workshops and trainings.
• Conduct presentations on various immigration related topics, when necessary and as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned by Supervising Staff and Director.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

Have a U.S. law degree (J.D.) and active bar membership. Individuals with experience in immigration law,

specifically in removal defense, will be given preference.

KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES

• Must be a fast and flexible learner and able to work in an organization with many moving parts.
• Committed to the needs of the immigrant community and passionate about immigrant and human rights.
• Bilingual/ Bi-literate in Spanish.
• Attention to detail and have strong legal office organizational skills.
• Adept at public speaking and teaching in large groups and comfortable with conducting media interviews
• Ability to work under pressure and exercise flexibility as needed.
• Ability to work independently and exercise sound judgment.
• Ability to identify problems and develop creative solutions both independently and in cooperation with others.
• Excellent customer service skills and effective oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to maintain a good working relationship with culturally diverse staff and clients.
• Able, upon hire, to provide own transportation; with adequate insurance and a CA driver's license, when needed.
• Willing to work flexible hours as required by program.
• Community organizing or community lawyering experience a plus.

LICENSE AND CERTIFICATE

Must be in good standing with the state bar (CA State Bar strongly preferred).

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to work on weekends/evenings and travel, as needed.
• Must have a valid driver’s License, car insurance, and daily access to a car.
• Hybrid
• Applicants will be housed at TODEC various office sites.

TO APPLY:

Please send a cover letter, resume, and three professional references. Cover letter should include a

detailed description of the candidate’s legal career and experience.

Please email to TODEC: admin@todec.org and include Staff Attorney in the email subject.