Immigrants’ Rights Temporary Senior Staff Attorney

JOB ANNOUNCEMENT

Position: Temporary Senior Staff Attorney

Program: Immigrants’ Rights

Assignment length: 7 months (July 1, 2025 - January 31, 2026)

Reports to: Immigrants’ Rights Co-Directing or Managing Attorney

Bargaining Unit: No

FLSA: Exempt

Position Summary

Centro Legal de la Raza’s (“Centro Legal”) Immigrants’ Rights practice specializes in direct representation before U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the San Francisco, Concord, and Sacramento Immigration Courts, California State Courts, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and occasionally, U.S. District Courts and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. To cover for an upcoming period of parental leave, we are seeking an experienced immigration attorney to join our team for nine months starting on July 1, 2025.

Primary Responsibilities

• Provide direct immigration legal services to clients and community members, including: full-scope representation before USCIS, EOIR, ICE, and state and federal courts; limited-scope legal representation and/or pro se assistance for individuals vulnerable to enforcement and removal; and comprehensive immigration legal consultations with potential clients and community members.
• Participate directly and in a mentorship capacity in preparation and execution of legal workshops, presentations, and clinics.
• Apply existing immigration legal expertise and experience to monitor cases of staff on leave, including timely responding to government correspondence received during duration of parental leave period, and proactively identifying any work needed on these cases in response to federal policy changes.
• Collaborate with non-attorney staff and possibly oversee interns and volunteers on the work described above.
• Other appropriate work as assigned by supervising, managing, and/or directing attorneys of the Immigrants’ Rights practice.

Qualifications

The applicant must profoundly share Centro Legal’s mission and vision of racial, economic and social justice. Additional qualifications include:

• J.D. and admitted and in good standing with a state bar (California State Bar membership preferred);
• At least three (3) years of experience practicing immigration law as a licensed attorney:
  • Required: substantial experience in asylum, removal defense, SIJS, and/or other humanitarian immigration protections;
  • Preferred: some family-based and consular processing experience;
  • Preferred: experience providing immigration legal services in a high-volume nonprofit organization;
  • Preferred: familiarity with Salesforce-based client case management systems;
• Language requirement: Fluency in English and Spanish;
• Familiarity with trauma-informed lawyering skills and practices for working with survivors of violence and other forms of trauma;
• Strong writing, research, analytical, organizational, and verbal communication skills;
• A demonstrated commitment to community service, civil liberties, immigrant justice, and public interest law;
• Demonstrated ability to work cooperatively on projects with lawyers, other staff members, and diverse community organizations; and
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity within the office and a personal approach that values all individuals and respects differences regarding race, ethnicity, age, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, religion, ability, socio-economic circumstance, immigration status, and record of arrest or conviction.

Compensation

This is an exempt full time position that is competitive and commensurate with experience ranging from $83,458- $89,731.

Benefits and Perks

We offer a competitive and comprehensive benefits package to include: medical, dental, vision, long-term disability and life insurance.

• Medical coverage (Kaiser) will be provided at Centro Legal’s expense covering 100%, and 50% for dependents, spouses, and partners. Our alternative health plans with United Health Care at an additional premium cost.
• Additional Benefits include: Health Care FSA, Dependent Care FSA, commuter benefits, pet insurance, and Employee Assistance Plan.
• PTO: Vacation: 0-1 year 16 days per year, 1-2 year 18 days per year, Over 2 years 23 days per year, (1) paid wellness days per month, 12 sick days per year.
• Office Closure: 12 holidays + 8 work days, to include the period from December 24th through January 1st

COVID 19 Policy

Proof of completed Covid-19 vaccination to include both shots of a two-dose vaccination regimen, or one dose of a single-dose vaccine, will be required for all employees (except for reasonable accommodations due to medical and/or religious beliefs). All employees must provide HR with their vaccination QR Code by going to https://myvaccinerecord.cdph.ca.gov/.

Working Conditions

• Hybrid working environment, including regular in-person attendance at events
• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer. Often communicating with

people using the phone, email, via video call, or in person.

To Apply

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Applicants should apply without delay. To apply, please send a cover letter describing your interest in this particular position, resume, and list of three professional references by email to jobs@centrolegal.org, with the subject line, “Immigrants’ Rights Temporary Senior Staff Attorney” in the subject line.

POSITION OPEN UNTIL FILLED.

About Centro Legal de la Raza

Founded in 1969 and headquartered in Oakland, California, Centro Legal de la Raza (Centro Legal) is a comprehensive legal services and advocacy organization protecting and advancing the rights of immigrant, low-income, and Latino communities through bilingual representation, education, and advocacy. We combine quality legal services with know-your-rights education, affirmative litigation, and youth development, ensuring access to justice for thousands of individuals and families each year throughout Northern and Central California.

For more information, visit our website: https://centrolegal.org/

Diversity Statement

Centro Legal’s mission includes advancing social, economic and racial justice. We are committed to fostering, cultivating and preserving a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion within and ensuring a workplace where all staff can flourish and grow professionally and well beyond. Our staff are the most important part of our ability to achieve our mission. The collective sum of the individual differences, life experiences, knowledge, inventiveness, innovation, self-expression, unique capabilities and talent that our employees invest in their work represents a significant part of not only our culture, but our reputation, sustainability and our organization’s success. Centro Legal is an equal employment opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, sex, pregnancy), gender, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, medical condition including genetic characteristics, mental or physical disability, military or veteran status, marital status, family responsibilities, caregiver status, sexual orientation, gender identity (including transgender status), gender expression, weight, height, linguistic characteristics (such as accent and limited English proficiency where not substantially job-related), citizenship status, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, HIV/AIDs status, or any other basis prohibited by law. Centro also prohibits discrimination based on a perception that an individual has any of the characteristics of the protected classes listed above, and further prohibits discrimination against an individual who is associated with a person who has, or is perceived to have, any of those characteristics.