Senior Staff Attorney (NYC)

Organization Overview

Safe Passage Project (SPP) is a highly focused nonprofit immigration legal services organization that provides free lawyers to immigrant children facing deportation. Founded in 2013, SPP has grown to include 65 employees, two offices, and an annual budget of over $10 million. It manages over 1,600 open cases a year.

To date, SPP has supported more than 3,000 young people in NYC and Long Island. The New York Immigration Courts, some of the busiest immigration courts in the US, have more than 15,000 juveniles on their dockets, many of whom are fleeing trauma in their countries of origin such as gang violence and recruitment, abuse, and sexual assault. Immigrant children are not afforded free legal representation by the government, regardless of their age. As a result, more than half of immigrant children in immigration proceedings must go to court without the aid of a lawyer. Among unaccompanied children with legal representation, immigration court data shows that 90% are allowed to remain in the United States, whereas less than 15% of unrepresented children are allowed to stay. This is where Safe Passage Project steps in, both through providing immigrant youth with direct representation by staff attorneys and through a robust network of pro bono attorneys who SPP attorneys train, mentor, and supervise.

About the Role

The Senior Staff Attorney will be joining a group of exceptional public interest attorneys to directly impact the lives of immigrant children looking for safety and security. The Senior Staff Attorney will mentor pro bono attorneys in providing legal representation in immigration and other related proceedings, including cases involving asylum, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, and other forms of immigration relief.

This position is part of the bargaining unit represented by the Association of Legal

Advocates and Attorneys, UAW Local 2325 (AFL-CIO), and is covered by the collective bargaining agreement.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Supervise and mentor pro bono attorneys with Safe Passage Project;
• Represent immigrant clients in similar proceedings;
• Collaborate with Senior Staff in the analysis and creation of legal strategies;
• Contribute to the creation of policies and strategies for Safe Passage Project;
• Supervise and provide detailed reporting statistics on each case mentored and represented directly; and
• Prepare trainings and materials to present at Safe Passage Project trainings.

Qualifications:

The strongest candidates for this position will have most, though likely not all, of the following qualifications and characteristics:

• J.D. degree and admission to New York State Bar (required);
• Four (4) or more years of immigration law experience;
• Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively on an interdisciplinary team in a fast-paced, high-intensity environment;
• Excellent written, analytical, oral, organizational, and time management skills;
• Spanish language skills (preferred);
• A demonstrated ability to understand, communicate with, and effectively interact with people across cultures, as well as sensitivity to and knowledge of the various dimensions of diversity, including gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age, disability, and socioeconomic status.
• Experience working with diverse communities and/or with young people; and
• A commitment to the work of Safe Passage Project and readiness to grow and learn with the Safe Passage Project team.

• Work Environment and Flexibility
  • Hybrid work environment: Staff currently work from the office one day per week
  • Flexible work schedules to support work-life balance
  • Open Paid Time Off
  • Additional Work From Home time: up to 4 weeks annually
  • Office closure: December 24 through January 1 (in addition to Paid Holidays)
  • Home office stipend
  • Technology and equipment support for remote and hybrid work
• Health and Wellness
  • Medical plans, including an option with 100 percent employer-covered premiums
  • Dental and vision plans and access to telehealth services
  • Mental health and wellness resources through our health plans
  • Short-term and long-term disability coverage
  • Flexible Spending Accounts and Health Savings Accounts
  • Commuter benefits for transit and parking
  • Health Advocate services to support employees and covered family members in navigating care and insurance
• Financial and Retirement
  • Retirement savings plan: up to a 6 percent employer match on 401(k) contributions
  • Pre-tax benefit options, including commuter and health accounts
  • Public Service Loan Forgiveness: Safe Passage Project is a qualified employer under the federal PSLF program. Staff with eligible federal loans may qualify for loan forgiveness after 120 qualifying payments, and we can provide employment verification and required documentation to support the process.
• Leave and Time Off
  • 12 weeks of Paid Family Leave for eligible employees
  • Additional unpaid leave options in alignment with organizational policies
  • Paid holidays throughout the year
  • Bereavement leave
• Professional Growth
  • Annual professional development stipend
  • Access to trainings, conferences, and skill-building opportunities
  • Access to Practising Law Institute (PLI) resources and training for ongoing legal education and professional development

Safe Passage Project is an equal-opportunity employer. Women, people of color, LGBTQ people, veterans, and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

For more information on Safe Passage Project, please visit www.safepassageproject.org.

Spanish language skills (preferred)