Immigration Staff Attorney

Neighborhood Defender Service (NDS) is a national nonprofit public defense organization that pioneered the holistic defense model more than 30 years ago. Founded in Harlem, NDS was built to challenge the traditional public defense model by centering clients, communities, and interdisciplinary advocacy. Today, NDS operates community-based offices in Harlem; the Bronx; Detroit; and Hays County, Texas, supported by a unified national infrastructure that allows local teams to deliver high-quality, responsive representation rooted in the communities they serve.

Across all locations, NDS provides client-centered legal representation through interdisciplinary teams composed of attorneys, investigators, social workers, client advocates, and team administrators. Our approach emphasizes early and ongoing engagement with clients—before arrest where possible, throughout the life of a case, and beyond case resolution—while addressing the legal, social, and systemic challenges that impact long-term stability. NDS is committed to treating every client with dignity and respect and to advancing justice for individuals and communities that have been historically marginalized and over-policed.

Core Purpose of the Role:

NDS’s immigration team seeks a Staff Attorney to begin immediately. NDS specifically seeks applicants experienced in removal defense and Padilla advice to provide defensive representation to individuals with contact with the criminal or family policing systems and Padilla consultations to our Criminal Defense Practice's staff and clients. The ideal candidate will have experience in both Padilla representation and removal defense, including litigating in immigration court.

Applicants must demonstrate an interest in immigration advocacy and the holistic defense of noncitizens caught up in the criminal legal system and families facing child removal.

Responsibilities

1. Embrace NDS’ philosophy of client-centered, community-based, holistic representation and commitment to excellence.
2. Provide vigorous representation with energy and enthusiasm to clients.
3. Advise non-citizen clients regarding the full range of immigration consequences associated with contacts with the criminal legal system and consult with the criminal defense attorneys to mitigate potential immigration consequences.
4. Interview clients and their families, conduct legal research, and write pre-pleading letters, motions, and pre-sentencing memoranda on behalf of clients.
5. Coordinate work performed by team members (investigators, social workers, legal advocate, team administrators, and interns).
6. Work with criminal defense attorneys to obtain meaningful, comprehensive legal outcomes for clients.
7. File federal litigation and appeals including Petitions for Review, habeas petitions, motions, briefs, and other related documents on a frequent and timely basis, developing and advancing novel arguments for relief or release, such as challenging Asylum Cooperative Agreement dismissals, mandatory detention, third-country removals, and violations of due process.
8. Provide effective oral advocacy in negotiations and arguments in criminal cases.
9. Engage in community-oriented know-your-rights and other training and outreach as necessary.
10. Engage in policy work, including attending coalition meetings, based on need.
11. Be responsive to and communicate clearly with clients who are often under great stress.

Qualifications

1. A demonstrated commitment to criminal and immigration justice, indigent defense, racial equity, social justice issues, and a substantive understanding of the biases impacting our clients.
2. An ability to quickly build relationships with people of varying identities, income levels, races, and ethnicities.
3. 1-5 years experience representing clients in immigration proceedings and knowledge of immigration procedure.
4. A track record of strategically guiding casework, projects, and/or relationships; applying good and practiced judgment; and routinely pushing through roadblocks to achieve goals.
5. A high level of organizational and administrative skills to handle a high caseload.
6. Clear and effective communication skills, both orally and in writing.
7. An ability to work cooperatively in a team setting.
8. A license to practice law in New York or in another state. Attorneys admitted to the New York Bar and with experience in immigration court are strongly encouraged to apply.
9. Bilingual applicants are encouraged to apply. Spanish language fluency is strongly preferred.

Compensation:

Compensation is commensurate with experience and is in adherence to the NDS compensation scale. Full medical and dental benefits, as well as other benefits, are provided. The salary, benefits, and employment policies relevant to this position are governed by the CBA between NDS and the NDS Union, part of ALAA UAW 2325.

SALARY RANGE BASED ON DIRECTLY RELEVANT EXPERIENCE

1 – 5 Years

$84,347.74 - $94,201.77

HOW TO APPLY

Interested applicants should submit a cover letter and resume in a single PDF through NDS’s website at neighborhood defender careers. Applications without a cover letter will not be considered. Due to the volume of applicants, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. For more information about NDS, please visit our website at About NDS.

Candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At NDS we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role, but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyways. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

The Neighborhood Defender Service is committed to creating a diverse environment that reflects the community we serve. NDS is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. NDS encourages people with incarcerated loved ones, formerly incarcerated people, people of color, women, queer, transgender, gender non-confirming, and gender fluid people to apply.

Compensation is commensurate with experience and is in adherence to the NDS compensation scale. Full medical and dental benefits, as well as other benefits, are provided. The salary, benefits, and employment policies relevant to this position are governed by the CBA between NDS and the NDS Union, part of ALAA UAW 2325.

Bilingual applicants are encouraged to apply. Spanish language fluency is strongly preferred.