Staff Attorney

POSITION TITLE:Staff Attorney

REPORTS TO: Lead Attorney

WORKSITE: Omaha or Lincoln, Nebraska

COMPENSATION:

• • Salary range of $65,000 – 75,000, commensurate with experience.

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS:

• • Unlimited paid time off (including employee birthday); 9 paid holidays with year-end holiday break
  • Medical, dental, vision, life, and AD&D insurance; 403b retirement plan with an automatic 5% contribution; and FMLA
  • Employee Wellness Program (including enriching snacks, support groups, and engaging activities)
  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP) (includes life event referral program, 5 free counseling sessions, financial and legal resources, and employee discount/savings program)
  • Yearly stipends for employee development opportunities
  • Relocation assistance; travel and expense reimbursement
  • ATTORNEY BENEFITS
  • CIRA Covers the following at 100%: Malpractice Insurance; LexisNexis Legal Database access; NE & IA Bar Membership dues; AILA Membership; Nebraska eFiling fees; Stipends for CLE and Continuing Education; Voluntary dues for NSBA;
  • Salary-based position with no billable hour requirements

ORGANIZATIONAL DESCRIPTION:

In 2022, Immigrant Legal Center and Refugee Empowerment Center merged, and the combined nonprofit organization is now CIRA, the Center for Immigrant & Refugee Advancement. Our diverse team of experts provides exceptional, compassionate legal representation, refugee services, and social work services.

We take on the most complex immigration cases, resettle refugees from around the world, and ensure all clients have access to much-needed resources. Operating in 6 different offices from Council Bluffs to Scottsbluff, our team of more than 100 full-time employees helps communities’ welcome immigrants and refugees as they build their lives here. We assist with all forms of family and humanitarian-based immigration, and we never turn any family away due to inability to pay.

POSITION DESCRIPTION:

Each Attorney is an integral part of CIRA’s Legal Department. The core functions of this position, described in more detail below, are: (1) direct representation; (2) client communication; and (3) education and advocacy. This attorney position is housed within the Asylum Team, which specializes in affirmative and defensive asylum claims but also handles other humanitarian and family-based immigration matters. The ideal candidate for this position is a leader who is passionate about providing excellent legal representation with compassion and integrity.

CORE FUNCTIONS OF THE POSITION:

Direct Representation

• • Work with and maintain collaborative communication with attorneys, DOJ-accredited representatives, and staff who contribute to serving clients who may qualify for immigration relief.
  • Represent adult and child clients before the Omaha Immigration Court, Board of Immigration Appeals, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Immigration and Customs Enforcement, as well as Nebraska County and District Courts.
  • Manage a caseload of affirmative and defensive asylum cases, including other humanitarian and family-based case types for which asylum applicants and their immediate family members may also apply, including a significant volume of Special Immigrant Juvenile cases in state courts and before federal agencies.
  • Collaborate with CIRA’s social work department to ensure that “Unaccompanied Child” clients receive supportive case management services.
  • Contribute to targeted legal service delivery (such as relief-specific legal clinics) to represent particularly vulnerable populations in seeking specific forms of immigration relief.
  • Maintain complete and accurate client records in physical files and on CIRA’s case management software, including but not limited to logging all new activities, filing receipts, correspondence, and filings in the case file, tracking reminders and deadlines, meeting those deadlines, etc., as described in detail in CIRA’s Legal Procedures Manual.
  • Effectively and efficiently track open and closed cases using CIRA’s case management software.

Client Communication

• • Maintain regular contact with clients and promptly return calls in accordance with the Legal Procedures Manual.
  • Keep clients aware of the status of their case.
  • Inform clients of the risks and benefits of applying for immigration relief.
  • Maintain an accurate record of every client communication within CIRA’s case management system.

Advocacy and Education

• • Contribute to outreach and education programs related to asylum, other forms of humanitarian protection, and the rights of noncitizens under U.S. law.
  • Engage in community education and advocacy to promote an accurate understanding of immigration law and policy and to advocate for changes that will positively benefit humanitarian and family-based immigrants.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• • Must have a Juris Doctor degree from an accredited school of law in the United States
  • Licensed to practice law in Nebraska or able to obtain a license to practice law in Nebraska
  • Fluency in Spanish is strongly preferred but not required
  • Exceptional legal research and writing ability and impeccable organizational skills
  • Ability to manage confidential documents and communications in a professional manner
  • Strong interpersonal communication and people skills
  • Commitment to CIRA’s mission and values in serving immigrants, refugees, and newcomers, and a demonstrated commitment to public interest law
  • Deep understanding of and ability to work sensitively and well with people of diverse national, ethnic, cultural, religious, and gender identities, and socioeconomic backgrounds
  • Fluency in using Office 365 applications (ex. Outlook, Word, Excel, SharePoint, etc.) and the ability to learn new data management software
  • Exhibits responsibility through consistent attendance, effective time management, dependability, self-discipline, flexibility, and working independently
  • Ability to work in a team and handle multiple tasks in an organized and timely manner
  • Impeccable integrity, positive attitude, mission-driven, and self-directed
  • Ability to think strategically, problem-solve, exercise good judgment, and lead change
  • Openly supports departmental and organizational changes and demonstrates comfort working in a rapidly growing and evolving organization
  • Ability to take initiative and make difficult decisions when necessary
  • Ability to pass all required background checks
  • Must be authorized to work in the United States

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• • This job consists of regularly sitting at a desk and using a computer and phone.
  • Workdays pertain to a Monday – Friday schedule, 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM; With one structured WFH day for Attorneys. Summer hours for 2025.

TO APPLY:

• • Please upload a cover letter, resume, legal writing sample, and three professional references all in PDF format to the job application link.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed by individuals assigned to this job. They are not an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities associated with it.

INCLUSION & EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT:

Center for Immigrant & Refugee Advancement is fully committed to Equal Employment Opportunity. We do not discriminate based on an individual’s race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, military service, or any characteristics prohibited by law. This policy governs all aspects of employment at CIRA, including recruiting, hiring, assignments, training, promotions, compensation, employee benefits, employee discipline and discharge, and all other terms and conditions of employment.