Immigration Staff Attorney

ORGANIZATION SUMMARY

Centro de Trabajadores Unidos: United Workers’ Center (CTU) unites immigrant, Black, and Latine communities on Chicago’s Southeast Side and south suburbs in the struggle to end racial, economic, and gender injustice. We challenge the roots of inequality — from exploitation in the workplace to disinvestment in our neighborhoods — and build collective power to transform our communities from the ground up.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Centro de Trabajadores Unidos: United Workers’ Center (CTU) seeks a full-time salary Immigration Staff Attorney. The Immigration Staff Attorney works closely with CTU staff, leadership, and members—primarily within immigrant communities—to build trust, leadership, and collective power through legal advocacy and organizing grounded in social, economic, and racial justice. This role supports the development of immigration campaigns, helps establish and strengthen CTU’s legal clinic, and integrates legal capacity into the organization’s broader organizing strategy and policy advocacy.

The Immigration Staff Attorney represents CTU in immigration legal coalitions and policy spaces, supervises legal clinic staff, and reports to the Executive Director. This position includes a three-month probationary period and is primarily on-site at CTU’s Chicago office (9805 S. Ewing Ave) with occasional travel to the South Suburbs of Chicago (approximately once per month).

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead the vision, strategy, and implementation of CTU’s Legal Clinic and immigration campaigns
• Build and manage partnerships with attorneys and organizations to support legal needs beyond CTU’s scope
• Monitor, prepare for, and train staff on changes in immigration law, policy, and procedures through ongoing CLE and research
• Provide high-quality legal representation in asylum, U/T Visas, SIJS, VAWA, TPS, removal defense, family immigration, naturalization, DACA, habeas, and related matters
• Manage a full caseload from intake through resolution, including EOIR, BIA, and potential federal court representation
• Maintain accurate case calendars, dockets, client records, and timely client communication in compliance with CTU and funder requirements
• Develop and oversee systems for file management, documentation, referrals, and case review
• Supervise attorneys and non-attorney legal staff and lead case review and team meetings
• Collaborate with CTU organizing teams (immigration, labor, education, and economic justice) to align legal work with campaigns and worker leadership development
• Represent CTU in immigration coalitions, networks, and policy advocacy spaces
• Provide legal training, “know your rights” education, and strategic guidance to staff and members

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

We’re seeking candidates who excel in relationship-building, are self-motivated, and have strong organizing and management skills.

• Juris Doctor required
• Admission to the Illinois Bar required; candidates admitted in another jurisdiction will be considered if willing to take the Illinois Bar
• 6+ years of legal experience preferred; other levels of experience will be considered
• Experience working with justice-involved populations and low-wage immigrant workers strongly preferred
• Federal court litigation experience in immigration matters
• Experience with deportation defense, asylum, family-based cases, N-400s, DACA, U Visas, adjustment of status, and related immigration matters
• Professional Spanish proficiency required; fluency strongly preferred
• Excellent legal research, writing, and oral communication skills
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and work effectively both independently and in a small team environment
• Demonstrated commitment to social justice and to building an immigration movement centered on the most marginalized low-wage immigrant communities
• Ability to work evenings and weekends as needed
• Reliable access to transportation for local travel

This position is salaried with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois health insurance, workers' compensation insurance, and generous benefits including paid vacation and paid sick leave. Financial compensation ranges between $85,000-$100,000.

Fluent in both English and Spanish