Staff Attorney - Immigrant Justice Practice at CAL

ABOUT US

The Center for Appellate Litigation (CAL) is a leading holistic legal services organization

dedicated to providing high-quality representation to low-income New Yorkers. We are

committed to ensuring that every individual has access to fair and just legal representation in the

appellate courts and in a full panoply of post-conviction litigation. Our mission is to fight

injustice through exceptional advocacy and enduring compassion for each client. We envision a

post-conviction process grounded in our clients’ humanity. Our team of dedicated attorneys,

paralegals, and staff work tirelessly to advocate for our clients’ rights and uphold the principles

of justice.

POSITION OVERVIEW

CAL is seeking to hire an experienced attorney to join our Immigration Justice Practice (IJP).

The attorney will be a member of the bargaining unit.

IJP, one of the first and largest practice groups of its kind in the country, zealously pursues the full range of post-conviction remedies for our noncitizen clients to advance their rights, protect them from the threat of immigration detention and deportation, and keep them united with their families and communities here in the United States. Members of our IJP team seek postconviction relief in trial courts in the Bronx and Manhattan through both negotiated and adversarial motions and hearings to vacate convictions, as well as represent clients in occasional appellate cases at the Appellate Division and Appellate Term, First Department. We pride ourselves on a commitment to dynamic and high-quality written and oral advocacy, a client centered approach to representation, and a collaborative team environment.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Current admission in good standing with the New York bar
• At least three (3) years of relevant legal experience, at least two (2) of which have been at the intersection of criminal and immigration law
• Excellent analytical, legal and mitigation writing, research, oral advocacy, and negotiation skills
• Ability to think creatively and strategically, manage a multi-faceted caseload, and be a team player
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and diligent work ethic
• Empathy and respect for people who have been convicted of crimes and a commitment to advocating on their behalf
• Experience serving and/or advocating for disenfranchised communities
• Willingness and ability to work within the dehumanizing environments of prisons, jails, and detention facilities
• Fluency or high proficiency in Spanish or another language other than English is strongly preferred

LOCATION

The position is based at CAL’s New York City office. CAL has a hybrid remote office policy and attorneys are permitted to work remotely 14 days per month.

SALARY

Salary will be commensurate with experience, according to an established step system, ranging from $94,139 for a 2023 graduate to $134,158 for a 2010 graduate. CAL offers comprehensive medical benefits, a retirement account, and generous vacation time, holidays, personal and sick days.

HOW TO APPLY

Apply at https://bit.ly/IJPAttorney2026 or click the “APPLY HERE” link. Please include resume and cover letter as one pdf file. Application deadline is June 8, 2026.

EQUITY AND INCLUSION

At CAL, we embrace and value our staff’s diversity, recognizing that our differences strengthen our community and advance our mission. We strongly encourage candidates of all identities, orientation experiences, and communities to apply. CAL is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without unlawful discrimination on the basis of age, arrest or conviction record, caregiver status, citizenship status, color, credit history, creed, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, marital status, partnership status, pregnancy, race, religion, salary history, sexual and reproductive health decisions, sexual orientation, status as a covered veteran or active military service member, or status as a victim of domestic violence, stalking, and sex offenses in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.

CAL offers comprehensive medical benefits, a retirement account, and generous vacation time, holidays, personal and sick days.

Fluency or high proficiency in Spanish or another language other than English is strongly preferred