Staff Attorney -UUM

STAFF ATTORNEY 

THE ORGANIZATION

Al Otro Lado is a binational legal services and immigrant rights organization serving immigrants, asylum seekers and deported persons in Southern California, Tijuana, México, and beyond. We approach cases using a multidisciplinary, client-centered, harm reduction-based lens, and engage in zealous individual representation, medical-legal partnerships, human rights monitoring and impact litigation to protect the rights of individual immigrants and challenge systemic practices that violate the human rights of immigrant communities. We leverage vital partnerships with community-based organizations and academic institutions, and engage thousands of volunteers to maximize our impact and help build a broad-based immigrant justice movement.

For more information about our organization, please visit us on our website at: alotrolado.org/ or visit us on social media: Instagram and Twitter: @alotrolado_org; Facebook: Al Otro Lado.

THE STAFF ATTORNEY POSITION

Al Otro Lado is seeking a Staff Attorney to work with our US Based Advocacy department. The Staff Attorney will provide legal consultation and representation services before the Immigration Court, USCIS, and California state courts in matters including for Asylum, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, and other immigration relief. This position will have a particular focus representing Unaccompanied Minors. The Staff Attorney will provide direct representation, individual consultations, and community outreach and education to unaccompanied children and youth facing removal proceedings. The Staff Attorney will work out of Al Otro Lado’s Los Angeles office and will work under the supervision of the Managing Attorney.

This position is a hybrid with in person duties as needed to serve our client population.

JOB DUTIES

• Conduct legal screenings, client interviews, and factual legal investigations
• Provide representation to clients before the Immigration Courts, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, and CA state court proceedings for purposes of obtaining immigration relief
• Represent youth client’s sponsor/parent or caretaker in state court custody or guardianship proceedings related to the child’s potential special immigrant juvenile status
• Provide representation to detained and non-detained youth 
• Develop case plans and strategies
• Coordinate closely within our multidisciplinary teams to identify needs and facilitate referrals to services offered in-house and through partnerships with external providers
• Stay up to date on rapidly changing immigration laws and policies
• Comply with data management and program reporting requirements
• Assign casework to legal support staff, including legal assistants and administrative staff and provide review
• Other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

• JD from an accredited university
• California Bar Admission
• Experience in broad areas of immigration law with background in SIJ and UUM representation preferred (law school graduates with clinical or equivalent legal experience may be considered)
• Excellent communication and writing skills
• Self-directed and self-reliant, highly organized with strong attention to detail, flexible, innovative, able to quickly adapt to changing program needs as border policies change, and able to work in a fast-paced setting with limited resources
• Adept at learning to use new technology platforms, as well as experience with and proficiency with Microsoft Office and in Google Suites programs such as Google Sheets, Google Docs, Google Calendar, Google Forms, and Zoom
• Respectful of colleagues in a diverse workplace environment
• Must have a valid driver’s license, reliable vehicle, active insurance policy and/or the ability to travel frequently to attend hearings and interviews and engage with clients and community partners

This is a full-time, exempt position with an annual salary of $68,000 - $78,000 DOE and is eligible for Al Otro Lado’s comprehensive benefits package. Al Otro Lado is piloting a 36-hour work week, with a half-day (4 hours) on Fridays. Payroll adjustments are made, as needed, to ensure that all staff receive the same wages as in a 40-hour work week.

Al Otro Lado’s comprehensive benefit package includes:

• Health benefits: Al Otro Lado contributes up to 99% of employee medical & up to 70% of employee dental and vision premiums. Insurance coverage is effective on the 1st of the month following the employee's date of hire.
• Employer Sponsored Insurances: Employer-sponsored Group Long Term Disability, Short Term Disability and Life/ AD&D coverage.
• Optional Coverages: Accident, Critical Illness and Hospital Insurance
• Paid Time Off: Up to three weeks of accrued paid time off per year.
• Paid Holidays: 11 paid holidays observed, plus 1 week off for Winter Break and 1 week off for Summer Break. 
• Sabbatical Leave: Employees are eligible for paid Sabbatical Leave after 5 years of full-time employment.
• Paid Parental Leave: Supplemental wage integration following the birth of an employee’s child or the placement of a child with an employee in connection with adoption or foster care.
• 403(B): Retirement plan investment opportunities to include Pre-tax or ROTH options
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Employer sponsored plan offering mental health support, legal and financial services

APPLICATION PROCESS

Please submit a letter of interest, resume, and three professional references to jobs@alotrolado.org with subject line "Staff Attorney- UUM/IY. Only applicants selected for an interview will be contacted. No phone calls, please. Al Otro Lado values diversity in the workplace and strongly encourages applications from people of color, LGBTQ individuals, formerly incarcerated individuals, individuals with disabilities, and members of underrepresented communities.

• Health benefits: Al Otro Lado contributes up to 99% of employee medical & up to 70% of employee dental and vision premiums. Insurance coverage is effective on the 1st of the month following the employee's date of hire.
• Employer Sponsored Insurances: Employer-sponsored Group Long Term Disability, Short Term Disability and Life/ AD&D coverage.
• Optional Coverages: Accident, Critical Illness and Hospital Insurance
• Paid Time Off: Up to three weeks of accrued paid time off per year.
• Paid Holidays: 11 paid holidays observed, plus 1 week off for Winter Break and 1 week off for Summer Break. 
• Sabbatical Leave: Employees are eligible for paid Sabbatical Leave after 5 years of full-time employment.
• Paid Parental Leave: Supplemental wage integration following the birth of an employee’s child or the placement of a child with an employee in connection with adoption or foster care.
• 403(B): Retirement plan investment opportunities to include Pre-tax or ROTH options
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Employer sponsored plan offering mental health support, legal and financial services

Please submit a letter of interest, resume, and three professional references to jobs@alotrolado.org with subject line "Staff Attorney- UUM/IY. Only applicants selected for an interview will be contacted. No phone calls, please. Al Otro Lado values diversity in the workplace and strongly encourages applications from people of color, LGBTQ individuals, formerly incarcerated individuals, individuals with disabilities, and members of underrepresented communities.