Staff Attorney

About NYLAG

Founded in 1990, NYLAG is a leading civil legal services organization combatting economic, racial, and social injustice by advocating for people experiencing poverty or in crisis. Our services include comprehensive, free civil legal services, financial empowerment, impact litigation, policy advocacy, and community partnerships. NYLAG exists because wealth should not determine who has access to justice. We aim to disrupt systemic racism by serving individuals and families whose legal and financial crises are often rooted in racial inequality. NYLAG goes to where the need is, providing services in more than 150 community sites (e.g. courts, hospitals, libraries) and on our Mobile Legal Help Center. NYLAG’s staff of over 400 impacted the lives of nearly 129,000 people last year.

Job Description

New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG) seeks a highly motivated bilingual Staff Attorney for a full-time position representing individuals and families in applications for immigration relief. This position will work with a team of two attorneys and a paralegal through the Office for New Americans (ONA) to provide consultations, presentations, legal representation, and technical support for community-based organizations in Brooklyn/Queens and Manhattan/Bronx/Staten Island. The Staff Attorney will represent immigrants in administrative and removal proceedings before USCIS and the Immigration Courts, will organize and present at community events, will organize and conduct legal clinics and will provide on-site consultations at community-based organizations.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive client consultations to screen and advise clients regarding their eligibility for immigration relief.Provide client-centered, trauma informed direct immigration legal services, including interview clients and witnesses, prepare forms, affidavits, and other supporting documents to submit to USCIS or the Immigration Court.
• Represent immigrants in at USCIS and Immigration Court Proceedings.
• Coordinate outreach to community organizations and provide group presentations to advise potential clients of their legal rights and entitlements and to educate community partners.
• Train the staff of partner organizations on immigration related issues.
• Organize and conduct legal immigration clinics.
• Travel through the different parts of the city to meet with clients and conduct consultations and attend community events.
• Collaborate with pro bono and volunteers to expand access to immigration services.
• Maintain case files, track client cases, progress of applications, and follow up, and update case management system.

Qualifications

• J.D. required.
• Admission to the New York or other state bar.
• Fluency in Spanish or other language common to our client population other than English required.
• Minimum of three years of relevant experience working on immigration matters.
• Excellent writing, speaking and organizational skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively with clients, community organizations, attorneys, the judiciary and the public.
• Ability to work in a collaborative setting with other professionals.
• Demonstrated commitment to working with immigrant communities and social justice.
• Experience working with survivors of trauma.
• Ability to work independently and under pressure.

NYLAG’s Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

NYLAG is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. People of color, women, people with disabilities, immigrants, veterans, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people, and those with lived experiences in the communities we serve are strongly encouraged to apply.

Employment type

Full-time

Professional Level

☒ Professional

Salary Range:

NYLAG is a unionized workplace, and salaries are set pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement. The current salary range for this position is for a yearly salary between $93,175 and $103,515.

Benefits: Medical, dental, vision, 401k, life insurance, long term disability, commuter benefits, flexible spending accounts (FSA) for Medical and Dependent care.

Application Instructions: Please save resume and cover letter on one pdf.