Associate Supervising 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 410 impacted the lives of nearly 129,000 people last year.

Job description

The New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG) seeks a highly motivated Associate Supervising Attorney for a full-time position. The job requires broad substantive knowledge and experience representing immigrants in both affirmative matters before USCIS and in removal proceedings, with a variety of defenses from removal including Asylum, Withholding of Removal, protection under the Convention Against Torture, Cancellation of Removal, Waivers in Removal, collateral relief before USCIS, and Adjustment of Status. Admission to the New York Bar and experience representing asylum seekers is preferred. Candidates will have a proactive ability to solve problems under time pressure, a strong commitment to clients, and a background in trauma-informed advocacy.

The Associate Supervising Attorney will work within the Immigrant Protection Unit at NYLAG under the supervision of a Supervising Attorney.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Associate Supervising Attorney’s responsibilities will include:

• Maintain a limited individual caseload. Represent individuals before U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and before other courts and agencies in furtherance of immigration relief, such as in family court for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status or with government agencies for U or T nonimmigrant status. Represent immigrants in removal proceedings before EOIR to seek relief from removal.
• Supervise a small team of attorneys and paralegals to screen clients for eligibility for broad immigration relief, deliver advice and counsel, assess criminal convictions and other grounds of inadmissibility and removability, and develop legal strategies for pro se assistance or comprehensive representation.
• Supervise staff to represent individuals in proceedings before the Executive Office of Immigration Review, Board of Immigration Appeals, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
• Work alongside Project and Unit leadership to train and support staff, conduct outreach, strengthen community partnerships, and serve immigrant communities across the breadth of affirmative and defensive immigration cases.
• Participate in screenings at clinical programs in the community, Know Your Rights, and other types of outreach events.
• Perform other various duties, including providing trainings, and mentoring of volunteers and pro bono.
• Act as a liaison to partner organization and other external stakeholders to coordinate and receive referrals.
• Represent NYLAG to our funder and collaborative partners including attending conferences, trainings, and sharing materials.
• Track client intakes, screenings, cases, progress of applications, and follow up for funding purposes. Liaise with IPU leadership and NYLAG’s Development team to compile data and report to funders on relevant grants.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctorate from an accredited school.
• Admission to a state bar; New York State bar preferred.
• Minimum 5 years of legal experience in affirmative and removal defense work.
• Experience handling a broad range of affirmative applications and defensive relief in removal.
• Excellent oral and written advocacy skills.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Experience working with survivors of trauma and the intersection of criminal law and immigration law.
• Ability to work independently and under pressure while managing multiple competing deadlines.
• Ability to communicate effectively with clients, community organizations, attorneys, judiciary and the public.
• Ability to work in a collaborative setting with other professionals.
• Demonstrated commitment to immigrant rights, racial and social justice issues.
• Proficiency in languages other than English is desirable but not required.

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 between $99,175 - $121,740

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.

Covid Vaccination Policy: Please note, to safeguard the health and well-being of our employees and clients, NYLAG requires all employees to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19, unless a medical or religious exemption is approved.

NYLAG is committed to a hybrid work policy for staff whose work does not require their full-time presence in the office. NYLAG’s current policy is that most staff are required to work in NYLAG’s offices or do other in-person work at least two days each week. This policy is subject to change.