Immigration Attorney

Legal Counsel for Youth and Children (LCYC) seeks a passionate, collaborative, and innovative immigration attorney committed to social justice and anti-racism, to provide direct representation to Washington residents in both state and federal court for children and young adults up to 24 years old. Applicants must be a member of the Washington State Bar Association or qualify for admission by motion from another state under Washington State Court rule APR 3(c)(1). The attorney will provide direct representation, individual consultation and education to children and young adults in state court actions, immigration court, and before the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Fluency in Spanish is required. Experience practicing immigration law and working with youth are highly valued.

LCYC is a growing, dynamic organization committed to responding to the needs of our clients and community, as well as the professional development of our staff. Applicants need to arrive at LCYC with a commitment to continual learning. The attorney’s duties may shift over time, and the attorney may have opportunities to work on other teams and in other practice areas directly supporting youth.

LCYC is a mobile non-profit and the attorney will work from home and spend their time mostly virtually helping youth in multiple counties statewide. The location of this position is flexible; however, the attorney must be located in the state of Washington and travel will be expected to meet clients and appear in person occasionally throughout the state. The attorney must be able to appear in person in state and federal court proceedings. Additionally, the attorney will identify other legal and general non-legal issues that the youth may be facing and warmly hand off to the appropriate community partner.

Working in collaboration with youth and community providers, the attorney will help identify and influence systemic barriers to youth access to justice. Additionally, the attorney will engage in ongoing trainings and conversations as LCYC advances its journey in becoming an anti-racist organization.

COMMITMENT TO INCLUSIVITY, EQUITY AND REPRESENTATION:

LCYC is an equal opportunity employer committed to having a diverse staff and board reflective of the communities we serve. We strongly encourage applications from people of color, those with lived experience, people with disabilities, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and other underrepresented and historically marginalized groups. LCYC particularly values lived experience in our practice areas of child welfare, juvenile court, youth and family immigration, and youth homelessness.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Attorney, Immigrant Youth Team Qualifications

• Ability to live and practice law in the state of Washington.
• Applicants must be a member of the Washington State Bar Association or qualify for admission by motion from another state under Washington State Court rule APR 3(c)(1).
• Experience practicing immigration law, representing clients in immigration court, before the Board of Immigration Appeals and/or before USCIS in humanitarian claims such as asylum, Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ) Classification, T visas and U visas is highly preferred.
• Experience representing children and youth in Washington State court proceedings such as dependencies, Vulnerable Youth Guardianships, and minor guardianships, and seeking SIJ predicate orders is highly preferred.
• Ability to zealously advocate for clients in and outside the courtroom, including issue spotting, problem solving, providing legal advice, negotiating resolutions, and written and oral advocacy.
• Willingness to learn and utilize case management and software systems necessary for a remote office environment, following LCYC’s standards of practice.
• Strong legal research and writing abilities.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills by phone, email, and in person, and demonstration of cultural competency and ability to effectively communicate across cultures.
• Ability to communicate legal concepts, options, and potential outcomes in a developmentally appropriate manner with youth.
• Ability to be flexible and adaptable, adjusting to the needs of youth and the organization.
• Ability to adapt to a fast paced, ever-changing environment and carry a positive attitude.
• Understands the effects of vicarious trauma and the importance of work balance and boundaries to support well-being.
• Ability to be transparent and own one’s mistakes. Ability to learn from past mistakes.
• Committed to continual learning and responsive to feedback.
• Ability to travel and appear in person for court hearings.
• Highly organized, problem-solver, with strong attention to detail.
• Self-starter with experience balancing a caseload of at least 40-50 direct representation clients.
• Ability to prioritize multiple competing responsibilities and maintain case and program confidentiality.
• Courageous -- willing to take risks, continue innovation, fail forward and change course.
• Ability to take accountability for the team
• Experience working with youth and/or children is highly preferred, as well as working with survivors of abuse, trafficking, exploitation, or other traumas
• Fluency in Spanish is required.

Qualifications for all LCYC staff

• Demonstrated commitment to LCYC’s mission of protecting the interest and safety of youth in Washington by advancing their legal rights
• Commitment to and demonstrated interest in engaging in relationships with cultural humility and applying an anti-racist lens to program operations, community partnerships, and supporting staff and young people
• Ability to work professionally with diverse staff and community partners, developing a relationship of trust and confidence
• Ability to work independently, be self-motivated and work collaboratively in a team
• Demonstrates humility, commitment to continual learning, and responsive to feedback
• We strongly encourage applications from people of color, those with lived experience, people with disabilities, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and other underrepresented and historically marginalized groups
• Demonstrates leadership skills including: excellent communication; relationship building; adaptability; able to make decisions and delegate; conflict management skills; integrity; commitment to excellence
• All staff are required to pass a background check.

JOB DUTIES:

The Attorney will undertake a range of duties including, but not limited to:

• Carry a caseload all around the state of Washington, to include state court matters and federal immigration representation.
• Draft and file appropriate pleadings in different matters as needed in multiple state courts and seek SIJ predicate orders.
• Provide direct representation to individuals in removal proceedings and before the Board of Immigration Appeals or federal courts.
• Provide direct representation to persons submitting affirmative applications with USCIS, including humanitarian claims such as asylum, Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ) Classification, T visas and U visas, and the Department of State.
• Conduct all representation consistent with the Washington Rules of Professional Conduct.
• Conduct intake for children, youth and young adults virtually or in person.
• Conduct presentations, workshops, and intakes virtually, by phone or in person.
• Investigate each case; analyze facts in light of relevant legal considerations; conduct legal research; prepare litigation strategy; prepare legal memoranda, motions and briefs, and argue specific legal motions and pleadings; litigate hearings; examine and cross-examine witnesses.
• Represent clients in interviews related to their affirmative applications.
• Conduct case analysis to determine eligibility for immigration protections/status under the immigration laws.
• Provide Immigrant Safety Plan trainings, implementation and updates as needed.
• Maintain a working knowledge of significant policies, laws, practices, and trends in immigration law, particularly as it impacts low-income immigrants and those impacted by multiple systems.
• Participate in regular case staffings, weekly team meetings, general staff monthly meetings, and biannual in person retreats with all LCYC staff.
• Problem-solve and identify trends and systemic barriers as an active member ofLCYC.
• Timely track hours, expenses, and pertinent case data from intakes to closing in LCYC’s online case management system in a timely manner.
• Timely calendar court dates, appointments, deadlines and upload case documents into case management system. Establish, organize and maintain files up to date.
• Regularly participate in trainings, identity group conversations, and project specific workgroups on equity and systemic racism.
• Partner with the community, immigration attorneys, partners and colleagues at LCYC on the direct delivery of services and continual improvement of the service model and its adaptation.
• May work on other teams and practice areas directly supporting youth.

LCYC’s services are community based; however, this position will mostly be remote given the nature of the work and the statewide representation. We meet youth in locations where they feel saf eand can easily access support. All LCYC staff are required to pass a background check.

This is a full-time salaried position that requires a willingness to work some evenings and weekends, as well as occasional travel to multiple counties within Washington state to meet with clients or appear in court. LCYC full-time salaried employees have some flexibility in setting their schedules each week. This flexibility allows staff to adapt the timing of their work week with the scheduling needs of representing youth. This flexibility also allows full-time salaried employees to achieve better individual balance between work and home.

Supportive benefits include but are not limited to Flexible Time Away, Paid Sick and Safe time, medical, dental, life and disability insurance, 403(b) plan, and paid home office needs such as laptop computer, work cellphone, desk, and printer. LCYC does not have a shared office space. All staff work from home offices. Travel for work is compensated at the Federal reimbursement rate for use of your car.

Spanish Fluency Required.