Senior Staff Attorney, Federal Litigation

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. During COVID-19, most of our services are virtual to keep our community safe. NYLAG's staff of over 400 impacted the lives of nearly 129,000 people last year.

Job description

The Immigrant Protection Unit (IPU) seeks a highly motivated appellate and federal litigation Senior Staff Attorney for a full-time position. In this role, the Staff Attorney will represent immigrants in appellate and federal court proceedings, including habeas petitions, petitions for review, and Board of Immigration Appeals. The attorney will collaborate with internal and external partners on impact litigation and other advocacy to address systemic problems facing immigrants in New York City, identify cases appropriate for appeal to the federal District and Circuit Courts, and track patterns in policy and practice impacting immigrant justice across New York.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Representing detained and non-detained immigrants and family units in immigration proceedings, primarily appellate proceedings, habeas proceedings, and related matters, across multiple jurisdictions;
• Collaborating with unit leadership to develop new impact litigation cases, including by conducting legal research, identifying and interviewing clients, liaising with practitioners at partner organizations, and drafting complaints, briefs, letters, and other documents;
• Strategizing and developing appellate litigation at federal district and circuit courts, including presenting oral arguments, engaging in discovery, and drafting and filing motions and briefs;
• Engaging in civil litigation and settlement negotiations;
• Collaborating with internal and external partners working within similar communities;
• Acting as a liaison to partner organizations and other external stakeholders;
• Performing other duties as needed, including giving general consults, advice, trainings, and mentoring of volunteers and pro bono partners.

Qualifications

NYLAG seeks a highly motivated attorney with five to eight years' legal experience, including immigration and federal court litigation experience. Admission to the New York Bar and federal courts is required. Experience representing asylum seekers and experience with federal litigation is required, as is experience working with survivors of trauma. The attorney must have a demonstrated commitment to public interest law, immigrant rights, and racial justice. Applicants must have excellent legal research, writing, and communication skills. Spanish language skills strongly preferred.

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 $97,132 and $104,615.

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.

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