Staff Attorney

Job Description

Job Description

Salary : $ 68,848.00 - $ 93,107.71 DOE

The Organization :

The Florence Project was founded in 1989 to respond to a representation crisis for indigent non-citizens detained at the rural Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Detention Center in Florence, Arizona. Through our programs today, we provide services to thousands of adults, youth, and children detained in Eloy, Florence, Phoenix, and Tucson, Arizona on any given day. In 2001, the Florence Project implemented our Integrated Social Services Program, one of the first of its kind in this field. The Florence Project provides high quality legal and social services and supports initiatives for national changes in immigration law and policy.

Primary Purpose of the Job :

The Staff Attorney will work on a team to provide pre-court counseling sessions and direct representation, including challenging casework, and appeals, for unaccompanied children in front of the Department of Justice, including EOIR and the BIA, juvenile courts, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The position includes extensive client contact with youth, including indigenous youth and youth who have suffered abuse, abandonment, neglect or other emotional and physical trauma. It requires significant time in state and immigration court. The position also provides Know Your Rights presentations as needed and the opportunity to participate in outreach activities and collaborative projects within a national network of legal service providers for unaccompanied immigrant children.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities :

Casework

• Providelegalrepresentation in casesaccepted through theChildrens Program.Legalrepresentation includes representation in immigration proceedings before the Immigration Court, representation before the Board of Immigration Appeals, representation before the Arizona Juvenile Courts, and other related services reasonably necessary to complete these proceedings.
• Supervise legal assistant's work assigned to each case.
• Provide direct representation in front of the immigration court, juvenile court, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, including challenging casework, and appeals before the appropriate bodies.
• Develop and recommend case strategy consistent with immigration law and procedure.
• Prepare cases, draft legal papers, present required evidence, and engage in negotiations, in accordance with the Code of Professional Responsibility for the legal profession.
• Conduct assessment of clients social, economic, and psychological functioning.
• Collaborate with Childrens Program social workers by identifying needs of the client and making appropriate referrals.
• Determine appropriate range of services, interventions and referrals needed.
• Attend and is engaged in all team meetings and trainings.
• Remain current in immigration law and policy, and on impact of criminal and civil law on the immigration case.
• Complies with required ethical standards, preserves client confidentiality, and avoids conflict of interest.
• Maintain complete and accurate case notes and client records.
• Prepare timely statistical reports.
• Conduct periodic case audits for presentation and review.
• Participate in training on immigration procedures and develop and conduct training sessions as assigned.

Advocacy

Other Duties & Responsibilities :

Minimum Requirements :

Preferred Requirements :

Working Conditions / Physical Demands :

Salary & Benefits :

This is a full-time position. Salary is competitive for our field and geographical area. Salaries will be calculated based on relevant experience and our established comprehensive wage scale :

$ 68,848.00 - $ 93,107.71 DOE.

We strive to create and uphold a positive, supportive, and inclusive work environment for all staff. We offer excellent benefits, including :

Application Process :

This is an immediate opening. Salary is commensurate with experience. The position will remain open until we receive enough qualified applicants. To apply, please submit a cover letter detailing your interest in the position as well as your resume, three professional references. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and candidates are encouraged to apply early. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted. The Florence Project values diversity in the workplace and strongly encourages applications from people of color, LGBTQ individuals, persons with disabilities, and members of underrepresented communities.

At FIRRP, we recognize that people come with a wealth of experience and talent beyond just the requirements of a job. If your experience is close to what you see listed in our current job opportunities, please still consider applying. Diversity of experience and skills combined with passion is a key to innovation and excellence, which is very much valued at FIRRP. Therefore, we encourage people from all backgrounds to apply to our positions. Please let us know if you require accommodations during the interview process.

This job announcement is for informational purposes only and is subject to change and modification without notice. This job announcement includes a non-exhaustive list of responsibilities,qualificationsand requirements of the position, but does not necessarily include all the job functions of the position . This position is eligible for membership in the union Proyecto Solidaridad-FIRRP affiliated with OPEIU Local 251.