Staff Attorney, Legal Services for Unaccompanied Children’s Program

Overview

Inclusion of a cover letter and a current resume are required. Please email cover letter and resume to Jasmine Green at

About CWS

Imagine waking up every morning with the chance to change someone's life. Imagine knowing your efforts will benefit both your career and our neighbors around the world.

At CWS, our team knows they are making a difference every day. Whether you're in our U.S.-based offices supporting refugees, asylees or unaccompanied children .

implementing hygiene initiatives in Cambodia or rebuilding projects in Central America ... or even connecting remotely from your home on fundraising campaigns, grant reports, or critical communications - you have the opportunity to work towards a world where everyone has food, a voice and a safe place to call home.

Purpose

This Staff Attorney, Legal Services for Immigrant Children’s Program, provides legal representation to unaccompanied children on a variety of humanitarian immigration cases before DHS, the Immigration Courts, and the BIA;

and on related matters in state courts. May include supervisory and program management duties.

Responsibilities

• Conduct legal consultations with unaccompanied children to determine eligibility for legal relief, including for unaccompanied minors in ORR custody.
• Represent unaccompanied children in a variety of immigration cases, including but not limited to asylum, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, Adjustment of Status, trafficking visa applications, and state guardianship or other predicate orders.
• Appear on behalf of clients before USCIS, EOIR, and state and local courts, including asylum interviews, master calendar hearings, individual merits hearing, Board of Immigration appeals, and state court proceedings.
• Prepare and file all documentation for legal cases, including but not limited to immigration applications, legal briefs and memoranda, motions, expert reports, and evidence.
• Prepare clients and other witnesses, including experts, for testimony before USCIS, EOIR, and state courts.
• Conduct legal and factual research to prepare legal cases, including legal arguments, witness affidavits and statements, expert interviews and statements, and FOIA requests.
• Work closely with paralegals and other members of the team on client representation and case management to ensure work quality and timeliness.
• Properly manage client appointments and professional duties to ensure thorough and professional representation of client interests.
• Negotiate with DHS Officers and Supervisors to address problems faced by clients.
• Represent CWS and the program at community-based, advocacy, and other meetings and speaking engagements related to immigration issues and unaccompanied children.
• Conduct regular file review to ensure that all case files are maintained appropriately as pertains to professional service delivery and contract requirements.
• Provide legal and programmatic information for the development of new grant applications.
• Complete data and narrative reporting related to grant-funded program outcomes. Assist Managing Attorney, Associate Director, and / or Office Director in preparing grant and other reports and compiling data.
• Keep supervisor informed of complaints, issues and / or problems for timely investigation and resolution.
• Respond to requests for information posed by staff and other legal service providers, as appropriate.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Education & Licensing :

• JD. is required.
• Admission to the North Carolina state bar required

Experience :

• One to two years of experience working in immigration law required.
• One to two years of experience working with unaccompanied children or other vulnerable populations within the immigration legal system preferred.

Skills :

• Excellent legal writing, research, and analytical abilities.
• Superior written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work within a client-led, trauma-informed framework.
• Ability to work cooperatively with other staff in a fast-paced work environment.
• Spanish language fluency preferred; Spanish proficiency required. If applicant is not fluent in Spanish, applicant must commit to working towards fluency within their first year of employment, with limited funds available to assist with Spanish language learning resources.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and willingness to support as a CWS employee required.

Benefits

CWS offers a competitive benefits package that includes :

• 403 (b) Retirement Plan
• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance
• Generous Paid Time Off (18 Paid Days Off; 24 Days Off after 2 Years)
• 14 Official Holidays
• 12 Sick Days Off (Accrued monthly)
• Life Insurance and AD&D
• Long Term and Short-Term Disability
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Health Savings Account
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Commuter Benefits
30+ days ago