ProBAR- Legal Advocate TX-CA

The American Bar Association (ABA) was founded on a commitment to advance the rule of law in the United States and beyond by providing practical resources for legal professionals, conducting law school accreditation, developing model ethics codes and more. Today, the ABA remains a member-based organization that works to ensure access to justice for all, a fair legal process, and respect for the rule of law at home and across the globe.

The ABA is committed to service and refining the standards that guide the legal profession. ABA staff are provided multiple types of continuing education and career development opportunities. Your work will help eliminate bias, enhance diversity, and advance the rule of law throughout the US and around the world.

The ABA recognizes the value staff contribute to our success through a generous benefits package that protects their health and their financial security. The ABA’s wide array of benefit offerings include 401(k), medical, dental, vision, flexible spending accounts, health spending accounts, supplemental life and disability insurance, prepaid legal programs, and a complimentary membership to the American Bar Association, which offers additional benefits.

Flexible/hybrid work arrangements may be available for residents of CA, DC, IL, IN, IA, MD, MI, MN, TX, VA, and WI. Residency requirements may apply. ABA employees are eligible to apply for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF).


The Organization
ProBAR empowers immigrants through high-quality legal information, representation, and connections to services. ProBAR serves immigrants in the Rio Grande Valley and Houston regions with a particular focus on the legal needs of adults and unaccompanied children in federal custody. Founded in 1989 as a project of the American Bar Association, ProBAR’s primary office is located in Harlingen, TX with a field office in Houston, TX. For more information about ProBAR, please visit our website: https://abaprobar.org/

Job Summary / General Purpose of Job
Accountable for providing substantive case and court support to attorneys and accredited representatives. This position coordinates legal services in detention facilities, providing legal orientation and legal screenings for a variety of circumstances and individuals, additional follow-up legal services, and accurate and timely documentation of services delivered and information collected. This position will require regular involvement with individuals living in difficult circumstances and who may have experienced trauma. This position duration is for a period of three months. It is contingent upon funding availability, and ProBAR anticipates funding to extend through Fall of 2026. This position may report out the Harlingen or Houston offices. A remote position for an applicant in Texas is also an option. The primary work travel will be to Nueces County.
Principal Duties/Job Responsibilities
• Provides support and assistance to assigned legal staff. Provide in-person and remote child-friendly and age-appropriate legal orientation to detained children in a non-traditional classroom climate where the presenter is to be positive, organized, outgoing, confident, and compassionate in informing children regarding immigration removal proceedings and access to representation. Additionally, responsible for conducting in person and remote age-appropriate legal screening to assist with referral to pro bono counsel within 10 days of arrival and obtain consent from unaccompanied children for required referrals.
• Provides legal orientations, workshops, and legal screenings with adults in detention settings. Also, delivers Know Your Rights presentations for local communities including families regarding removal proceedings, immigration hearings, and legal rights and protections.
• Assesses the urgency of situations and determines appropriate actions, monitors the status of pending items, and provides updates/feedback to appropriate legal team members. Handles client case files as directed by staff attorneys and Accredited Representatives. Monitors case activities and maintains the data integrity of case management systems. Accesses, processes, and ensures confidentiality and control of client information.
• Conduct telephonic legal screenings with relatives/caretakers for children too young to receive regular Know Your Rights and screenings, in addition to follow-up interviews needed to complete relief eligibility determination or as required. Conduct trauma-informed, child-friendly, and age- and language-appropriate individual legal screening at a detention facility for unaccompanied children within 10 days of arrival.
• Conduct in-person and virtual post-release legal services for children released from ORR facilities, which may include screenings of potential sponsors for unaccompanied children.
• Provide substantive case and cou