ProBAR - Senior Staff Attorney 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).


An integral part of our team, Senior Staff Attorneys make a difference for immigrants who face significant obstacles to gaining access to counsel and representation for their removal proceedings. Senior Staff Attorneys also amplify their impact by providing advice and direction to pro bono attorneys, legal staff, and interns to develop legal strategies in a constantly changing landscape of immigration law and policy at the border. The team's legal advocacy and representation are complemented by ProBAR's holistic approach that integrates connections to services for people released from immigration detention.


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 legal services to detained immigrants in immigration removal proceedings, in the South Texas region border. Serves as mentor and leader to staff attorneys, legal support staff, legal interns, and volunteers, including by maintaining current materials and trainings on legal matters. This position will require regular involvement with individuals' living in difficult circumstances and who may have experienced trauma. This position is for a duration of three months, with an extension possible contingent upon funding availability.

Essential Job Functions and Responsibilities (listed in order of importance and/or time spent)

• Mentors Staff Attorneys providing advice and direction on their cases. Assists in the training and mentoring of pro bono attorneys, legal support staff and other legal volunteers.
• Develops and maintains legal competency relating to immigration detention work, specifically as applied to unaccompanied minors. Builds and maintains relations with local stakeholders. Observes ethical practices relating to client confidentiality and all other applicable legal ethics standards. Maintains case files, documentation and data integrity using division’s case management system.
• Regularly appears in immigration court. Represents clients seeking immigration relief such as asylum, T visas, U visas, cancellation of removal and other relief as appropriate.
• Provides group and individual legal orientations to detained immigrants in immigration removal proceedings.
• Provides legal services including, direct representation, to detained or locally released immigrants.
• Performs other related duties as required.
Required Education, Qualifications, Experience

• Possession of a Juris Doctorate or Master of Law (LLM) from an ABA-accredited law school and be in good standing, and one or more years’ experience in representing clients preferably on immigration matters.
• Licensed to practice law in a U.S. state or territory.
• Fluent in English and Spanish in written and spoken forms. Spanish language fluency evaluation will be conducted as part of the application process.
• Intermediate proficiency with Adobe and Micro