Immigration Staff Attorney, DV Focus

Staff Attorney, Immigrant Rights and Advocacy Project (DV Focus), Bronx Legal Services

 

Program Description:

Bronx Legal Services seeks a full-time staff attorney in the Immigrant Rights and Advocacy Project. Bronx Legal Services, the Bronx office of Legal Services NYC, fights poverty and seeks racial, social, and economic justice for low-income New Yorkers. Bronx Legal Services advises and represents Bronx residents through its family, immigration, LGBTQ advocacy, housing, foreclosure, education, public benefits, disability, unemployment, consumer law, and tax units. As a social justice organization, all employees are expected to participate in DEIB activities.

The Immigrant Rights and Advocacy Project(“IRAP”) of Bronx Legal Services is an interdisciplinary unit comprised of attorneys, social workers, BIA accredited representatives and paralegals, The unit represents people on applications for U and T nonimmigrant status, VAWA self-petitions, battered spouse waivers, asylum, petitions for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (“SIJS”), lawful permanent residency, citizenship, family-based petitions, waivers of inadmissibility, consular processing, and family court matters in connection with SIJS petitions. The unit also conducts trainings in immigration law for community members and advocates throughout the Bronx and facilitates the Bronx Immigration Partnership.

Opportunity Description:

The staff attorney will have a significant part of their docket dedicated to representing people who have experienced domestic violence. They will represent and advise people on their immigration matters. The staff attorney will provide a wide range of comprehensive legal services on a variety of affirmative and defensive immigration matters including SIJS, asylum, U Visas, T Visas, VAWA applications, waiver applications, family-based petitions, adjustment of status, and a variety of removal defense-based motions, including motions to reopen and terminate. They will represent clients on Family Court matters in connection with SIJS petitions. They will prepare clients for, and often accompany clients to, check-ins with ICE and ISAP. There are opportunities to collaborate with the LSNYC Central Litigation Unit on federal litigation matters, including habeas and mandamus petitions, as those issues arise. Additionally, the role will involve participation in community outreach and know your rights presentations. The staff attorney will be supervised by the Supervising Attorney of the Immigrant Rights and Advocacy Project. The attorney will also work closely with our staff social worker to provide trauma-informed, holistic representation and advocacy on behalf of clients and their families.

Responsibilities:

The Staff Attorney’s responsibilities will include:

• Advising and representing immigrants in cases filed with federal administrative bodies and federal district and appellate courts;

• Advising and representing clients in custody and guardianship petitions filed with Family Court in New York City in relation to SIJS petitions;

• Keeping abreast of legal updates;

• Collaborating with staff attorneys and paralegals on litigation matters and strategies;

• Preparing data reports, as necessary;

• Representing Bronx Legal Services at community events; and

• Collaborating with the city, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, other city, state, and federal government agencies and community-based organizations; and

• Promote diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging goals within LSNYC.

Requirements:

• At least 2-3 years’ experience practicing immigration law

• Commitment to working with low-income immigrants

•