Summary

The Staff Attorney has responsibility for designing and conducting trainings (both in-person and virtually), providing technical support, and writing/updating articles and other legal resource materials. The attorney in this position must analyze and apply immigration law principles to complex questions and fact scenarios. This is a temporary, 2-year, grant-funded position with the possibility of renewal.

Primary Responsibilities

Technical Assistance and Training

• Maintain a broad knowledge and understanding of U.S. immigration law and be informed about changes in immigration regulations and policies.
• Provide accurate and comprehensive legal advice and mentoring to California community college student fellows on the practice of law as well as procedural and substantive immigration law matters, including but not limited to family-based immigration; naturalization; inadmissibility and deportability; asylum, Temporary Protected Status, DACA, Violence Against Women Act, U visas and other humanitarian relief; removal defense; humanitarian parole; and relief for Afghan evacuees and Ukrainian arrivals.
• Provide technical assistance to CLINIC’s national network of charitable immigration legal services organizations (“CLINIC affiliates”) and partner legal services organizations.
• Assist in preparing curriculum for and conducting in-person and virtual trainings, cohort meetings, and webinars on a range of substantive immigration law topics.
• As assigned, write articles, and assist in updating CLINIC’s legal reference materials.
• As assigned, accept opportunities to speak at conferences on immigration law issues.
• Assist CLINIC’s Advocacy section on select issues including analyzing and drafting comments to proposed regulations, changes in policy guidance and revisions to immigration forms.
• As assigned, partner with CLINIC’s Field Engagement team to:
• Fulfill CLINIC’s expectations that all staff abide by the following Organization Behaviors
  • Assess topics for training and resources based on inquiries and feedback from fellows and
  • Determine areas for continued excellent or improvement in providing training and technical assistance;
  • Coordinate and collaborate on cohort sessions as appropriate.

Grant Implementation

• May assist with administrative aspects of grant implementation such as maintaining accurate records in CLINIC’s case management system, current statistics, and data.
• Partner with CLINIC’s Field Engagement team to develop, implement, and oversee evaluative processes to assess the quality and impact of grant-funded projects as well as to determine areas for continued excellence or improvement.
• Provide the Director of Training and Technical Assistance with information needed for funding applications and reports, for Board of Directors and management consumption, as requested, and for budgeting purposes.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Juris Doctor Degree
• Member in good standing of the Bar of the highest court in any State or the District of Columbia 
• Preference for knowledge and experience with immigration legal service providers in California
• Three years or more of experience in immigration law
• Commitment to excellence and high standards
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Strong organizational, problem-solving, social, and analytical skills
• Proven ability to handle multiple projects and meet deadlines
• Ability to travel on occasion for trainings and conferences
• Demonstrate knowledge of and support the organization’s mission, vision, value statements, policies and procedures, operating instructions, confidentiality standards, and the code of ethical behavior
• Fulfill CLINIC’s expectations that all staff:
  • Serve with integrity
  • Develop innovative solutions
  • Promote learning — for themselves, for their colleagues, and for our network
  • Cultivate constructive relationships
  • Model stewardship
  • Maintain professionalism and positivity in workplace interactions
  • Demonstrate leadership and takes initiative
  • Take responsibility for actions, results and mistakes
  • Communicate in a timely and effective manner, keeping individuals informed of key issues and needs
  • Develop and exercise strong problem-solving skills and judgement
  • Focus on building and strengthening relationships across and outside the organization
  • Demonstrate flexibility and openness by adapting to changing priorities, ideas, strategies, procedures and methods
  • Make effective decisions
  • Resolve conflicts constructively
  • Demonstrate behavior that supports fundraising as a critical and shared responsibility

Salary Range

• $80,000-$85,000

Location

• Anywhere within the continental United States

Work Environment

• This position may require extended periods of standing, sitting, as well as some repetitive movements, bending and repetitive lifting of significant weight.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the key components and primary responsibilities.

Equal Employment Opportunity and Diversity Commitment

• CLINIC considers all applicants for employment without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, family responsibilities, religion, age, disability, service in the military, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. CLINIC also provides “reasonable accommodations” to qualified individuals with disabilities, in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and applicable state and local laws. All interested individuals, regardless of background, are encouraged to apply.
• We embrace and encourage our employees’ differences in race, color, ancestry, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, and other characteristics that make our employees unique.
• Accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the key components and primary responsibilities

To Apply

If you are interested in applying for this vacancy, please click here.

Summary

Journey’s End is a §501(c)(3) not-for-profit refugee resettlement agency in Buffalo, New York. We are a community-based organization with the mission of providing refugees and immigrants with the resources and support they need to become successful, active and contributing members of our shared community. The Immigration Legal Services (ILS) Program offers immigration legal services to immigrant New Yorkers in need, including representation on matters before U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) and Buffalo Immigration Court.

New Americans in New York State lack options for free or low cost legal services to assist them with immigration related legal issues and representation. They therefore are often forced to turn to service providers who may not have the necessary expertise in immigration law. To address this issue, the New York State Office for New Americans (ONA) will expand the availability of immigration lawyers around the state offering free and expert technical legal assistance legal clinics, direct representation, and legal seminars and workshops.

Reporting to the Supervising Attorney, the ONA Staff Attorney will assist in carrying out ONA grant objectives and will work to advance the mission of Journey’s End Refugee Services. ONA Staff Attorney will provide outreach, direct immigration legal services, naturalization application review, legal clinics, legal consultation days, community information sessions, Know Your Rights presentations, referrals, and technical legal assistance to ONA Opportunity Centers and other organizations across the counties of the Southern Tier. The Southern Tier region includes Broome, Chemung, Chenango, Delaware, Schuyler, Steuben, Tioga, and Tompkins Counties. This position will primarily operate out of the Southern Tier, such as Ithaca or Binghamton.

The ONA Staff Attorney must exemplify Journey’s End’s core values in their work. These values include intercultural responsiveness, integrity, person-centered, empowerment, and exemplary service.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct affirmative and defensive immigration legal representation to the immigrant populations of the Southern Tier.
• Conduct review of naturalization application completion process of Department of Justice (DOJ) Accredited ONA Opportunity Centers in the Southern Tier.
• Develop, sustain, and grow meaningful partnerships with local community groups to organize and host events.
• Organize and attend legal consultation days, legal clinics, community information sessions, and Know Your Rights presentations at ONA Opportunity Centers and partner agencies across the Southern Tier.
• Respond to immigration law questions from ONA Opportunity Centers, other immigrant service providers, and individuals in need of immigration assistance in the region.
• Develop and distribute a list of resources for referrals on programs and services available to new Americans.
• Conduct widespread community outreach and coordinate with other ONA projects, including participation in monthly New York State Department of State/ONA webinars.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Applicants must:

• Be admitted and remain in good standing of the bar of the highest court of any state in the country or U.S. territory
• Be able and willing to travel extensively to all counties throughout the Southern Tier
• Be able and willing to travel to Buffalo, NY when necessary as part of client representation or as required by supervisor
• Be able and willing to travel to Journey’s End’s office in Buffalo, NY for mandatory staff training and events
• Possess ability to be part of a dedicated team of talented individuals
• Possess strong communication (written and oral) and advocacy skills

Salary

• Starting at $60,000 annually

This is a full time and salaried position. Benefits and retirement package are included. Candidates that have three or more years of experience as an attorney, two or more years of immigration law experience, and the ability to communicate in a language other than English are preferred.

Journey's End Refugee Services, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer and seeks to employ the best qualified personnel without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, age, gender, gender identity, marital status, or any other reason prohibited by law.

Apply

Send resume, cover letter, and three references to jobs@jersbuffalo.Org. Please include job title and location in subject of email.

***incomplete applications will not be considered. ***