The Immigrant Legal Defense Center (ILDC) is dedicated to providing equal access to justice for indigent immigrants in the Tri-County area. They are seeking a Bilingual Immigration Staff Attorney to deliver high-impact legal services to unaccompanied immigrant children and undocumented youth, focusing on compassionate and strategic representation in immigration proceedings.
Responsibilities
- Provide high-quality, client-centered representation for unaccompanied minors facing removal proceedings and undocumented youth eligible for affirmative immigration relief
- Determine eligibility for legal relief and develop legal strategy case plans
- Some travel to ICE detention centers and other custodial settings to interview and prepare clients, take declarations, complete immigration benefit applications, and provide legal advice
- Represent individuals in court at initial or prolonged custody redetermination hearings, master calendar hearings, individual merits hearings, and in ancillary state court proceedings
- Represent clients before USCIS at asylum interviews, credible fear interviews, ICE check-ins, and other immigration related appointments
- Prepare and submit country conditions, declarations, and other supporting evidence for applications to defend clients against removal
- Work with country conditions experts, expert witnesses, psychologists, and medical professionals to develop supporting evidence for immigration relief applications
- Ensure entry of timely, accurate, and detailed case data into ILDC's case management systems
- Support ILDCs overall mission by working closely with colleagues and ILDCs leadership on various initiatives through community engagement, peer mentoring and event participation
Skills
- J.D. and active bar admission (California state bar required)
- Driver's License required
- Advanced fluency in Spanish language required
- At least one year of experience working with children, preferably immigrant and refugee children, and/or working with vulnerable populations, survivors of abuse, human trafficking, or other trauma
- Strong record of cultural competence and cross-cultural communication skills
- Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively and persuasively both orally and in writing
- Capacity to work both collaboratively and independently
- Ability to be flexible and adapt to frequently changing circumstances, policies, and conditions affecting this dynamic work
- Passion for social justice for immigrants is required
- Possess some family law knowledge is a plus but not required
- Experience working with law firm attorneys and/or other legal volunteers
- Experience in immigration law (nonprofit or private practice) is a plus, but not required, as we are ready and able to provide training
Benefits
- $1,500 salary enhancement for additional qualifying languages beyond English and Spanish
- Generous PTO, plus 10 holidays and a two-week winter break
- Medical, vision, life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment insurance, dental benefits, and retirement benefits
- Monthly Wellness Stipend
- Student Loan Repayment Assistance Stipend
- Generous Parental & Family Leave
Company Overview
We are a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit agency promoting equal access to justice and due process by providing pro bono legal services to indigent immigrants in deportation proceedings and educating immigrants on their basic civil rights. It was founded in 2018, and is headquartered in Santa Barbara, California, US, with a workforce of 2-10 employees. Its website is https://www.sbimmigrantdefense.org/.
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