Attorney

Center for Immigrant & Refugee Advancement•Omaha, NE

8h•$70,000 - $80,000•Onsite

About The Position

Each Attorney is an integral part of CIRA’s Legal Department. The core functions of this position, described in more detail below, are: (1) direct representation; (2) client communication; and (3) education and advocacy. This attorney position is housed within the Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ) Team, which specializes in seeking SIJ predicate findings before Nebraska state courts and representing noncitizen youth in SIJ, asylum, and removal defense, but also handles other humanitarian and family-based immigration matters for children and adults. CIRA is a recognized leader in SIJ practice in Nebraska; we continuously advocate for broader access to SIJ status through necessary legislative reforms, appellate litigation, and training and mentorship for the bench, the bar, and other stakeholders.

Requirements

Must have a Juris Doctor degree from an accredited school of law in the United States
Licensed to practice law in Nebraska or able to obtain a license to practice law in Nebraska
A minimum of 3 to 5 years of experience practicing immigration law in the United States preferred
Knowledge of immigration and nationality law or Nebraska family or juvenile law is required
Exceptional legal research and writing ability and impeccable organizational skills
Ability to manage confidential documents and communications in a professional manner
Strong interpersonal communication and people skills
Commitment to CIRA’s mission and values in serving immigrants, refugees, and newcomers, and a demonstrated commitment to public interest law
Deep understanding of and ability to work sensitively and well with people of diverse national, ethnic, cultural, religious, and gender identities, and socioeconomic backgrounds
Fluency in using Office 365 applications (ex. Outlook, Word, Excel, SharePoint, etc.) and the ability to learn new data management software
Exhibits responsibility through consistent attendance, effective time management, dependability, self-discipline, flexibility, and working independently
Ability to work in a team and handle multiple tasks in an organized and timely manner
Impeccable integrity, positive attitude, mission-driven, and self-directed
Ability to think strategically, problem-solve, exercise good judgment, and lead change
Openly supports departmental and organizational changes and demonstrates comfort working in a rapidly growing and evolving organization
Ability to take initiative and make difficult decisions when necessary
Ability to pass all required background checks
Must be authorized to work in the United States

Nice To Haves

Fluency in Spanish is strongly preferred but not required

Responsibilities

Work with and maintain collaborative communication with attorneys, DOJ-accredited representatives, and staff who contribute to serving clients who may qualify for immigration relief
Represent adult and child clients before Nebraska County and District Courts, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the Omaha Immigration Court, Board of Immigration Appeals, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Manage a caseload of Special Immigrant Juvenile cases in state courts and before federal agencies, affirmative and defensive asylum cases, and other humanitarian and family-based case types for which SIJ-eligible youth and their immediate family members may also qualify.
Collaborate with CIRA’s social work department to ensure that “Unaccompanied Child” clients receive supportive case management services
Contribute to targeted legal service delivery (such as relief-specific legal clinics) to represent particularly vulnerable populations in seeking specific forms of immigration relief
Maintain complete and accurate client records in physical files and on CIRA’s case management software, including but not limited to logging all new activities, filing receipts, correspondence, and filings in the case file, tracking reminders and deadlines, meeting those deadlines, etc., as described in detail in CIRA’s Legal Procedures Manual
Effectively and efficiently track open and closed cases using CIRA’s case management software
Maintain regular contact with clients and promptly return calls in accordance with the Legal Procedures Manual
Keep clients aware of the status of their case
Inform clients of the risks and benefits of applying for immigration relief
Maintain an accurate record of every client communication within CIRA’s case management system
Contribute to outreach and education programs related to Special Immigrant Juvenile status, other forms of humanitarian protection, and the rights of noncitizens under U.S. law
Engage in community education and advocacy to promote an accurate understanding of immigration law and policy and to advocate for changes that will positively benefit humanitarian and family-based immigrants

Benefits

Unlimited paid time off (including employee birthday)
9 paid holidays with year-end holiday break
Medical, dental, vision, life, and AD&D insurance
403b retirement plan with an automatic 5% contribution
FMLA
Employee Wellness Program (including enriching snacks, support groups, and engaging activities)
Employee Assistance Program (EAP) (includes life event referral program, 5 free counseling sessions, financial and legal resources, and employee discount/savings program)
Yearly stipends for employee development opportunities
Relocation assistance
Travel and expense reimbursement