Criminal/Immigration Senior Staff Attorney

Immigrant Legal Resource Center•San Francisco, CA

79d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) is seeking a full-time Criminal/Immigration (Crim/Imm) Senior Staff Attorney based in our San Francisco, CA office, working remotely from Southern California, or working remotely from the Central Valley of California. This is an exempt position that reports to the Senior Managing Attorney. This is a bargaining unit position represented by the National Legal Services Workers (NOLSW), Local 2320. The ILRC currently has a hybrid work model that requires two in-office days per week for employees based in our San Francisco office. Employees not based in the San Francisco office are exempt from this requirement, but will be required to travel to the San Francisco office for key events and meetings in accordance with ILRC’s Remote Work Policy, which includes coming to the San Francisco office at least every quarter. Additionally, this position requires the employee to spend approximately 10-15% of their time traveling. The focus of this position is upholding immigrants’ rights in the complex intersection of criminal and immigration law, also known as “crim/imm.” The Senior Staff Attorney will further the ILRC’s technical support, capacity building, and policy work on behalf of immigrants and the practitioners who defend their rights, particularly public defenders and immigration advocates who represent noncitizens with crim/imm issues. This position requires advanced expertise in crim/imm.

Requirements

Experience and expertise in, and commitment to, defending the rights of noncitizens who have come in contact with the criminal legal system
A minimum of seven years of experience representing clients in a crim/imm context. Experience representing immigrants in the criminal system or immigration system, or advising defenders in criminal proceedings, is preferred, but other experience employing a crim/imm analysis will be considered
Broad knowledge of the intersection of criminal and immigration law
Excellent writing, editing, legal analysis, and oral presentation skills
Excellent training and presentation skills
Ability to lead meetings attended by, write for, and communicate with a range of people, including immigration and criminal defense attorneys, community members, legislators, policy-makers, journalists, funders, and others
Excellent time management skills and the ability to meet deadlines
Willing to work closely with and learn from colleagues, including being willing to take direction and editing from others and to incorporate feedback
A strong work ethic, including the following qualities: organized, flexible, reliable, and dependable, able to work independently, and able to handle several projects simultaneously
Willing to participate in team-based efforts and a collaborative decision-making environment
A willingness to travel approximately 10-15% of their time across California and at times, nationally
A current Bar membership in good standing for any state in the United States or the District of Columbia.

Nice To Haves

Experience with or knowledge about California post-conviction relief law and/or California laws relating to ICE interaction with local law enforcement (e.g., SB 54)
Experience working closely with community organizers and non-lawyers on organizing campaigns
Writing and securing grants from foundations and corporations
Legal or other writing experience for a range of audiences
Training, teaching, or other public speaking experience
Working in, leading, or forming coalitions
Collaborating with immigrant communities with an emphasis on supporting community leadership
Coordinating civic engagement projects or working as a community organizer
Second language proficiency, within the range of conversational to fluent
Experience with communications work on immigration or criminal legal issues
Established relationships with allied organizations in California and nationally
Experience in administrative and federal appeals.

Responsibilities

Providing technical support to public defenders and to immigration advocates on crim/imm matters.
Analyzing new legal developments and writing practice advisories geared toward audiences such as attorneys, accredited representatives, paralegals, community members, and/or policymakers
Preparing and leading webinars and in-person seminars on a variety of topics in immigration law with a focus on crim/imm
Working as a team to create and update materials, including online materials like the California Quick Reference Chart
Writing, updating, and editing select chapters in ILRC manuals regarding crim/imm and other adjacent issues
Working as an “Attorney of the Day” to answer individual case questions
Cultivating relationships with public defender offices in rural areas of California.
Helping to guide and lead ILRC’s crim/imm team and serving as one of ILRC’s internal and external senior experts on crim/imm
Training immigrant communities, organizers, public defenders, immigration attorneys, judges and other stakeholders on crim/imm
Working with coalitions on campaigns in pursuit of passing and enforcing policies that positively impact immigrant communities
Analyzing state and federal legislation from a crim/imm lens
Drafting legislation, advising legislative staff and other parties, and testifying before legislature as needed
Competency in speaking with press on crim/imm issues
Representing ILRC, and as necessary taking a leading role, in collaboratives to support immigrant rights
Writing grant proposals, writing reports, and managing deliverables for foundation grants, and representing the ILRC in meetings with funders and supporters
Traveling for trainings, funder visits, and other events throughout California and sometimes throughout the United States
Providing support and advice on litigation and amicus support as needed, in cases before the Board of Immigration Appeals, California courts of appeals, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the Supreme Court.