Director and Staff Attorney

UC Law SF • San Francisco, CA

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

UC Law SF has created a new Habeas Institute to litigate pro bono immigration habeas cases in federal district court, primarily in the Northern and Eastern Districts of California. The Institute will also serve as a center for research, writing, and study of this important and emerging practice area. The Director and Staff Attorney of the Habeas Institute (“Director”) is a combined litigation and academic leadership role, focusing primarily on immigration habeas and related litigation. The Director, reporting to and working alongside the Institute’s founding faculty members (Professors Jonathan Abel and Richard Boswell), will supervise and collaborate with students in the Immigrants’ Rights Clinic and mentor pro bono practitioners handling habeas matters across the region, and will otherwise engage in educational activities to support the Habeas Institute’s mission. This position is contingent on available fundraising, and the Director is expected to help raise funds to operate the Habeas Institute. Grant funding has been secured for the first year, with the goal of renewing that funding in subsequent years and raising additional funds.

Requirements

• Membership in good standing of the State Bar of California.
• A minimum of three years of relevant practice experience.
• Strong legal writing and oral communication skills.
• Strong creative and problem-solving skills
• Adaptability to a changing legal environment
• Strong collaborative and teamwork skills.
• Genuine desire to work with, teach, and supervise law students.
• Availability and responsiveness appropriate to the time-sensitive nature of habeas practice.
• Strong commitment to integrity.
• Willingness to engage in fundraising.

Nice To Haves

• Experience litigating federal immigration habeas corpus cases.
• Experience litigating cases in immigration court.
• Broad understanding of immigration remedies.
• Language (Spanish) recommended but not required

Responsibilities

• File immigration habeas corpus petitions in federal district court, primarily in the Northern and Eastern Districts of California (but also in other districts around the country) and handle all follow-up litigation through resolution and motions for fees, in partnership with faculty and students.
• Maintain a fast-paced litigation docket with multiple court filings each week and multiple court appearances each month.
• Draft pleadings, motions, briefs, and other litigation documents to a high standard of written advocacy.
• Coordinate with co-counsel, outside counsel, and community partners as appropriate.
• Assist with hosting habeas conferences and events.
• Work collaboratively with students enrolled in the Immigrants’ Rights Clinic on active habeas matters, including supervising their case work and providing substantive feedback on their writing and litigation strategy.
• Mentor pro bono practitioners who are handling immigration habeas cases, including through case consultations, training, and model filings.
• Help shape the Institute’s scholarly and programmatic agenda in collaboration with the founding faculty members and other affiliated faculty.
• Pursue grants and other third-party funding to support the Habeas Institute’s operations

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental and vision insurance coverage
• Flexible Spending Accounts for transportation-related, healthcare and dependent care expenses
• Employee Assistance Program
• Life Insurance, Disability Insurance, and Legal Insurance
• Deferred Compensation Plans/Pre-tax Retirement Savings Programs
• Fifteen paid holidays per year
• Generous vacation and sick leave
• Commuter Benefits Program

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed