Immigration Legal Services Staff Attorney

Opening Doors • Sacramento, CA

3d • Onsite

About The Position

Opening Doors, Inc. is hiring a full-time, exempt Immigration Legal Services Staff Attorney in Sacramento, California. The role provides immigration legal services to clients, including consultations, preparation and monitoring of applications for immigration relief, and representation in removal proceedings. The attorney also participates in pro-se asylum workshops for Afghan parolees and maintains case files using online case-management software and grant-tracking databases. The position supervises others and reports to the Supervising Staff Attorney. Candidates awaiting bar results may be considered for a Law Clerk position and promoted to Staff Attorney once licensed.

The ideal candidate has a detailed understanding of immigration law and policy, a commitment to immigrant justice, creative problem-solving abilities, and the capacity to balance competing deadlines in a fast-paced environment. They are organized, proactive, communicate well, work effectively and respectfully in multicultural environments, and are passionate about Opening Doors’ mission.

Opening Doors serves immigrants, refugees, and survivors of trafficking and is guided by the values of rising together, honoring dignity, embracing courage, and seeking joy. Employees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19; accommodations may be requested for medical or religious reasons. Opening Doors participates in E-Verify. Applications must include a cover letter to be considered.

Requirements

• J.D. and a license to practice law in any state. Applicants for the Law Clerk position must be awaiting bar results or sitting for the next scheduled bar exam.
• Demonstrated interest in immigration law, particularly removal defense, asylum, VAWA, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, U and T visas, or related immigration relief.
• Excellent coordination and organizational skills, with the ability to complete tasks correctly and on time.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Dedication to client-centered, holistic, trauma-informed representation.
• Ability to meet the physical requirements of the position, including frequent sitting and keyboard use; occasional standing, walking, reaching, lifting approximately 25 pounds, stooping, kneeling, squatting, and driving.
• Must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, subject to possible medical or religious accommodation.

Nice To Haves

• Demonstrated experience in immigration law, including removal defense, asylum, VAWA, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, U and T visas, DACA, naturalization, or related immigration relief.
• License to practice law in California.
• Effective communication skills in Arabic, Farsi/Dari, Pashto, Russian, Spanish, or Ukrainian; Spanish is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide consultations to screen and counsel potential clients about forms of immigration relief.
• Prepare and monitor applications for immigration relief, including Adjustment of Status, family-based petitions and waivers of inadmissibility, U visas, T visas, VAWA, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, DACA, naturalization, and asylum.
• Represent clients in removal proceedings before the Sacramento and San Francisco EOIR in applications for asylum/withholding/CAT, cancellation of removal, waivers, and other forms of relief for which respondents may be eligible.
• Participate in pro-se asylum workshops for Afghan parolees.
• Maintain case files in accordance with office procedures and use online case-management software and grant-tracking databases.
• Supervise others.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree