Immigration Staff Attorney, VA

Ayuda•Fairfax, VA

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

Ayuda seeks an Immigration Staff Attorney to provide comprehensive legal representation to low-income immigrants in the Washington, DC metropolitan area, including survivors of human trafficking and domestic violence, asylum-seekers, crime victims, families, and minors. The role focuses on representing immigrant survivors of intimate-partner violence and human trafficking, as well as vulnerable children and youth, before immigration agencies and courts. The position is based primarily in Ayuda’s Virginia office, with occasional visits to its DC and Maryland offices and travel to local immigration agencies and courts, including state courts. It is hybrid, combining in-person and remote work, with an expectation of being in the office at least one to two days per week on average. The position is exempt from overtime. The anticipated salary is $73,800–$90,200, depending on experience. The preferred start is as soon as possible, contingent on funder approval.

Requirements

Must be legally able to work in the United States and maintain proper work authorization throughout employment.
A license to practice law in a U.S. jurisdiction is required.
Strong legal, organizational, and time-management skills.
Excellent oral and written communication skills.
Ability to work independently and as part of a diverse, multidisciplinary team.
Demonstrated commitment to social, racial, and economic justice.
Ability to meet the physical requirements of the position in a general office environment.

Nice To Haves

Membership in good standing with the Virginia bar, or immediate eligibility for admission upon motion to the Virginia bar, is strongly preferred.
Spanish language skills are strongly preferred.
Experience in immigration law; litigation and removal-defense experience is a plus.
Experience working with children and/or child custody or guardianship petitions is a plus.
Experience working with survivors of trauma is a plus.
Availability to begin work as soon as possible, contingent on funder approval, is preferred.

Responsibilities

Provide direct legal representation to low-income immigrants in matters before the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), particularly for immigrant survivors of intimate-partner violence and human trafficking and vulnerable children and youth.
Represent children who are or were in ORR custody and have been released to custodians in Northern Virginia, including in removal proceedings, Virginia state-court custody matters, and applications for other forms of relief before USCIS.
Advocate, when necessary, on behalf of clients who are crime victims, including human trafficking victims, in interactions with law enforcement.
Attend local and regional stakeholder, coalition, and advocacy meetings as an Ayuda representative and on behalf of Ayuda’s client population.
Stay current on relevant laws and policies by attending trainings and conferences and reviewing new laws, regulations, and court rules.
Assist with grant applications, grant administration, and reports.
Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

Platinum-level medical insurance plan.
Dental and vision insurance, 100% employer-paid.
Long-term disability insurance, 100% employer-paid.
Life and AD&D insurance, 100% employer-paid.
Pre-tax 401(k) with an employer match on the first 3% of salary.
Vacation: 21 days per year until year 3, 27 days per year in years 3–7, and 33 days per year after 7 years of employment; new employees begin with 3 days of vacation leave.
Health and wellness (sick) leave: 5 days for new employees, with an additional 5 hours accrued per pay period, plus emergency medical leave of up to 12 weeks per year.
12 weeks of paid parental leave.
24 paid holidays and staff wellness days, including Winter Break during the last week of the year.
Job-related professional development fees, including annual state bar dues and professional memberships.
Employees with federal student loan debt may be eligible to apply for Public Service Loan Forgiveness.