ProBAR - Staff Attorney Adult TX-CA

$72,236 - $85,320/Yr

American Bar Association - Harlingen, TX

Full-time - Entry Level

Hybrid - Harlingen, TX

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

About the position

The Staff Attorney for ProBAR's Adult Team is responsible for providing legal services to detained immigrants in removal proceedings, particularly those at risk of deportation. This role involves direct representation, legal orientations, and assistance for individuals seeking humanitarian immigration relief. The attorney will engage in significant legal advocacy, including handling asylum cases and petitions for release, while also mentoring pro bono attorneys and maintaining relationships with local stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Provides legal services, including direct representation, to detained or locally released immigrants in removal proceedings.
• Provides group and individual legal orientations to detained immigrants in immigration removal proceedings.
• Regularly appears in immigration court to represent clients seeking immigration relief such as asylum, T Visas, U Visas, and cancellation of removal.
• Mentors pro bono attorneys and non-attorney staff and volunteers as needed.
• Develops and maintains legal competency relating to immigration detention work.
• Builds and maintains relationships with local stakeholders.
• Observes ethical practices relating to confidentiality and all other applicable legal ethics standards.
• Maintains case files, documentation, and data integrity using the division's case management system.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Requirements

• Possession of a Juris Doctorate or Master of Law (LLM) from an ABA-accredited law school and be in good standing.
• Licensed to practice law in a U.S. state or territory.
• Fluent in English and Spanish in written and spoken forms.
• Intermediate proficiency with online research and Microsoft Office products (Word, Excel, OneDrive, Teams).
• Familiar with conducting virtual meetings, training, and observations on software such as Zoom and Teams.
• Reliable internet and phone connection.
• Ability to pick up on client verbal and non-verbal cues.
• Reliable transportation to travel to off-site work locations.
• Ability to travel to and enter detention centers.

Nice-to-haves

• Licensed to practice law and member in the State Bar of Texas, and one year experience.
• Prior work experience with clients from Central America and including indigenous language-speaking populations.
• Prior volunteer, community, or work experience regarding immigration or detention.
• Prior non-profit experience, particularly involving immigration detention.

Benefits

• Medical and prescription insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Voluntary life insurance
• Short- and long-term disability insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Prepaid Legal Plan
• 401 (k)
• Paid company holidays
• Personal time off
• Vacation time off
• Self-Care time off
• PSLF participant
• Sign on bonus offered
• Additional bonuses offered for continuous service at 2-year, 3-year, & 4-year service anniversaries
• Relocation Stipend offered for in state and out of state relocation