Senior Attorney II- NIJC Litigation Team

National Immigrant Justice Center • Chicago, IL

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

The National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC) advances human rights and due process for immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers through direct legal services, impact litigation, advocacy, and public education. Headquartered in Chicago with offices in Washington, DC, Indiana, and San Diego, NIJC's team of 100 attorneys, paralegals, and professionals, along with 2,000 pro bono attorneys, is at the forefront of immigration reform. This senior litigation attorney II is a full-time position focusing on federal-court litigation. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in litigation, including federal litigation, and demonstrate a commitment to immigrant and civil rights. This role offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to innovative litigation and policy advocacy within the federal courts, including both district courts and courts of appeal. Applicants must have at least 5 years' experience, but the ideal candidate would have substantially more experience.

Requirements

• A law degree (JD)
• License to practice law
• At least 5 years' experience in the legal field, preferably in the field of federal court practice, immigration removal defense, or a combination of the two.
• Fluency in English
• Demonstrated competency in public speaking and strong interpersonal skills required.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Windows operating systems.
• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

Nice To Haves

• Substantially more experience than 5 years
• Fluency in Spanish is strongly encouraged

Responsibilities

• Conduct legal research and analysis to support litigation efforts.
• Draft pleadings, briefs, motions, and other legal documents.
• Manage discovery processes, motion practice, and trial preparation.
• Represent clients in trials and appeals in both state and federal courts.
• Serve as lead counsel or co-lead counsel on complex litigation cases, including class action lawsuits and systemic reform cases.
• Develop and implement effective advocacy strategies in identified areas of focus.
• Provide immigration-court level representation in relevant litigation matters, such as representing a named plaintiff in a district court action tied to their immigration case.
• Collaborate with the organization's direct service, policy, and communications teams to ensure integrated advocacy efforts.
• Work with pro bono attorneys and other nonprofit organizations to further the efforts of various litigation matters and to advance the organization's mission and goals.

Benefits

• The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior