Senior Staff Attorney

NYIC•New York City, NY

59d•Hybrid

About The Position

This is a contract-funded position for various initiatives that the NYIC is undertaking to support vulnerable immigrants throughout New York State. The Senior Staff Attorney will serve as an on-the-ground immigration attorney contributing to a network of legal services across several regions of New York State, with a focus on newly arrived immigrant populations and emerging legal services needs. The Senior Staff Attorney will oversee and provide limited scope affirmative and defensive services to clients. On a case-by-case basis and dependent on expertise, the Senior Staff Attorney may engage in full scope representation in complex cases. The Senior Staff Attorney will directly manage four full-time staff: two Paralegals and two Legal Assistants, who will also provide legal support to clients under their supervision and direction. The Senior Staff Attorney will report to the Managing Attorney and will work closely with internal teams as well as external partners, including legal service providers and community-based organizations. Limited scope legal services are delivered via legal clinics (in-person, remote, or hybrid) and remote 1:1 legal assistance. The Senior Staff Attorney will ensure that the legal services provided through this program are high quality and culturally responsive. Their duties include direct services (completing screenings, providing legal advice, drafting applications, filing limited scope motions, etc.), supervising the direct services provided by the Paralegals and Legal Assistants (screenings, drafting, notarizing, etc.), and providing internal training and expertise on relevant immigration legal topics.

Requirements

Licensed attorney admitted to practice in New York.
Five (5) years of relevant professional experience representing and working with diverse immigrant communities in affirmative and/or defensive immigration postures.
Three (3) years of relevant supervision experience, preferably of immigration legal staff, including attorneys, paralegals, and other support staff.
Demonstrated expertise in one or more areas: immigrant detention, bond or habeas, survivor-based relief, or other humanitarian relief.
Experience with successfully developing and conducting strategic collaboration and events with diverse organizations and programs; experience conducting outreach in immigrant communities for legal services preferred.
Strong skills in community organizing and community advocacy, specifically with underserved and diverse communities.
Attention to detail, particularly in preparing applications and documents to be filed with various government agencies.
Strong interpersonal skills, able to promote cohesion among immigration legal staff, including attorneys, paralegals, and other support staff.
Adaptability to changing work environments, processes, and emerging needs.
Experience with fast-paced environments and juggling multiple tasks simultaneously.

Nice To Haves

Bilingual English- Spanish-language speaker preferred.
Strong computer skills preferred, including proficiency in Legal Server, Salesforce, Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets), Canva, Microsoft Office Suite.

Responsibilities

In consultation with the Managing Attorney, coordinate and serve as an on-the-ground immigration attorney for legal clinics and direct legal services across New York State.
Contribute to regional and remote legal support from attorneys, paralegals, and other support staff, both internal and external to the NYIC.
Provide direct limited scope legal services to clients. These services may include, but are not limited to, 1) applications for asylum, Special Immigration Juvenile Status (SIJS), Temporary Protected Status (TPS), 2) Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) filings such as Motions to Reopen, Change Venue, Change Hearing Format, 3) screenings for eligibility, and 4) general legal advice.
Supervise and conduct final reviews of the direct limited scope legal services provided to clients, particularly by full-time Paralegals and Legal Navigators.
Serve as a legal resource and answer questions from partner organizations, clients, volunteers, and other stakeholders.
Exercise legal judgment and advise clients in a manner that is ethically sound, trauma-informed, and adheres to best practices.
Draft, edit, and/or review training materials for legal volunteers, legal clinic guides, resources for legal services providers, and community-facing informational documents.
Oversee and participate in data collection, tracking, and reporting to ensure efficiency, accuracy, and transparency of legal service deliverables and emerging trends.
Communicate regularly with data management personnel to ensure efficient and accurate tracking of legal services provided and adherence to protocols.
Adhere to, and if applicable, suggest policies and procedures to enhance the protection of personal identifying information and data privacy.
Support the Legal Director and Managing Attorney in implementing follow through of strategic decisions made regarding litigation efforts, special projects, and rapid response frameworks.
Develop training efforts and serve as the primary trainer on relevant topics in immigration law for our internal legal team’s professional development.
Liaise with legal and non-legal service providers, external partners, and other stakeholders.
Occasionally moves or carries materials weighing 50 pounds or less.