Senior Staff Attorney

The New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC)•New York, NY

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC) is seeking a Senior Staff Attorney to join their Programs and Membership team. This is a contract-funded position focused on supporting vulnerable immigrants across New York State through various initiatives. The Senior Staff Attorney will act as an on-the-ground immigration attorney, contributing to a network of legal services with a focus on newly arrived immigrant populations and emerging legal needs. The role involves overseeing and providing limited scope affirmative and defensive immigration services, with the possibility of full scope representation in complex cases based on expertise. The position also includes direct management of two Paralegals and two Legal Assistants, who will provide legal support under the Senior Staff Attorney's supervision. The role requires close collaboration with internal teams, external partners, legal service providers, and community-based organizations. Legal services will be delivered through clinics (in-person, remote, or hybrid) and remote 1:1 assistance, with an emphasis on high quality and culturally responsive services. Duties include direct client services, supervising staff, and providing internal training on immigration law.

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.
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

Experience conducting outreach in immigrant communities for legal services.
Bilingual English- Spanish-language speaker.
Strong computer skills, including proficiency in Legal Server, Salesforce, Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets), Canva, Microsoft Office Suite.

Responsibilities

Coordinate and serve as an on-the-ground immigration attorney for legal clinics and direct legal services across New York State.
Provide direct limited scope legal services to clients, including applications for asylum, SIJS, TPS, EOIR filings, screenings, and general legal advice.
Supervise and conduct final reviews of limited scope legal services provided by 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 for legal service deliverables and emerging trends.
Communicate regularly with data management personnel to ensure efficient and accurate tracking of legal services 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 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 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.