Senior Staff Attorney, Detained Client Initiative

Ayuda•Washington, DC

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

Ayuda seeks a Senior Staff Attorney for its Detained Client Initiative to provide high-quality immigration legal representation to detained clients and help build the organization’s capacity for detained immigration work. The role serves as a lead subject-matter attorney, carries a detained caseload, supports participating Ayuda staff, mentors pro bono attorneys, and develops the systems, templates, trainings, and practice resources needed to launch and sustain the initiative. The position will help develop, implement, and refine the initiative in collaboration with the Managing Attorney, translating project goals into activities, deliverables, and recommendations. Direct representation may include bond proceedings, habeas petitions, removal defense, custody-related strategy, and related immigration matters within the initiative’s approved scope. The attorney will also contribute to outreach and community education, case and service-data tracking, quality control, and compliance with ethical, organizational, grant, and contract requirements. The role oversees work across Ayuda’s three offices. The employee identifies a primary office at hire—Washington, DC; Fairfax, Virginia; or Silver Spring, Maryland—and may travel to other offices, detention centers in the DMV, community locations, courts, and other relevant locations. The position is hybrid, with in-person and remote workdays subject to program needs and organizational policy. A valid driver’s license and access to a vehicle are required. The position is exempt from overtime.

Requirements

Must be legally able to work in the United States and maintain proper work authorization throughout employment.
Must be a member in good standing of a state bar or eligible to practice immigration law before federal agencies under applicable rules.
Must be able to meet the physical requirements of the position in general office, hybrid, court, detention, and community-based environments.
Must be comfortable traveling to and entering immigration detention centers in DC, Maryland, or Virginia.
Must be comfortable interacting with ICE agents and officers in detained settings.
Valid driver’s license and access to a vehicle.
Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school.
At least 5 years of immigration legal experience, including substantial experience in detained immigration work.
Experience representing clients in immigration court, before immigration agencies, or in related federal litigation or custody matters.
Strong understanding of trauma-informed, client-centered, and culturally responsive legal services.
Ability to manage urgent deadlines, complex cases, and high-stakes client matters with sound judgment and professionalism.
Excellent legal research, writing, oral advocacy, case-management, and communication skills.
Ability to work collaboratively with teams, community partners, pro bono attorneys, outside counsel, and organizational leadership.
Ability to gather input across teams, build alignment, and turn ideas into practical solutions.
Comfort with ambiguity and ability to establish structure, priorities, and direction in evolving environments.
Resourcefulness and adaptability when navigating challenges without established processes or clear precedents.

Nice To Haves

Experience mentoring attorneys, supervising legal staff, training pro bono attorneys, or developing legal practice tools.
Spanish language proficiency.

Responsibilities

Help develop, implement, and refine the Detained Client Initiative in alignment with Ayuda’s strategic priorities.
Translate project goals into concrete activities, deliverables, and recommendations in collaboration with the Managing Attorney.
Represent detained clients in matters within the initiative’s approved scope, which may include bond proceedings, habeas petitions, removal defense, custody-related strategy, and related immigration matters.
Serve as Ayuda’s primary subject-matter attorney for detained immigration work and help develop internal expertise, case-selection criteria, and practice standards.
Co-counsel detained matters with Ayuda attorneys who have capacity and supervisory approval.
Mentor, train, and support pro bono attorneys handling detained cases placed or supported through Ayuda.
Conduct or support know-your-rights presentations, outreach, legal consultations, and community education related to detained immigrant communities.
Create and maintain templates, trainings, practice advisories, screening tools, case-management processes, and quality-control systems for detained matters.
Supervise the Paralegal or Paralegal-Coordinator assigned to the initiative, if applicable.
Consult with outside counsel, mentoring organizations, and other detained-practice experts when specialized review or case-specific guidance is needed.
Track case activity, deadlines, client outcomes, service data, trends, and systemic barriers to inform project design, funding, and evaluation.
Help ensure compliance with conflicts procedures, engagement practices, ethical obligations, grant or contract requirements, and Ayuda policies.
Travel as needed to Ayuda offices, detention centers, community locations, courts, or other relevant locations.

Benefits

Platinum-level medical insurance plan, 100% employer-paid.
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 employer match on the first 3% of salary.
Vacation leave: 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; 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 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.