Staff Attorney Children's Protection Project, NIJC

National Immigrant Justice Center•Chicago, IL

13d

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. NIJC seeks human rights/immigration attorneys with all years of experience, including recent law graduates , to join our nationally recognized team . This position provides legal representation and counseling to detained and non-detained unaccompanied immigrant children before U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) and the Chicago Immigration Court. The Staff Attorney also advocates for clients before other government administrative agencies and before other service agencies, as needed and/or as appropriate .

Requirements

Juris Doctorate Degree .
Fluency in English and Spanish is .
Excellent oral and written communication skills.
Demonstrated competency in public speaking and strong interpersonal skills required .
Proficiency in Microsoft Office.
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

Experience working with low-income immigrants, children, and survivors of violence preferred.
Additional non-English language skills are preferred.

Responsibilities

Conducts preliminary intake of interview s , gathering all relevant facts for presentation in supervisory meetings .
Assess es income eligibility and recommend s appropriate referrals for those individuals not eligible for NIJC's services.
Provides pro se support when appropriate .
Develops and implements case strategies through independent research and writing as well as collaboration with colleagues.
Prepares case s for hearing s by drafting legal documents , engaging in negotiation, preparing clients for testimony, and presenting evidence .
Remains current on immigration law, policies , and procedures.
Develops and maintains professional relationships with the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS), government and social service organizations , and community organizations.
Maintains complete and accurate client records.
Prepares timely statistical reports.
Conducts quarterly case audits for presentation and review of the Supervisor.
Participates in training on immigration procedures as assigned by the Supervisor.
May conduct training sessions as assigned by the Supervisor.
Participates in developing and implementing special projects.
Identifies trends and recurring legal and social concerns.
Recommends strategies for solutions and other needed advocacy.