Staff Attorney, Detained Adult Program- Know Your Rights (KYR)/Direct Representation

Amica Center for Immigrant Rights (Amica Center)•Washington, DC

35m•$61,500•Hybrid

About The Position

The Capital Area Immigrants’ Rights (CAIR) Coalition is now Amica Center for Immigrant Rights (“Amica Center” for short). Click here to learn more about our new name. Since our founding in 1999, we have grown significantly and added new services to support immigrants in detention. Recently, Amica Center has outgrown our name, expanding beyond our initial services and geographic boundaries. “Amica” is the Latin word for “friend,” and that echoes the way we approach what we do. Just as friends stand with one another, Amica Center stands with our clients to achieve the safety, stability, and opportunity we all deserve. We are the only non-profit organization in the Washington, D.C. area that is exclusively focused on providing legal assistance to adult and child immigrants detained by the government in the Capital Region and beyond. Our Work Environment The Detained Adult Program (DAP) works with hundreds of adults who are detained by ICE each year, providing information, support, and legal representation. We provide trauma-sensitive, person-centered services, and deeply value the autonomy of the people we work with in detention as they navigate the fundamentally inhumane immigration system. Amica Center’s Detained Adult Program is a highly collaborative work environment. Each team lead works directly with a focused team, but all colleagues are interconnected through, for example, case workshops or staff-run committees. DAP staff is a source of expertise in the highly complex and ever-changing immigration system. They have persisted through administration changes, policy shifts, and attacks on the rights and freedoms of immigrants through project-focused cohorts that arise to address challenges or to brainstorm and implement affirmative strategies.

Requirements

JD or Full DOJ Accreditation and 1 -3 years of relevant experience with at least one year of immigration law preferred.
If JD, active bar license required
Written and oral Spanish proficiency required, fluency preferred.
Ability to manage a docket of detained removal defense cases.
It is expected that the candidate will need to travel for work-related business. As a result, the candidate must possess a valid driver's license and be comfortable operating a vehicle upon hiring. This role requires travel, but qualified individuals with disabilities may be accommodated in a reasonable manner under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Nice To Haves

Strong trial advocacy skills preferred.

Responsibilities

Plan and lead visits to government detention facilities throughout Virginia (approximately 2-4 full days per month, including 2-day overnight visits), including oversight and supervision of staff and volunteers during visits and assistance in preparation and breakdown from visits.
Perform Know-Your-Rights presentations and pro se workshops in Spanish, English, and (with interpretation) other languages to help detained individuals navigate the immigration court system. Coordinate efforts to ensure every newly arrived person at the detention center has the opportunity to attend presentations. Assist in adapting presentations and workshops to respond to changes in the law and legal needs of the people we work with in detention.
Liaise with external partners at law schools, non-profit organizations, and firms in coordination with pro bono coordinating attorney for the purpose of securing and furthering access to legal services for detained individuals.
Identify and track trends and emerging issues faced by the people we work with in detention affecting their immigration cases. Coordinate with others in the organization to help detained people respond to and access better information on issues. Make appropriate referrals and provide necessary insight to in-house and external teams working on responding to the emergent issues identified.
Manages caseload of direct legal representation of detained clients in removal proceedings primarily before the Annandale, Hyattsville, and Elizabeth Immigration Courts and other courts as needed. This includes representation in cases such as Asylum, Withholding of Removal, Protection under the Convention against Torture, Board of Immigration Appeals, and Cancellation of Removal.
Provide expert mentoring to outside pro bono attorneys representing detained immigrants on a pro bono basis.
Prepare Post Release Plans and social service plans, in coordination with social services staff.
Research, engage, and prepare experts on health, behavioral health, and country conditions.
Supervise and coordinate with paralegal staff on case support.
Actively engage in Amica Center’s training and advocacy efforts, as needed.
Take part in stakeholder relationship activities as needed, including in-person and telephonic meetings with community groups, governmental bodies and representatives (including ICE, jail and court officials), and other legal service providers.
Coordinate with all internal Amica Center Programs (e.g., Impact Lab, Representation Programs,) to ensure all programs are kept abreast of detention developments, clients, and referrals.
Undertake own administrative functions, including for case and follow up work (e.g., preparation of all aspects of filings) and ensuring the inputting and accuracy of data and case information into shared databases in a timely fashion.
Assist other program staff in completion of their workload during high-work/low-bandwidth periods.

Benefits

Free gym access located in Washington, D.C (dependent on employee’s primary office)
Flexible working hours after successful completion of trainings and with approval of supervisor
Pre-tax commuter benefits for those living in the DMV
Subsidized health, dental insurance, and vision insurance (Amica Center pays a very high rate of the insurance package, for which we can provide additional information)
Life Insurance valued at $50,000, as well as long- and short-term disability
The option to set up a Flexible Spending Account
High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) with a one-time employer contribution of $350 to the Health Savings Account (HSA)
The option to set up a 403(b) savings account (the equivalent of a 401(k) account for non-profit organizations) which the organization has the option, for all employees on an annual basis, to match at a certain percentage after one year of continuous employment
23 Personal Days per calendar year
Up to 20 days of Sick Time per calendar year
7 hours of Volunteer Time Off per calendar year
Federal holidays
Paid winter break closure around the end of each year
12 weeks of parental leave