Staff Attorney - Immigration Impact Unit
About The Position
The Immigration Impact Unit of the Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS), the public defender agency of Massachusetts, is hiring a staff attorney as part of the Massachusetts Access to Counsel Initiative (MACI) at CPCS. This Staff Attorney will focus on representing individuals with connection to the criminal legal system. The Staff Attorney will represent detained and non-detained clients in removal and bond proceedings before the Immigration Court, the Board of Immigration Appeals, related proceedings before the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services ("USCIS") and, when appropriate, in Federal Court. We fight for equal justice and human dignity by supporting our clients in achieving their legal and life goals. We zealously advocate for the rights of individuals and promote just public policy to protect the rights of all. The MACI team is seeking an attorney to represent detained and non-detained clients in removal and bond proceedings before the Immigration Court, the Board of Immigration Appeals, related proceedings before the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services ("USCIS") and, when appropriate, in Federal Court. This position is funded through a combination of private and MACI program funding. Through the private funding, approximately 50% of this attorney's time will be dedicated to representing individuals who are otherwise ineligible for MACI’s services. The remaining 50% of the position is devoted to providing legal services to MACI eligible clients. This attorney will be focused on the intersection of criminal and immigration law. The Staff Attorney will report to the Supervising Attorney. Please note, this position is contingent on annual grant-funding from the Governor’s Office for Immigrant and Refugees and private funding through the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition. Therefore, funding for this position is only guaranteed for the duration of the grant period. While it is anticipated that additional funding may be awarded, that is not guaranteed.
Requirements
- Must be eligible to practice law either as a member of the Massachusetts bar in good standing or as a member in good standing of the bar of another jurisdiction and be qualified to practice federal immigration law
- Access to an automobile in order to travel to courts, clients, and detention centers that are not easily accessible by public transportation
- Access to home internet access sufficient to work remotely
Nice To Haves
- Relevant clinical program, internship, or work experience strongly preferred
- Proficiency in an additional language(s) other than English preferred, with strong preference for Spanish, Haitian Creole, and Portuguese
Responsibilities
- Providing high quality, client-centered representation for detained and non-detained noncitizens in removal proceedings in immigration courts, before the Board of Immigration Appeals and in Federal Court
- Representing non-detained clients released on bond
- Engaging in affirmative litigation
- Working collaboratively with other organizations, pro bono lawyers, and partners
- Maintaining a full caseload of clients
- Maintaining, organizing, and updating case files and case management database
- Participating in ongoing training provided through MACI
- Participating in regularly scheduled MACI team meetings to discuss individual cases, systemic concerns, and other topics as determined by supervisors
- Participating in regular supervision meetings
- Other duties as assigned
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
No Education Listed
