Staff Attorney (Rapid Response)

NYLAG•New York, NY

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG) seeks a highly motivated Spanish-speaking Staff Attorney for a full-time position representing detained immigrant New Yorkers and those at imminent risk of detention and deportation as part of NYLAG’s partnership with the Rapid Response Legal Collaborative (RRLC). The job requires a proactive ability to solve problems under time pressure, the strongest commitment to clients, and a desire to work at the forefront of the effort to protect due process and immigrants’ rights during an extremely challenging time. This attorney in this position will provide legal representation before the federal district courts, immigration courts, Board of Immigration Appeals, and circuit courts for detained and non-detained immigrants, including immigrants with final orders of removal.

Requirements

Juris Doctorate from an accredited school
Admission to the New York State bar
Fluency in Spanish required
Minimum 1 years experience working in removal defense required, 2 years preferred
Experience working with detained and/or post-order clients preferred
Excellent writing, speaking and organizational skills
Ability to communicate effectively with clients, community organizations, attorneys, the judiciary, and the public
Ability to work in a collaborative setting with other professionals
Demonstrated commitment to immigrant rights, criminal justice, and/or social justice issues
Experience working with survivors of trauma and at the intersection of criminal law and immigration law
Ability to work independently and under pressure

Responsibilities

Represent immigrants who are detained or at imminent risk of detention with petitions for habeas corpus, accompaniment to check-ins, final orders of removal in appeals, motions to reopen and other proceedings before the immigration courts, Board of Immigration Appeals, and Circuit Courts of Appeal.
Appear in both the detained and non-detained Immigration Courts on a regular basis to represent immigrants in removal proceedings.
Prepare and file appeals to the Board of Immigration Appeals and Second Circuit Court of Appeals as needed.
Draft and file habeas corpus petitions and other federal litigation as needed.
Prepare and file motions, briefs, forms, affidavits, other supporting documents, motions, and legal memoranda for submission to USCIS, EOIR, the Board of Immigration Appeals, federal district courts and circuit courts.
Provide pro se assistance with motions to reopen, applications for asylum, petitions for habeas corpus and other related matters.
Screen clients for eligibility for immigration relief, petitions for habeas corpus, motions to reopen, and grounds for appeal.
Provide legal advice and counsel to detained individuals, individuals at risk of detention, their family members and community members.
Interview clients in and out of detention, as well as their witnesses.
Conduct client consultations of detained and non-detained clients and track client cases, progress of applications, and follow up for funding purposes.
Represent NYLAG to our funders and collaborative partners including sharing materials, and attending meetings, conferences, and trainings.
Supervise interns, volunteers, and pro bono attorneys as needed.
Any other job duties as required.