Staff Attorney

Center for Immigrant & Refugee Advancement•Omaha, NE

3d•Onsite

About The Position

Each Attorney is an integral part of CIRA’s Legal Department. The core functions of this position, described in more detail below, are: (1) direct representation; (2) client communication; and (3) education and advocacy. This attorney position is housed within the Asylum Team, which specializes in affirmative and defensive asylum claims but also handles other humanitarian and family-based immigration matters. The ideal candidate for this position is a leader who is passionate about providing excellent legal representation with compassion and integrity.

Requirements

Must have a Juris Doctor degree from an accredited school of law in the United States.
Licensed to practice law in Nebraska or able to obtain a license to practice law in Nebraska.
Exceptional legal research and writing ability and impeccable organizational skills.
Ability to manage confidential documents and communications in a professional manner.
Strong interpersonal communication and people skills.
Commitment to CIRA’s mission and values in serving immigrants, refugees, and newcomers, and a demonstrated commitment to public interest law.
Deep understanding of and ability to work sensitively and well with people of diverse national, ethnic, cultural, religious, and gender identities, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
Fluency in using Office 365 applications (ex. Outlook, Word, Excel, SharePoint, etc.) and the ability to learn new data management software.
Exhibits responsibility through consistent attendance, effective time management, dependability, self-discipline, flexibility, and working independently.
Ability to work in a team and handle multiple tasks in an organized and timely manner.
Impeccable integrity, positive attitude, mission-driven, and self-directed.
Ability to think strategically, problem-solve, exercise good judgment, and lead change.
Openly supports departmental and organizational changes and demonstrates comfort working in a rapidly growing and evolving organization.
Ability to take initiative and make difficult decisions when necessary.
Ability to pass all required background checks.
Must be authorized to work in the United States.

Nice To Haves

Fluency in Spanish is strongly preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

Work with and maintain collaborative communication with attorneys, DOJ-accredited representatives, and staff who contribute to serving clients who may qualify for immigration relief.
Represent adult and child clients before the Omaha Immigration Court, Board of Immigration Appeals, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Immigration and Customs Enforcement, as well as Nebraska County and District Courts.
Manage a caseload of affirmative and defensive asylum cases, including other humanitarian and family-based case types for which asylum applicants and their immediate family members may also apply, including a significant volume of Special Immigrant Juvenile cases in state courts and before federal agencies.
Collaborate with CIRA’s social work department to ensure that “Unaccompanied Child” clients receive supportive case management services.
Contribute to targeted legal service delivery (such as relief-specific legal clinics) to represent particularly vulnerable populations in seeking specific forms of immigration relief.
Maintain complete and accurate client records in physical files and on CIRA’s case management software, including but not limited to logging all new activities, filing receipts, correspondence, and filings in the case file, tracking reminders and deadlines, meeting those deadlines, etc., as described in detail in CIRA’s Legal Procedures Manual.
Effectively and efficiently track open and closed cases using CIRA’s case management software.
Maintain regular contact with clients and promptly return calls in accordance with the Legal Procedures Manual.
Keep clients aware of the status of their case.
Inform clients of the risks and benefits of applying for immigration relief.
Maintain an accurate record of every client communication within CIRA’s case management system.
Contribute to outreach and education programs related to asylum, other forms of humanitarian protection, and the rights of noncitizens under U.S. law.
Engage in community education and advocacy to promote an accurate understanding of immigration law and policy and to advocate for changes that will positively benefit humanitarian and family-based immigrants.