Staff Attorney

Florence Project•Tucson, AZ

33d

About The Position

The Organization: The Florence Project was founded in 1989 to respond to a representation crisis for indigent non-citizens detained at the rural Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Detention Center in Florence, Arizona. Through our programs today, we provide services to thousands of adults, youth, and children detained in Eloy, Florence, Phoenix, and Tucson, Arizona on any given day. In 2001, the Florence Project implemented our Integrated Social Services Program, one of the first of its kind in this field. The Florence Project provides high quality legal and social services and supports initiatives for national changes in immigration law and policy. Primary Purpose of the Job: The Florence Immigrant & Refugee Rights Project’s Border Action Team Staff Attorney position intends to enhance the provision of legal services to asylum seekers encountered at the U.S. southern border. The Staff Attorney will be under the direction of the Border Action Team’s Managing Attorney. This position is intended to be adaptive, based on the constantly evolving landscape of U.S. border policy – including, but not limited to, policies like metering, expulsions without due process, removal proceedings at the border, and various forms of expedited removal – as well as the impact those policies have on the use of detention. The Staff Attorney will provide legal orientation, consultation, and some direct representation to asylum seekers at the Arizona/Sonora border and/or in the credible fear process at the border or in ICE detention. The Staff Attorney will also provide Know Your Rights presentations and pro se assistance, as well as direct representation to other individuals in detention, as needed. The distribution of tasks is highly dependent upon program priorities at the time, based upon current border and immigration policies. The Staff Attorney will also collaborate on advocacy efforts to protect and improve due process. The Staff Attorney will be an employee of FIRRP but, like all members on the Border Action Team, will work closely with the Kino Border Initiative staff and other NGO community partners as well. This position is based out of FIRRP’s Tucson office but requires frequent travel to Sonora, Mexico. Some travel to the detention facilities and Immigration Courts in Eloy and Florence, Arizona, may also be required.

Requirements

J.D. and admission to any state bar. Alternatively, applicants who are law school graduates who have taken the Uniform Bar Examination (UBE) and achieved a score of 260-269 are eligible to apply, with commitment to purse admission to the Arizona State Bar through the Arizona Lawyer Apprentice Program (ALAP).
To be certified eligible for an ALAP license, applicants must: Graduate from an ABA-accredited law school.
Achieve a score of 260-269 on the Uniform Bar Exam (UBE) administered after July 1, 2023.
Meet all other requirements for admission to practice law in Arizona, including a thorough background check.
Secure qualifying employment and commit to practice under the supervision of a qualified Arizona attorney in rural Arizona or in a public law practice, for a minimum of two years.
Successful applicants will be offered the Law Graduate position with a Law Graduate salary range , providing an opportunity to gain supervised legal experience while completing the requirements for bar admission through ALAP
Fluency in Spanish required.
Must be able to lawfully exit and enter the U.S./Mexico border
Must be comfortable working regularly crossing the border to work in Mexico either on foot or in personal vehicle.
Ability to work independently, be highly adaptable and reliable in the face of conflict, pressure, crisis or changing priorities.
Sharp legal mind; strong litigation experience and/or oral advocacy skills.
Accuracy and attention to detail a must.
Enjoys high-volume and challenging casework and is successful in obtaining results.
Demonstrated commitment to advocating for indigent immigrant clients in a respectful and empowering way, zealous support of the Florence Project’s mission, and displays a commitment to diversity and inclusion.
Must be comfortable working with people with criminal convictions.
Strong litigation experience and/or oral advocacy skills.
Strong legal research.
Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work with diverse populations.
Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.
Highly organized, an innovative thinker, and work in high-volume settings with limited resources.
Excellent problem solving, research and analytical skills.
Effectively manage multiple projects and meet deadlines.
Demonstrate to be a hardworking, flexible, respectful team player that can work effectively in a collaborative, innovative, and client centered work environment.
Exhibit high ethical standards and the ability to maintain confidentiality.
Must be able to pass federal and state background checks.
Fluency or advanced proficiency in Spanish required.
Travel is required for this position
Must have valid driver's license and reliable transportation.
Proven computer skills, including advanced understanding of basic office applications.

Nice To Haves

Experience working within removal defense previously is strongly preferred.
Experience working with nonprofit organizations that engage with government entities is a plus
Prior advocacy, practice, or clinical experience in immigration law and specifically asylum law is strongly preferred.
Experience working with survivors of abuse, human trafficking, or other trauma is a plus.
Experience with databases and data tracking (i.e., Legal Server).

Responsibilities

Legal Orientation and Education at the Arizona/Mexico border: Conduct regular “Know Your Rights” presentations, legal orientations, and/or group workshops in, but not limited to, Nogales, Sonora, Mexico or within Arizona.
Communicate and interpret immigration and department policies and programs to the public, including public speaking on such matters as “Know Your Rights” and other matters as requested.
Develop or update pro se materials for the populations the Border Action Team serves.
Develop group workshops on targeted, specific legal issues for the populations the Border Action Team serves (e.g. for fear interview preparation; I-589 application support; evidence gathering, etc.) and with consideration of how workshops expand our clients' access to asylum or enhance their removal defense in light of current border policies.
Remain current on the implications of criminal and civil law as it applies to clients’ options for relief from removal.
Actively stay apprised and trained in developments in both border and immigration policies, whether they are proposed policies, impending policies, active policies in effect, or past policies.
Advocacy: Support the Florence Project’s efforts to document cases of due process violations at the Arizona/Sonora border and collaborate in the preparation of reports and advocacy documents explaining the legal implications and human consequences of these violations.
Proactively communicate with community partners and supervisors at FIRRP, including participating in joint quarterly meetings to review caseload, documentation for advocacy efforts, and other emerging considerations.
Participate in local, regional, and national stakeholder meetings, as necessary, to stay abreast of border policy.
Create agendas and track deliverables and requests in stakeholder meetings and relay that information to the team or external stakeholders, as appropriate.
Casework at the Arizona/Mexico border: Conduct in-depth intake interviews for either pro se or direct representation of individuals at the Arizona/Mexico border.
Communicate with clients to obtain initial and follow-up information.
Provide either pro se support or direct representation to individuals seeking immigration relief at the Arizona/Sonora border, including evaluating for not only underlying immigration relief but also for exemptions or exceptions from any current deterrence-based border policies.
Ensure the accuracy, substance, and timeliness of statistical and narrative reports, projects, schedules, and other relevant work products.
Work with other team members to develop case strategies consistent with immigration law and procedure.
Assist in implementing an agreed-upon strategy.
Prepare legal filings and submissions (make copies) and submit them to the court as needed by the attorneys.
Maintains complete and accurate case notes and client records.
Prepares timely statistical reports.
In accordance with required ethical standards, preserve client confidentiality and avoid conflicts of interest.
Refer clients who are released from CBP custody to appropriate pro bono resources in their destination community when such resources are available and develop or maintain a compilation of pro se packets of resources.
Casework for adults within Arizona immigration detention facilities: Depending on team capacity & current border realities, staff attorneys may be required to provide either pro se support or direct representation to individuals who are detained by ICE within Arizona detention facilities in a variety of matters, including but not limited to: bond; parole; requests for asylum, withholding, or CAT relief, appellate matters, etc.
Track cases and outcomes accordingly.
Prepare legal memorandums, motions, briefs, pre-hearing statements, and other legal documents in support of immigration benefits, as needed.
Gather resources on expert witnesses and country conditions to serve as evidence.
Refer clients who are released from ICE custody to appropriate pro bono resources in their destination community when such resources are available.
Track and monitor caseload and relevant deadlines.
Work with other team members to develop case strategies consistent with immigration law and procedure.
Assist in implementing an agreed-upon strategy.
Keep clients informed of the status of matters and comply with reasonable requests for information.
Investigate and develop evidence to support clients' fear-based claims, such as drafting client declarations, witness letters, and obtaining supporting documents from feared country of return.
Conduct case and legal research (e.g., country conditions).
Communicate with experts or witnesses as needed.
Prepare legal filings and submissions (make copies) and submit them to the court as needed.
Maintains complete and accurate case notes and client records.
Prepares timely statistical reports.
Remain current on implications of criminal and civil law as it applies to immigrants and refugees’ representation.
In accordance with required ethical standards, preserve client confidentiality and avoid conflicts of interest.
Administrative / Data Entry: Data entry, timekeeping, and file management as required.
Organize and maintain client files (both paper and electronic).
Other duties as necessary—which may include but are not limited to going to facilities to get signatures, translations, assisting with document collection, scanning, photocopying, collating, and faxing information.
Prepare, proofread, and send documents as assigned.
Other Duties & Responsibilities: Attend all team meetings and relevant trainings.
Be well versed in immigration law, policies and procedures.
Participate in organizational fundraising and outreach efforts as requested.
Participate in developing and implementing special projects or presentations.
Other duties as assigned.

Benefits

Medical plans including health, dental, vision coverage, subject to plan terms
Short Term Disability
Eligibility for group benefits such as voluntary life insurance, subject to applicable waiting periods
Retirement plan, subject to plan terms
Paid Time Off earned on a biweekly accrual basis- Twenty-five (25) Days of Vacation Time, annually
Five (5) Days of Medical/Sick Time, annually
One (1) Day of Personal Time, monthly
Eight (8) Week Paid Sabbatical, after three years of employment
Bereavement leave.
Fifteen (15) Organization-paid holidays, all observed
Eligible for Parental Leave which includes Twelve (13) paid weeks
Mileage reimbursement for travel between offices and places of work.
Relocation Assistance for out of state new hires available for some positions.