Senior Immigration Attorney

Salary Range: $100,000-$125,000

Who We Are:

Blessinger Legal PLLC is a boutique immigration firm in the Washington, DC metropolitan area dedicated to helping clients navigate the complex immigration process. The attorneys at Blessinger Legal PLLC work diligently to ensure that every client receives top-notch representation in all aspects of their immigration case. Blessinger Legal PLLC represents clients in matters before the Immigration Court, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Board of Immigration Appeals, the federal district courts, and the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Position Summary:

Removal Team

You will be responsible for representing individuals in Immigration Court. Depending on your bar admission, you may represent clients before the domestic relations court in Virginia, Maryland, or the District of Columbia for custody and special immigrant juvenile findings. With regard to removal work, we have a practice that focuses on fear-based relief (asylum, withholding of removal, Convention Against Torture), Cancellation of Removal for Certain Non-Permanent Residents, Cancellation of Removal for Permanent Residents, Adjustment of Status, NACARA, Requests for Prosecutorial Discretion.

Affirmative Team

You will meet regularly with clients for consultations and affidavits. You will also prepare clients for interviews before U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the U.S. Department of State, and the Asylum Office. You will primarily working on Family-based Petitions, Naturalization, Adjustment of Status, Asylum cases, affirmative NACARA applications, Waivers of Inadmissibility, VAWA, T-visas, I-360 (VAWA and SIJS), Employment Authorization Document, and Non-Immigrant and Immigrant Visa applications, among others.

Both Teams



Both teams will be drafting briefs or arguments and researching innovative, legal ways to help our clients. We always welcome our attorneys to think outside the box for possible solutions to our clients’ immigration problems.

General Duties and Responsibilities:

Representation:

• Provides direct representation of detained and non-detained cases for affirmative and defensive humanitarian relief. This includes representation for Asylum, Withholding of Removal, Protection under the Convention against Torture, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, Board of Immigration Appeals, U-Visas, T-Visas, waivers of inadmissibility, applications for employment authorization, and Cancellation of Removal.
• Represents clients before USCIS and in local state courts for custody/SIJS hearings.
• Manages potential client follow-up after intake, including assessment of legal relief.
• Remains abreast of new developments in the law and trains support staff on the law.
• Supervises legal assistants, interns, and law clerks on relevant aspects of direct representation.
• Undertakes own administrative functions, including casework (e.g., preparation of all aspects of filings), with administrative staff support.

This list is illustrative and not a complete list of all job functions.



Competencies Required:

Legal Proficiency:

The Associate Immigration Attorney demonstrates a solid understanding of legal concepts allowing the ideal applicant to provide competent and client-centered services with limited supervision. The Associate Immigration Attorney effectively advocates through written and oral work and assists support staff in doing the same. The Associate Immigration Attorney has experience litigating immigration cases before the Immigration Court and conducting client interviews before USCIS. The Associate Immigration Attorney can competently supervise legal assistants, law clerks, interns, and support staff on client relationships, legal strategy, research, and writing. The Associate Immigration Attorney demonstrates cultural competency and trauma-informed practices.

Administrative:

The Senior Attorney ensures that all administrative aspects of their position (and of their supervisees) are carried out without managerial intervention, including timekeeping, file upkeep, database upkeep, meeting deadlines, etc.

Required Qualifications:

• A U.S. law degree (J.D.) and admission to any state bar or the District of Columbia
• At least four years of relevant experience immigration law
• At least two years of experience with removal proceedings
• Driver’s license

Preferred Qualifications:

• Licensed to practice law in Maryland or Virginia, eligible to waive into the Maryland or Virginia bar, or willing to sit for the next scheduled bar exam
• Written and oral Spanish fluency

Training Provided:

• We offer a training schedule for new employees, including pre-recorded and live legal training sessions on the firm’s practice areas and office procedures.
• The firm provides a stipend for continuing legal education classes, up to $750 annually.

Benefits Offered:

• Competitive Salary
• Health and Dental Insurance through Blue Cross Blue Shield
• Flexible Spending Account
• Paid Time Off (80 hours) and Paid Holidays (President’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Thanksgiving Day, Day after Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day
• 401K w/ Company Match after one year of Employment (Firm matches 50% of all voluntary contributions up to 3% of salary).
• Bar Dues for one bar membership reimbursed.

Please submit a cover letter, resume, and legal writing sample of no more than ten pages to careers@blessingerlegal.com. The cover letter must address bar licensure, Spanish fluency, driver’s license, and salary expectations. Position open until filled.