Staff Attorney

STAFF ATTORNEY POSITION

The Immigration Project (serving Central and Southern Illinois) is accepting applications for the position of a Staff Attorney to work within our Children in Detention Program.

Position: Staff Attorney working within the Universal Representation team

Agency: The Immigration Project

Location: Champaign, IL

Date Posted: July 2024, Application Open Until Position Filled

Job Type: Attorney Position

Schedule: Long-term, full-time, Grant dependent

Practice Areas: Immigration and Refugee

Agency Information:

The Immigration Project is a small, dynamic, immigration legal aid organization located in Normal, Illinois with a satellite office in Champaign, Illinois. The agency is the largest non-profit immigration legal services agency located in downstate Illinois with immigration attorneys on staff. Serving clients in 86 counties outside of the Chicago/Cook County area, The Immigration Project has an impact on communities across central and southern Illinois. More information on the organization can be found at http://www.immigrationproject.org.

The Immigration Project works with various detention centers. This work currently involves helping children in a detention center in our service area. Also, the detention program has expanded to represent adults in removal proceedings while they are in ICE custody in detention centers. Although The Immigration Project does not support the detainment of anyone, it is our priority to ensure that every individual in detention from our service area receives high quality legal representation to assist them in their immigration journey. This new Program will demand staff to be present consistently within the local detention center as well as regular presence in Chicago Immigration Court. This work will involve partial representation as well as full for those who are successfully released from detention.

Duties:

• Provide numerous Know Your Rights presentations to those in detention.
• Give legal consultations to both adult and children detainees.
• Provide direct representation to those in need while they remain in the detention center; this may include regular visits to the Chicago Immigration Court.
• Maintain a caseload of affirmative and defensive cases under the supervision and mentorship of the Managing Attorney, Legal Director, and/or Executive Director.
• Prepare immigration applications, attend USCIS interviews, make appearances before the EOIR, research applicable law, compose memoranda, write client affidavits, and draft motions and briefs as needed.
• Assist unrepresented children with requests for release on recognizance and/or custody redeterminations; assist adults in detention with bond cases.
• Participate in grassroots organizing and advocacy efforts based on expressed community needs under the direction of the Executive Director and/or the Legal Director.
• Present to the public on citizenship, Know Your Rights, recent executive orders, and other immigration matters.
• Work collaboratively with and mentor administrative staff, volunteers, Community Navigators, and both college and legal interns.
• Maintain reporting and case management systems as required by internal policies.
• In accord with the ethical standards required of the legal profession, the Code of Professional Responsibility, preserve client confidentiality, account for client monies and avoid conflicts of interest.
• Other job duties may be assigned.

Qualifications

• IL state bar membership is strongly preferred.
• Please indicate in your resume or cover letter your level of Spanish fluency and years of Spanish language experience.
• Ability to take and pass various background checks to meet grant requirements.
• Some immigration law experience is strongly preferred. Entry level candidates will be considered and provided appropriate training and mentorship.
• Previous experience working with immigrant communities, indigenous communities, children, victims of domestic violence, low-income individuals, and/or removal defense preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to serve clients in a professional, welcoming, and efficient manner.
• Strong organizational ability.
• High attention to detail.
• Ability to pass various background checks to meet grant requirements.
• Full-time position.
• Ability and willingness to travel throughout Illinois regularly.
• Ability to thrive in a flexible, fast-paced and growth-oriented environment, while maintaining a cooperative, friendly, and helpful attitude with clients and co-workers.

Salary: Dependent upon experience. Generous benefits package including flex time, vacation, personal, and sick days, full medical insurance and contributions to Health Savings Account, optional participation in dental and vision insurance. Retirement benefits available after two years.

Application Instructions: Managing Attorney Ximena Rivera Rengifo:

Application Deadline: Rolling basis until position filled

The Immigration Project is an equal opportunity employer.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $49,248.23 - $59,309.69 per year

Benefits:

• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday

License/Certification:

• Bar (Required)

Ability to Commute:

• Champaign, IL 61820 (Required)

Ability to Relocate:

• Champaign, IL 61820: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $49,248 - $59,310