Cabrini Center has immediate openings for bilingual Spanish/English attorneys in the Unaccompanied Children Program
INTRODUCTION
St. Frances Center for Immigrant Legal Assistance is the legal services arm of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. It is one of the largest non-profit immigration legal services programs in the region. We provide free to low-cost immigration legal assistance to immigrants and refugees in Southeast Texas.
Job Description
We are looking for several energetic, social-justice-minded attorneys to join the Unaccompanied Children Program. In this role, you will help migrant children fleeing violence and persecution to apply for permanent immigration status and safe haven in the United States. You will join a team of committed attorneys and legal advocates to advocate for immigrant rights, to protect vulnerable children and to build a more fair and just immigration system. The Cabrini Center’s Unaccompanied Children Program follows the journey of migrant children who come to the United States without a parent or adult guardian, we teach them about their legal rights, we screen them for immigration relief, and we represent them in state court, USCIS and the Immigration Court to advance their claim for immigration relief. As an attorney of the Unaccompanied Children Program, you will have the following key duties and responsibilities:
• Meet the migrant children to screen them for immigration legal relief;
• Provide deportation defense to migrant children and represent them in state court, USCIS, Asylum Office and Immigration Court to help them obtain immigration relief such as Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, asylum, U or T visa, adjustment of status, etc.;
• Work with a team of committed attorneys, legal assistants, paralegals, and support staff to provide legal services to detained migrant children, coordinate with shelter staff and stakeholders to advocate for the legal interests of the migrant children;
• Supervise legal and support staff in the provision of legal assistance to the children;
• Manage a robust caseload in a fast-paced environment;
• Coordinate referral within Cabrini and externally with other legal services providers;
• Present at “charla” and provide legal consultation at post-charla workshops;
• Provide regular reports on cases, issue trends and statistics for grant reporting purposes; and
• Conduct community outreach and education on issues affecting immigrants.
The Cabrini Center invests in your success by providing extensive in-house training and giving you access to training organized by other groups. You will be supervised by the Senior Attorney of your shelter team. As a member of the network of legal services serving unaccompanied children, you will also have access to national experts for guidance and support.
An ideal candidate should have the following qualifications:
1. Juris Doctor degree from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association;
2. Licensed to practice law in Texas and is in good standing, or be eligible to take the next available Texas Bar or be admitted as an out-of-state attorney within one-year of hiring;
3. Proficiency in English and Spanish (speak, write, read) is required;
4. Immigration law experience and Texas family law practice experience strongly preferred;
5. Experience working with children and immigrants who are not proficient in English desirable;
6. Excellent legal research and writing skills, and superior client interview skills required;
7. Demonstrated commitment to social justice and multicultural sensibility;
8. Ability to multi-task, perform under pressure, flexibility and a sense of humor desirable; and
9. Reliable transportation, valid Texas Driver’s License and evidence of insurability
If you are interested in this position, please submit your resume, a list of references and a short (3-5 pages) writing sample at this portal: https://catholiccharities.org/aboutus/jobs/