IMMIGRANT YOUTH STAFF ATTORNEY POSITION CHILDREN AND YOUTH ADVOCACY PROGRAM (CYAP)

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Job location
615 Second Ave
Suite 400
Seattle, WA 98104
United States
Organization information
Organization name: 
Northwest Immigrant Rights Project
Street address: 
615 Second Ave, Suite 400
City: 
Seattle
State: 
Washington
ZIP: 
98104
Job type: 
Other
Position Description: 

SUMMARY:
Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP) seeks a full time Spanish-speaking attorney to provide community outreach, education, and direct representation to individuals eligible for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and to provide other services to immigrant youth and their families. The applicant must be fluent in English and Spanish. The applicant must be able to start the position by February 2021.
While the staff attorney will join the Children and Youth Program (CYAP) team in NWIRP’s Seattle office, the staff attorney will work closely with other staff members across NWIRP’s four offices and community partners in Washington State, conducting outreach and community education, and providing individual consultations to persons who may be eligible for relief under the DACA program. The attorney will provide legal assistance to community members through: individual consultations, self-help assistance in the form of community workshops and legal clinics, community education, and direct representation in priority cases. The staff attorney may also be assigned work relating to other immigration matters. The role is currently mostly remote due to COVID-19, but will resume to work out of NWIRP’s Seattle office once operations return to in office.
CYAP serves immigrant children and youth. A large percentage of CYAP clients are unaccompanied children from Central America and Mexico who are in removal proceedings. CYAP staff maintain diverse caseloads and assist young people to apply for various forms of immigration protection, including Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS), Asylum, Self-petitions under VAWA, U visas, T visas, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), Adjustment of Status, and removal defense before immigration courts. CYAP attorneys also handle Washington State court proceedings related to a child’s eligibility for SIJS and administer monthly legal clinics for DACA applicants. The staff attorney will support NWIRP’s response to the anticipated shift in policy regarding the DACA program and provide direct representation to clients who would be DACA-eligible applying for various forms of relief as assigned by supervisory staff. Expected responsibilities are listed below.
This position is expected to travel around the State in order to conduct community education and workshops or meet with staff or clients in NWIRP’s other offices—Granger, Tacoma, and Wenatchee. A valid driver’s license will be required in order to meet these expectations. The position may involve evening and weekend work hours

BENEFITS AND COMPENSATION:
NWIRP is proud to be a unionized employer and this full-time position is covered by NWIRP’s Collective Bargaining Agreement.
In 2020, the beginning annual salary for candidates with no experience is $64,201 for a licensed attorney with no experience and is higher for attorneys with specific types of experience. For example, for someone with 10 years of directly relevant experience the annual salary would be $87,624; 20 years = $103,889. NWIRP also is proud to offer a generous benefits package, including:
• 100% of premiums for excellent health, vision and dental plans
• 3% employer retirement contributions
• Disability/life/AD&D coverage
• Annual leave of 16 paid vacation days, 13 paid holidays, 12 paid health-related days
• Free Parking access
• 12 weeks of paid parenthood leave after 6 months of employment
• Partially paid sabbatical after 6 years of employment

COMMITMENT TO INCLUSIVITY, EQUITY AND REPRESENTATION:
Northwest Immigrant Rights Project is an equal opportunity employer committed to having a diverse staff, board, and volunteer base reflective of the communities we serve and that enhances our ability to create a vibrant environment where all members of the NWIRP community thrive. We strongly encourage applications from individuals who identify as Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), immigrants (including people who were formerly detained, undocumented, or who have navigated the immigration legal system), women, people with disabilities, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and individuals with diverse cultural backgrounds and language abilities.
It is the policy of NWIRP to comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws prohibiting employment discrimination. NWIRP is committed to providing a work environment free from discrimination and harassment. NWIRP does not discriminate on the basis of class, race, color, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, political ideology, age, creed, religion, ancestry, national origin, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability. Excepting any undue hardship, NWIRP will provide reasonable accommodations upon request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.

RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Provide direct representation to CYAP clients who would be DACA-eligible and are applying for deferred action or other affirmative relief with USCIS or the Department of State;
• Provide direct representation to persons in removal proceedings before the Immigration Court, on appeal to the Board of Immigration Appeals or before the federal courts, and before the Department of Homeland Security;
• Conduct intakes, by phone and in person, and interview clients to gather or clarify information;
• Conduct case analysis to determine eligibility for immigration relief, and provide direct legal services;
• Provide direct representation to persons in state court proceedings, as needed;
• Maintain a working knowledge of significant policies, laws, practices, and trends in immigration law;
• Perform administrative tasks related to grant reporting and other requirements;
• Establish, organize, and maintain files;
• Participate in NWIRP’s outreach, community education, and development efforts;
• Perform other tasks as required and directed by supervisory staff;
• Other responsibilities may be assigned depending upon NWIRP’s needs;

Responsibilities specific to NWIRP’s response to the continuation of the DACA program:
· Coordinate community education events and workshops throughout Washington State with NWIRP staff;
· Conduct presentations, workshops, legal clinics, and individual consultations in Spanish and English;
· Provide support to NWIRP staff on cases dealing with the impact of DACA;
· Help in the coordination of monthly DACA legal clinics conducted by CYAP staff attorneys; and
· Other tasks as assigned.

Physical demands: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand and walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; talk and hear; utilize a phone, computer, keyboard, pen and paper. This position will also require travel and commuting to rural areas.

Emotional demands: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to discuss topics including, but not limited, to discrimination; child abuse, neglect, abandonment; domestic abuse; and other violence.

SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS:
· Law degree;
· Admission to the bar of any state in the U.S. (admission to the WA State Bar is preferred);
· Demonstrated commitment to advancing and defending the rights of immigrants and willingness to support NWIRP’s mission, vision, and values;
· Excellent written and oral communication skills, and ability to organize information in a clear and concise manner;
· Commitment to working in a diverse working environment;
· Fluent in English and Spanish;
· Previous work experience working with children and youth preferred;
· Previous work experience with DACA program required;
· Previous work with remote legal assistance required;
· Strong organizational skills and ability to work independently;
· Proficiency in use of web-based software, MS Word and MS Excel, and web peer-to-peer communication platforms; and
· The applicant must have a valid driver’s license and access to a vehicle as the position involves some travel.

REPORTS TO:
Supervising Attorney, CYAP

TO APPLY:
Please submit your resume, a list of 3 references, and a cover letter describing 1)how your lived or work experience make you a good fit for this role; and 2) what ideas do you have to reach a balance between the urgent needs for direct representation with NWIRP’s focus on community education for communities across WA State to [email protected]. In your email subject line please respond with your First name, Last name_Immigrant Youth Staff Attorney. Full consideration will be given to those who apply by January 27, 2021, but application will be accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

ABOUT NORTHWEST IMMIGRANT RIGHTS PROJECT:
Founded in 1984, NWIRP is a nationally-recognized legal services organization on the front lines of defending and advancing the rights of immigrants. Each year, NWIRP provides direct legal representation and assistance in immigration matters to thousands of people with low incomes who come from over 160 countries and speak over 60 different languages. NWIRP challenges unjust policies through high-impact lawsuits and advocates for laws and policies that respect the rights of immigrants. NWIRP is also a trusted provider of immigration-related community education for immigrant communities and social service providers. NWIRP has a staff of over 120 and an annual budget of over $13 million. NWIRP serves the community through four offices in Washington State (Granger, Seattle, Tacoma and Wenatchee), but the impact of our work is felt nationwide.

Requirements: 

Please see above.

To apply: 

Please see above.

Notes: 
Equal Opportunity Employer
Submission deadline: 
Wednesday, January 27, 2021