Immigration attorney jobs in Elmont, New YorkCreate job alerts

Job Description Brooklyn Defender Services’ (BDS) is seeking Entry Level Attorneys to join the Criminal Defense Practice in the Queens Office in September 2026. BDS is a public defense office representing low-income New Yorkers in criminal, family, immigration, and civil legal matters. For nearly 30 years, BDS has worked, in and out of court, to protect and uphold the rights of individuals and to change laws and systems that perpetuate injustice and inequality. Our legal expertise work with clients is focused on the intersections of these legal systems that disproportionately impact Black and Brown communities living in poverty. BDS represents thousands of people each year who have diverse, complex, and multi-faceted legal needs. In addition to a zealous legal defense, our interdisciplinary teams of attorneys, social workers and advocates provide a wide range of legal and advocacy services, including for housing, public benefits, education, and employment. BDS staff work collaboratively and across disciplines to deliver high-quality legal services that serve the people we represent, their families and communities. BDS’ Criminal Defense Practice zealously defends people who are accused of a crime in Queens, fighting to protect the individual rights of clients’ and minimize harm from involvement with the criminal legal system. BDS’ staff consists of attorneys, social workers, investigators, paralegals, and administrative professionals who work collaboratively to bring about the best outcome for each client. Under the supervision of a Supervising Attorney, attorneys directly represent clients who have been arrested and face criminal charges. BDS provides a comprehensive training program for entry-level attorneys. This is followed by a period of time where they handle misdemeanor cases with supervision and then gradually move on to handling more serious cases. Responsibilities • Directly represent clients in Queens Criminal and Supreme Courts from intake through dismissal, plea or trial., • Foster strong attorney/client relationships., • Work collaboratively on interdisciplinary case teams with social workers, investigators, paralegals and admins., • Participate in a rotation to staff court arraignment shifts on weekdays, nights, weekends, and holidays., • Prepare for and litigate hearings and trials in Criminal and Supreme Courts, as well as collateral administrative tribunals., • Prepare and argue written motions, argue in court regarding discovery, answer legal motions filed by the District Attorney’s office and other legal written and oral arguments in cases assigned to the attorney., • Collaborate with other BDS staff from our housing, immigration, family defense and education practices to provide comprehensive assistance to clients., • Meet regularly with supervisor to review caseload, discuss case strategy, and prepare for trial., • Be an advisor to the client when decisions are made about the case., • Meet with family members or other support networks as client requests., • Additional responsibilities as assigned. Qualifications • Juris Doctor (JD) degree anticipated by the start date of the incoming class in September 2026, ideally with trial advocacy, evidence, ethics, criminal law and criminal procedure courses., • Have taken the first available bar exam in NY after graduation., • Experience in a law school clinical program or a public defense internship involving client representation is preferred., • Demonstrated commitment to serving the public interest, as expressed by coursework, internships and extra-curricular activities., • Ability to work effectively and collaboratively with interdisciplinary staff members both within the practice and throughout BDS., • Excellent litigation skills, • Excellent written and verbal communication skills., • Fluency in a second language is a plus. Position Information This is an exempt, salaried position. The position is based at BDS’s Queens office, and the courts located in Queens. BDS determines salary on a pay scale based on education and experience. The salary for a 2025 law school graduate is $90,000. BDS offers comprehensive benefits including health insurance and a 403(b) retirement plan. In order to support work/life balance and family-friendly policies, BDS has generous vacation, sick, holiday, family, and medical leave policies. Application Instructions Click "Apply" to submit a cover letter and resume addressed to Kathleen Rende and Karan Kukreja, Senior Supervising Attorneys, via our online application portal. Please submit your application by December 31, 2025. Brooklyn Defender Services is a proud equal opportunity employer committed to celebrating diversity and maintaining an equitable and inclusive work environment. We strongly encourage candidates of all identities, expressions, orientations, disabilities, and experiences to apply. If you require an accommodation due to a disability or another reason, please contact the Managing Director of Human Resources, Christina Wallace, at cwallace @ bds.org

Job DescriptionDescription: Excellent knowledge of immigration laws and regulations • Strong analytical and research skills, • Ability to effectively communicate complex legal information, • Experience in preparing and filing immigration petitions and applications, • Proficient in legal writing and documentation, • Ability to work independently and as part of a team, • Strong attention to detail and organizational skills, • Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with integrity and professionalismRequirements:, • Experience with complex immigration cases, including appeals to the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA)., • Familiarity with business immigration, including work visas (H-1B, L-1, etc.), PERM labor certification, and corporate compliance., • Experience working with clients in the tech, healthcare, or other specialized industries., • Comprehensive benefits package, including health and 401K, • Paid time off (PTO) and holidays.

Job Description Make the Road New York (MRNY) builds the power of immigrant and working-class communities to achieve dignity and justice through organizing, policy innovation, transformative education, and survival services. Make the Road New York operates community centers in Bushwick, Brooklyn; Jackson Heights, Queens; Port Richmond, Staten Island; Brentwood, Long Island and White Plains, Westchester County. With a membership of 28,000, MRNY tackles the critical issues facing our communities, including workplace justice, tenants’ rights, immigrant rights and civil rights, TGNCIQ justice, public education, health care access, and immigration reform. (TGNCIQ = transgender, gender non-conforming, intersex and queer). MRNY is a newly unionized workplace. MRNY is a multi-service organization. Our member-led organizing committees -- which work on the issues named above -- implement strategies to combat shared problems, and develop leadership and the capacity for civic participation. We also provide an array of high-quality bilingual services: We offer English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), citizenship preparation, and in-school and after-school youth programs. We have a robust legal program that offers direct representation across a spectrum of practice areas, including employment law, immigration law, housing and benefits, and TGNCIQ civil rights; we also take on impact litigation as a strategy for achieving broad change. Our health program offers facilitated enrollment into health insurance programs and SNAP benefits, a community health worker home visit program, nutrition education and emergency food pantries, health care navigation, and more." Legal and Support Services at Make the Road New York: The Department of Legal and Support Services at MRNY works to strengthen the organization’s organizing work by (1) helping to envision and implement leverage strategies (including strategic litigation) that help win our organizing campaigns; (2) providing technical legal support for policy work; and (3) providing legal and support services to high-need immigrant communities and help meet the immediate needs of MRNY’s members. The Department currently employs approximately 50 attorneys and advocates. Our legal team is integrated into all aspects of the organization’s work. Current Opening: We are currently hiring a Supervising Attorney to oversee our Workplace Justice practice. Our team currently includes 4 other employment attorneys and 3 paralegals who handle a wide range of employment-related legal matters facing our community members, including wage theft, workplace discrimination, paid sick leave, retaliation, paid family leave and health and safety issues on the job. Our Workplace Justice legal team collaborates closely with and provides strategic support on worker organizing campaigns to improve and enforce labor standards at the city and state levels. The Supervising Attorney will supervise legal support on workplace justice policy and organizing campaigns. The Supervising Attorney will also have a small docket of workplace justice cases that will be predominantly wage theft and employment discrimination cases. Key Responsibilities but not limited to: • Oversee the provision of workplace justice-related legal services to MRNY’s membership base of low-income New Yorkers in Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island and Westchester County. The team handles a docket that involves a range of legal representation and advocacy, from direct negotiation and resolution of cases, filing administrative claims, to multi-plaintiff federal court litigation., • Provide exceptional supervision and support to the attorneys on this team., • Work closely with MRNY members and organizers to envision and implement strategic affirmative litigation projects and other strategies that strengthen MRNY’s workplace justice organizing., • Provide technical legal support for MRNY’s robust workplace justice-related policy and organizing campaigns, including drafting legislation; training other staff and members on the legal aspects of campaigns; writing reports; lobbying visits in support of policy campaigns; drafting materials for various audiences on our key policy campaigns and victories; responding to media inquiries; and representing MRNY at meetings with elected officials and coalition partners., • Coordinate community outreach, including know-your-rights workshops, and legal clinics., • Handle a small direct legal services caseload in the area of employment law., • Manage workplace justice-related grant reporting and supervise case data and fulfillment of reporting requirements., • Participate in the leadership of the Legal Department to advance departmental and organizational goals, and to develop and maintain strong funding relationships to sustain our work. Requirements: • Eligible to work in the US, • Admission to practice law in New York State, • Fluency in Spanish Language, • At least 4 years of workers' rights advocacy and employment litigation experience, • Interpersonal and organizational skills of the highest caliber., • Commitment to helping cultivate a high-performing department that utilizes the law creatively in the fight for systemic change., • Self-starter with strong organizational skills and strong attention to detail, • Ability to multi-task, prioritize, and complete assignments under strict deadlines in a fast paced environment., • Strong legal writing and research skills., • Strong verbal and written communication skills, • Flexible work schedule, some evenings or weekends required, • High level of accountability and initiative; needs to be a self-starter and eager to do team work to support the organization as a whole MRNY offers an excellent benefit package including health insurance, 401K, and generous paid vacation, sick, personal days. The salary range for this position is from $104,500 to $115,500 How to Apply: Please attach cover letter/resume and submit all documents to the Make the Road New York career center. Make the Road believes that social change is best achieved through grassroots community-based organizing that flows directly from and engages the community demanding the change. As a membership-based organization, we are committed to providing equal employment opportunities regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, criminal history, or Veteran status. We strongly encourage those from historically excluded groups to apply.

Job Description Brooklyn Defender Services (BDS) is seeking Arraignment Court Clerks to join the Criminal Defense Practice in the Queens office. BDS is a public defense office representing low-income New Yorkers in criminal, family, immigration, and civil legal matters. For nearly 30 years, BDS has worked, in and out of court, to protect and uphold the rights of individuals and to change laws and systems that perpetuate injustice and inequality. Our legal expertise work with clients is focused on the intersections of these legal systems that disproportionately impact Black and Brown communities living in poverty. BDS represents thousands of people each year who have diverse, complex, and multi-faceted legal needs. In addition to a zealous legal defense, our interdisciplinary teams of attorneys, social workers and advocates provide a wide range of legal and advocacy services, including for housing, public benefits, education, and employment. BDS staff work collaboratively and across disciplines to deliver high-quality legal services that serve the people we represent, their families and communities. BDS’ Criminal Defense Practice zealously defends people who are accused of a crime in Queens, fighting to protect the individual rights of clients’ and minimize harm from involvement with the criminal legal system. BDS’ staff consists of attorneys, social workers, investigators, paralegals, and administrative professionals who work collaboratively to bring about the best outcome for each client. The Arraignment Court Clerk provides support to attorneys in criminal arraignment court. Arraignment is the first appearance made before a judge after arrest. At that time, a BDS attorney will be assigned to interview and represent the clients. The Arraignment Court Clerk works alongside the attorneys in arraignment court to help with the paperwork and coordination required to expedite the interviews, bail arguments, and release of as many people as possible. Responsibilities • Work with BDS attorneys and the BDS arraignment supervisor to collect paperwork from the court, organize the files, assure cases are being handled and enter cases into the case-management system., • Create paper files for new clients when required., • Look up potential conflicts of interest in the case management system., • Assist attorneys with looking up information in case management system., • Provide carfare to clients who are released., • Enter data into case management system., • Ability to work in a fast-paced in-court environment., • Good at handling multiple tasks, prioritizing appropriately and ensuring all tasks are completed on time., • Accurate and detail oriented., • Familiarity with using email, ideally Microsoft Outlook., • Comfortable and confident in learning case management and document management software. This is a full-time, non-exempt, salaried position. The position is based at the Queens Criminal Court and BDS’ offices in Queens. Since arraignment court operates 7 days per week from 8 am to 1 am the next day, the regular schedule will include some evening and weekend shifts. It also requires flexibility to stay later than the scheduled end of the shift, because sometimes the court extends the hours to arraign more cases. BDS provides carfare home when an evening shift is worked. BDS determines salary on a pay scale based on education and experience. For this position there is a salary range of $59,113-$66,987. BDS offers comprehensive benefits including health insurance and a 403(b) retirement plan. In order to support work/life balance and family-friendly policies, BDS has generous vacation, sick, holiday, family, and medical leave policies. Application Instructions Click “Apply Now” to submit a cover letter and resume on our online application portal. Please submit your application by January 16, 2026. Brooklyn Defender Services is a proud equal opportunity employer committed to creating and maintaining a diverse work environment and supports a nondiscrimination policy in all employment practices. We are focused on equity and inclusion and thus strongly encourage candidates of all identities, expressions, orientations, disabilities, experiences, and other characteristics that make us different to apply. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability or another reason, you may contact the Managing Director of Human Resources, Christina Wallace, at .