Senior Attorney Immigration Division
20 days ago
Chicago
Job DescriptionBenefits: • FSA Health, Dependent Care, and Commute Plan, • 401(k), • Dental insurance, • Flexible schedule Ascend Justice is seeking a full-time senior attorney in the Immigration and Client Services Division to bridge the gap between domestic violence programs and immigration services in Cook County. This position will serve Cook County-area domestic violence providers with technical assistance to DV program staff, trainings and presentations to staff and participants; and conducting consultations and referrals for immigrant survivors seeking immigration legal representation. An ideal candidate will have at least five years of experience in immigration practice, specifically with humanitarian-based applications such as VAWA, U Visa, Battered Spouse Waivers, T visa, or asylum; experience with removal defense, and general knowledge of a variety of immigration remedies. In addition, an ideal candidate will have experience providing Know Your Rights presentations and training/workshops on immigration law. Preferably, the ideal candidate will have experience working with domestic violence programs and advocates. Essential Responsibilities Technical Assistance and Community Outreach (approximately 70% of the position) • Develop collaborative partnerships with domestic violence programs in Cook County, • Respond to technical assistance requests from the Cook County domestic violence community, • Develop and present Know Your Rights trainings to survivors of gender-based violence and program staff, • Develop and present training on relevant immigration topics for domestic violence program staff, survivors, and other network partners Client Services (approximately 20% of the position), • Conduct consultations with domestic violence program participants, assess appropriate remedies, and provide advice and referral, • Perform intake functions, interviewing potential clients to evaluate cases for representation., • Provide high-quality representation for survivors of gender-based violence seeking humanitarian relief in immigration matters, • Manage a limited caseload of ongoing immigration cases, • Deliver services according to principles of trauma-informed care., • Maintain client files, noting all deadlines, communications, and other relevant information., • Coordinate with the agencys Client Support Coordinator and other colleagues to ensure that the client receives seamless, holistic services.Management (approximately 5% of the position), • May supervise staff attorneys or legal fellows, • Supervise volunteers, including attorneys, students, and interns., • Lead assigned staff. Conduct supervision and evaluations, • Provide ongoing mentoring, including strategic growth for assigned staff, and monitor individual work plans., • Actively participate in required staff meetings, trainings., • Keep abreast of the field by maintaining networks and participating in professional organizations., • Protect the organization by keeping information confidential., • This position is approximately 40% in person, 60% remote, but these proportions are subject to change., • Courthouse and offices are fully accessible. Some work at off-site locations may be required, and those may not necessarily be fully accessible., • Evening and weekend work may occasionally be required., • This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, and scanners. Employee is regularly required to talk, hear, see, and communicate effectively via computer., • Licensed to practice law in any state within the U.S., • Must have completed or be willing to complete 40-hour Domestic Violence training, • Spanish language proficiency, including the ability to interview and represent clients with limited or no English-speaking abilities, required., • At least five years of experience in immigration practice, • Experience representing clients in VAWA, U Visa, Battered Spouse Waivers, T-visa, or asylum applications, • Experience representing clients in removal defense, including bond, asylum, and cancellation of removal, • Experience negotiating with ICE/ISAP on supervision, prosecutorial discretion, and parole., • Broad knowledge of non-humanitarian applications before USCIS (e.g family based; DACA, consular processing; parole);, • Experience working with survivors of gender-based violence, • Experience working with domestic violence or sexual assault advocacy organizations in any capacity preferred, • Experience developing training/educational materials for the community and or professionals;, • Experience providing presentations on immigration topics to the community and professionals, • Demonstrated ability to build community networks and collaboration across disciplines, • Familiarity with principles of trauma-informed care and willingness to complete additional training, • Strong self-motivation and ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines, • Demonstrated ability to work with diverse populations, • Knowledge of or experience with working with survivors of gender-based or intimate partner violence, • Ability to work in a fast-paced legal environment, • Ability to communicate effectively with people in crisis, • Strong written and oral communication skills, • Flexible, self-motivated, • Strong attention to detail, • Excellent communication and time management skills Flexible work from home options available.