Overview

In order to increase access to justice for people facing immigration court, ImmDef is currently hiring additional legal and administrative staff.

The Immigrant Defenders Law Center (“ImmDef”) is a next-generation, social justice law firm that provides high-quality representation and legal services to immigrants in Southern California. ImmDef was founded with the belief that no immigrant should be forced to go into court alone and our universal representation programs for children and adults are a first step towards that goal. Learn more about us at www.immdef.org.

ImmDef seeks a full-time Staff Attorney to provide creative and zealous advocacy to children in immigration removal proceedings as part of our Children’s Representation Project (CRP). The Staff Attorney work under the direct supervision of a Managing Attorney and in collaboration with their fellow attorneys. Our attorneys receive support from a paralegal, administrative assistant and a case manager. This is a rewarding and exciting position where the successful applicant will be engaged in cutting edge immigration litigation.

Job responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Provide direct representation to unaccompanied minors before the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, Executive Office of Immigration Review, and in California state court child welfare proceedings (primarily guardianship and custody proceedings). The Staff Attorney should expect to work with the following forms of immigration relief: Asylum, Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ) status, and/or T or U nonimmigrant status;
  • Conduct and review legal screenings of detained unaccompanied minors to determine eligibility for legal relief;
  • Prepare detained unaccompanied minors for court hearings and appear as “Friend of Court”;
  • Provide legal representation to locally detained children in the Unaccompanied Refugee Minors Program administered by the Office of Refugee and Resettlement; and
  • Comply with data and program reporting requirements.

Requirements

  • Juris Doctorate;
  • Active California State Bar License or licensure from another state and, if required, willingness to “waive into” the CA Bar via the Multi-Jurisdictional Practice Program;
  • Spanish language proficiency;
  • Strong case management, legal research, and legal writing skills;
  • Willingness to zealously pursue new and untested legal theories;
  • Demonstrated ability to take initiative and work under pressure;
  • Passion for social justice for immigrants.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Experience in public interest, litigation or immigration is a plus, but not required as we are willing to train the right person for the job;
  • An interest in working with marginalized populations and survivors of trauma;
  • Prior work experience (legal or otherwise) in a fast-paced, dynamic work environment. 
  • Fluency or proficiency in K’iche’, Kekchi, Chuj, or Mam is desirable
  • DACA Recipients encouraged to apply!

We require COVID-19 vaccinations or weekly testing to be considered.

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