Legal Support Attorney

Overview

The American Immigration Council (the Council) works to strengthen America by shaping how America thinks about and acts towards immigrants and immigration, and by working toward a more fair and just immigration system that opens its doors to those in need of protection and unleashes the energy and skills that immigrants bring. The Council brings together individuals adept at solving problems and employs four coordinated approaches to advance change—litigation, research, legislative and administrative advocacy, and communications.

The Immigration Justice Campaign is a collaboration between the American Immigration Council and the American Immigration Lawyers Association. The Campaign is a broad-based project to activate a community of lawyers (and other volunteers with supporting skills) to defend noncitizens facing detention and removal and to advocate for due process and justice for noncitizens targeted for immigration enforcement. The Campaign matches volunteers to noncitizens seeking release through parole and/or bond as well as representation in Immigration Court, the Asylum Office, and before the Board of Immigration Appeals and Circuit Courts.

The Legal Support Attorney will be a national resource for attorneys engaged in pro bono immigration representation with a focus on detained immigrants.

The Attorney will focus on the provision of quality mentorship and advise under the direction of the IJC Director, to best support attorneys providing pro bono legal services  Attorney will play a key role in ensuring that Campaign volunteers and our local partners have the necessary training materials and mentorship to succeed in their cases. The Attorney will also assist in the creation and updating of training materials on Campaign’s website.

The Attorney will field inquiries not only on practice and procedure, but also on substantive relief and release strategies.

As with all positions at the Council, this position requires commitment to the Council’s mission and the organization’s culture of philanthropy.

Technical Assistance

• Serves as a resource for pro bono attorneys, providing legal guidance, case strategies, and technical support.
• Provides individual and group mentorship to Campaign volunteers providing pro bono representation in bond, parole and defensive asylum cases, with a primary focus on detained cases.
• Conducts case reviews and offers substantive feedback to ensure quality legal representation.
• Reviews and maintains the Campaign’s training webpages to ensure they are accurate, up-to-date, and provide comprehensive guidance for pro bono attorneys and volunteers to succeed in their cases. Collaborates with the Senior Managing Attorney to identify and implement improvements based on feedback and evolving legal practices.
• Responds to inquiries from the Campaign network in a timely and professional manner.
• Stays updated on relevant laws, regulations and best practices to ensure training content is accurate and effective.
• Occasionally directly represent clients as needed.

Compliance and Reporting

• Ensure that all pro bono efforts comply with legal and ethical standards.
• Track and report on pro bono activities, including participation, outcomes, and impact.
• Assist in grant reporting and other documentation requirements related to pro bono initiatives.

• Juris Doctor as well as 3+ years relevant immigration law experience, with at least 2 years of experience representing detained clients in bond and merits proceedings, is required.
• Experience with asylum/withholding of Removal/CAT and cancellation of removal is required.
• Experience with other case types, particularly BIA appeals, PFRs and Habeas is strongly preferred.
• Experience providing training and/or mentorship to other attorneys or Accredited Representatives is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and deliver effective presentations and educational materials is essential.
• Experience managing or coordinating pro bono programs is preferred.
• Proficiency with legal case management systems and technology is an asset.
• A background in nonprofit or legal aid…