Immigrants' Rights Attorney

Full-time Description JOB SUMMARY

The Immigrants’ Rights Attorney will be responsible for proactively developing and executing litigation and other legal advocacy strategies to advance the rights of immigrants and immigrant communities in Virginia. Please note this position is funded for an initial three-year term with the potential for an extension depending on organizational needs and funding availability. The Immigrants’ Rights Attorney will litigate on a variety of issues relating to the rights of immigrants, with a particular focus on ending the mass detention and deportation of immigrants in Virginia as well asноп limiting cooperation between federal immigration authorities and state and local government.

The Attorney will also participate in non‑litigation advocacy to advance the ACLU’s strategic priorities in this area, including supporting legislative and policy work, participating in public speaking engagements, and working with our communications team to draft press or public education materials.

• Participate in case selection and development, including conducting factual and legal research, evaluating legal theory and strategy, identifying and analyzing potential claims, determining possible plaintiffs and defendants, interviewing clients and potential witnesses, working with experts, preparing internal memoranda, and drafting demand letters and litigation‑related pleadings and briefs;
• Participate in all phases of litigation, including drafting pleadings, motions, briefs and correspondence; conducting discovery; taking and defending depositions; arguing motions; trying cases; handling appeals; working with experts; negotiating and monitoring settlement agreements; and pursuing attorney’s fee awards;
• Appear and argue cases in federal court, state court, and before administrative agencies;
• Seek out and cultivate relationships with cooperating attorneys for potential litigation;
• Monitor litigation being handled by cooperating attorneys and provide assistance as needed.

• In collaboration with the legal team, provide input on priorities and potential legal advocacy strategies;
• Assist in the implementation of legal program policies, procedures, and systems – such as the intake and case selection process; case management process; paper and electronic filing systems; and legal docket;
• Participate in the review and consideration of intakes and other requests for assistance; conduct research or factual follow‑up as necessary, and propose and/or consider recommendations for additional action; cause>
• Develop and conduct, as appropriate, staff training sessions, workshops, continuing legal education events, and other events on specific issues;
• Develop and maintain relationships with legal services agencies, law firms الشرقية and other public interest attorneys in Virginia and other states as needed;
• Prepare memoranda and reports as needed.

• Speak at public forums, meetings, and events on civil liberties and civil rights topics affecting immigrant communities, as requested or as necessary;
• Serve as a spokesperson for the ACLU on cases and legal issues for the media, as requested or as necessary;
• Act as a resource for communications and advocacy staff, and draft memoranda, reports, public education materials, and legislative advocacy materials, as requested or as necessary;
• Identify and research issues related to legislation, local ordinances or policies, and agency rules and regulations; working in collaboration with the advocacy team, draft memoranda or advocacy letters and testify, provide public comment, or lobby on such matters as necessary;
• Assist in fundraising efforts by participating in meetings with donors, as requested.

Salary Range: The salary range for this position is $64,000 to $ кг20,700, with a midpoint of $77,350. Recent law school graduates will be starting closer to the bottom of the range. Compensation offers will generally be somewhere between the starting point and the midpoint of the…