Staff Attorney- DMV Habeas Project, Immigration Impact Lab

Who We Are

The Capital Area Immigrants’ Rights (CAIR) Coalition is now Amica Center for Immigrant Rights (“Amica Center” for short).  to learn more about our new name. Since our founding in 1999, we have grown significantly and added new services to support immigrants in detention. Recently, Amica Center has outgrown our name, expanding beyond our initial services and geographic boundaries.

“Amica” is the Latin word for “friend,” and that echoes the way we approach what we do. Just as friends stand with one another, Amica Center stands with our clients to achieve the safety, stability, and opportunity we all deserve.

We are the only non‑profit organization in the Washington, D.C. area that is exclusively focused on providing legal assistance to adult and child immigrants detained by the government in the Capital Region and beyond.

We have a highly collaborative work environment. We are committed to providing high‑quality, trauma‑informed legal and social services and a culture of professional growth and support for staff. Although aspects of our work are completed in smaller teams, we work towards integrated and client‑focused services across the organization by embracing interconnectivity. We strive to create efficient systems that provide structure while actively fostering innovation and adaptability to advance our mission.

The Immigration Impact Lab (“the Lab”) is Amica Center’s impact litigation shop. The Lab responds to the failings of the immigration system by strategically appealing cases, developing impact litigation, and launching advocacy efforts that have the potential to transform the system and establish new legal precedents for immigrants nationwide.

We are seeking a Staff Attorney to help expand the Lab's detention‑related district court litigation, with a focus on habeas petitions challenging prolonged immigration detention among other matters. The Staff Attorney will be responsible for representing individuals in district court actions and mentoring external pro bono attorneys and non‑profit attorneys in district court litigation. Their representation and mentoring efforts will contribute to building the Lab’s DMV Habeas Project, a new project focused on district court representation challenging immigration detention person.

A Staff Attorney in the Immigration Impact Lab works with the team to meet the Lab’s goals, including (i) conducting legal research, case development, and written pleadings involving a host of issues that touch on novel immigration claims; (ii) the provision of direct legal services to immigrants through litigation in the district courts, and (iii) working with pro bono attorneys through co‑counseling, mentoring, and trainings.

Litigating Detention‑Related District Court cases (Approximately 80%):

• Litigate strategic cases in district court, primarily habeas petitions, on behalf of detained immigrants nationwide, with a focus on people detained in Maryland and Virginia. Cases may also involve challenges to the use of the Alien Enemies Act and other emerging detention challenges.
• Identify potential cases and maintain relationships with referral channels, which will require close coordination with stakeholders, including immigration non‑profits, law school clinics, and private immigration attorneys serving these areas.
• Mentor pro bono attorneys on detention‑related district court litigation, with a focus on habeas petitions. This will include providing feedback and guidance on legal strategy and helping attorneys prepare for federal court arguments.
• Develop and refine training programs and materials for the Lab team and external pro bono and non‑profit attorneys on detention‑related district court litigation. This may involve conducting training sessions, creating template briefings and educational materials, updating existing materials, and identifying opportunities for continuous learning.

Helping to Build the DMV Habeas Project (approximately 15%):

• Collaborate with the Lab Program Director, Deputy Program Director, Managing Attorney, and Development/Communications team to raise awareness…