Staff Attorney- DMV Habeas Project, Immigration Impact Lab

Overview

Description

Who We Are

The Capital Area Immigrants’ Rights (CAIR) Coalition is now Amica Center for Immigrant Rights (“Amica Center”). We have grown and expanded beyond our original name and geographic boundaries. “Amica” means friend, reflecting how we support clients to achieve safety, stability, and opportunity. We are the only nonprofit in the Washington, D.C. area focused exclusively on providing legal assistance to adult and child immigrants detained by the government in the Capital Region and beyond.

Our Work Environment

We maintain a highly collaborative, trauma-informed culture that supports professional growth. We strive for integrated, client-focused services across the organization, promoting innovation and adaptability to advance our mission. The Immigration Impact Lab (the Lab) is Amica Center’s impact litigation shop. The Lab responds to gaps in the immigration system by strategically appealing cases, developing impact litigation, and launching advocacy to transform the system and establish new legal precedents for immigrants nationwide.

Position Summary

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 represent individuals in district court actions and mentor external pro bono and non-profit attorneys in district court litigation. Their representation and mentoring will contribute to building the Lab’s DMV Habeas Project, a project focused on district court representation challenging immigration detention.

General Duties and Responsibilities [1]

Litigating Detention-Related District Court Cases (Approximately 80%):

• Litigate strategic district court cases, primarily habeas petitions, on behalf of detained immigrants nationwide, focusing on those detained in Maryland and Virginia. Cases may also involve challenges to the Alien Enemies Act and other detention issues.
• Identify potential cases and maintain relationships with referral channels, coordinating with immigration nonprofits, law school clinics, and private immigration attorneys serving these areas.
• Mentor pro bono attorneys on detention-related district court litigation, including providing feedback on legal strategy and helping prepare for federal court arguments.
• Develop and refine training programs and materials for the Lab team and external pro bono and nonprofit attorneys on detention-related district court litigation, including trainings, template briefings, and ongoing learning opportunities.

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 about the DMV Habeas Project with stakeholders, media, and funders.
• Establish and maintain collaborative relationships with key stakeholders and partner organizations to build case referral, co-counseling, and post-release coordination opportunities, leverage resources, and amplify the Project’s impact.

Organizational Services (approximately 5%):

• Participate in Amica Center stakeholder relations activities, including in-person and virtual meetings with community groups, governmental bodies and representatives, and other legal service providers.
• Coordinate across teams, particularly with the Detained Adult Program (DAP), on case strategy and to keep programs informed of developments in detention-related litigation efforts and the DMV Habeas Project.

[1] This list is illustrative and not intended to be a complete classification of all job functions or tasks.

Additional Role-Specific Details:

Position Type:
Exempt, Full-Time

Reports To:

Managing Attorney

Supervisory Responsibility:
This role is not expected to supervise in the first year but may evolve to include supervision over time.

Hiring Timeline:
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Salary: $61,500-$67,500 depending on experience

Location:

This position is remote-friendly, with a preference for candidates based in or near Washington, DC, Maryland, or Virginia.

Travel:
Occasional travel to other states for…