The Organization

The Florence Project (Florence Immigrant & Refugee Rights Project, or FIRRP) was founded in 1989 to respond to a representation crisis for indigent non-citizens detained at the rural Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Detention Center in Florence, Arizona. Through our programs today, we provide services to thousands of adults and children detained in Eloy, Florence, Phoenix, and Tucson, Arizona, on any given day. The Florence Project is nationally known for its legal and social services that ensure that detained immigrants are empowered and have access to justice. The Florence Project provides high-quality legal services and supports initiatives for national changes in immigration law and policy, and currently has 180 staff members and offices in Phoenix, Tucson, and Florence, Arizona.

Primary Purpose of the Job:

The Law Graduate Staff Attorney will work with the Children’s team and assist with pre-court counseling sessions and preparation for direct representation, including challenging casework, and appeals, for unaccompanied children in front of the immigration court, family court, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The position includes extensive client contact with youth, including indigenous youth and youth who have suffered abuse, abandonment, neglect, or other emotional and physical trauma. It requires significant time in state and immigration court. The position also provides “Know Your Rights” presentations and the opportunity to participate in outreach activities and collaborative projects within a national network of legal service providers for unaccompanied immigrant children.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

Casework:

Provide legal representation in cases accepted through the Children’s Program.  Legal representation includes direct representation in front of the immigration court, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and the Board of Immigration Appeals, including challenging casework, and appeals, and preparing cases for juvenile court representation in partnership with an Arizona licensed FIRRP attorney.
Assist with preparation of case strategy, consistent with immigration law and procedure to Managing Attorney. Help implement an agreed-upon strategy.
Prepare cases, draft legal papers, help formulate required evidence, and assist with negotiations in accordance with the Code of Professional Responsibility for the legal profession.
Collaborate with Children’s Program social workers by identifying needs of the client and making appropriate referrals
Provide direct representation under supervision, when appropriate, and provide competent and quality services.
Supervise legal assistants assigned to each case.
Prepare case strategy consistent with immigration law and procedure. Work to implement an agreed-upon strategy.
Attend team meetings and trainings.
Well-versed and remain current in immigration law and on implications of criminal and civil law as it applies to the representation of unaccompanied immigrant children.
Comply with required ethical standards, preserve client confidentiality, and avoid conflict of interest.
Maintain complete and accurate case notes and client records.
Prepare timely statistical reports as assigned.
Responsible for preparation of regular case audits for presentation and review of the Managing Attorney, as assigned.
Participate in training on immigration procedures and may conduct training sessions as assigned.

Advocacy:

Conduct intake interviews and provide “Know Your Rights” information to detained and non-detained unaccompanied immigrant children, as needed.
Appear as Friend of the Court before Immigration Court (EOIR).
Liaise with children’s detention shelters as part of a team with legal assistants
Develop and maintain cooperative relationships with local and national community partners, including but not limited to private immigration attorneys, public officials, law enforcement officials, and other nonprofits that provide services to the immigrant population.
Develop and maintain professional relationships with the Immigration Court (EOIR), Juvenile Court, U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS), the Board of Immigration Appeals, government and social service organizations, and community organizations.
Communicate with the Managing Attorney about possible advocacy initiatives and legal trainings for the community.
Support Florence Project outreach and development activities as needed.

Other Duties & Responsibilities:

Participate in organizational fundraising and outreach efforts as requested.
Participate in developing and implementing special projects or presentations.
Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Requirements:

Juris Doctor from an accredited law school.
Have taken the bar exam or scheduled to take the bar exam on the next available date.
Once barred, if not licensed in AZ, must commit to applying to waive into practice in Arizona after two years of bar licensure in any jurisdiction, under the Arizona Rule 38(f) (a provision that allows for non-Arizona-barred attorneys to practice in Arizona state courts while under the employment of an approved legal service provider such as FIRRP, no fee required.
Fluency or advanced proficiency in Spanish required.
Demonstrate commitment to advocating for indigent immigrant clients in a respectful and empowering way, zealous support of the Florence Project’s mission, and displays a commitment to diversity and inclusion.
Must be comfortable working with people with criminal convictions.
Strong legal research.
Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work with diverse populations.
Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.
Highly organized, an innovative thinker, and work in high-volume settings with limited resources.
Accuracy and attention to detail a must.
Ability to do repetitive tasks for long periods of time.
Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work with diverse populations.
Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.
Excellent problem solving, research, and analytical skills.
Effectively manage multiple projects and meet deadlines.
Demonstrate to be a hardworking, flexible, respectful team player that can work effectively in a collaborative, innovative, and client-centered work environment.
Ability to work independently, be adaptable, and reliable in the face of conflict, pressure, crisis, or changing priorities.
Exhibit high ethical standards and the ability to maintain confidentiality.
Must be able to pass federal and state background checks.
Travel is required for this position.
Must have a valid driver’s license and reliable transportation.
Proven computer skills. Advanced understanding of basic office applications.

Preferred Requirements:

Bar exam taken from Arizona or a Universal Bar Exam (UBE) jurisdiction. The Arizona Bar allows admission by UBE transfer with a score of at least 273 on a UBE test administered in a recognized UBE jurisdiction on a recognized UBE test administration date.
Some experience with the Arizona Juvenile Courts, the Immigration Courts, or USCIS is strongly preferred.
Experience working with children/teenagers and survivors of trauma is a plus.
Prior advocacy work in immigrant rights, human rights, LGBTQ rights, criminal justice, or experience working with trauma survivors is a plus.
Experience with databases and data tracking (i.e., Legal Server).

Working Conditions/Physical Demands:

Operate in a professional office environment and requires the ability to sit for long periods of time with intermittent walking, standing, bending, squatting, pulling and pushing.
Requires the ability to use standard office equipment such as scanners, computers, keyboards, phones, shredders, photocopiers, and filing cabinets.  Requires the ability to lift-up to ten pounds - accommodations may be available.
Requires regular travel between offices, and secondary work locations.
Require frequent time in children’s shelter detention facilities and immigration courts located in Tucson and Phoenix, and Florence and Eloy as necessary.
The Florence Project has three offices: Florence, Tucson, and Phoenix. Depending on the needs of the program, the position may be based in any of the three offices.
Effective September 1, 2021, FIRRP has implemented a mandatory COVID-19 vaccine policy.   To comply with this policy, active employees must be fully vaccinated by October 15, 2021.  Employees seeking an exemption due to a medical condition or sincerely-held religious belief should contact our Human Resources Department at humanresources@firrp.org.

Salary & Benefits:

This is a full-time position. Salary is competitive for our field and geographical area. Salaries will be calculated based on relevant experience and our established comprehensive wage scale: $61,000 - $82,237.49 DOE.

We strive to create and uphold a positive, supportive, and inclusive work environment for all staff. We offer excellent benefits, including:

Medical plans including health, dental, vision coverage, subject to plan terms
Short Term Disability
Eligibility for group benefits such as voluntary life insurance, subject to applicable waiting periods
Retirement plan, subject to plan terms
Paid Time Off earned on a biweekly accrual basis- Twenty-five (25) Days of Vacation Time, annually
Five (5) Days of Medical/Sick Time, annually
One (1) Day of Personal Time, monthly
Eight (8) Week Paid Sabbatical, after three years of employment
Bereavement leave.
Fifteen (15) Organization-paid holidays, all observed
Eligible for Parental Leave which includes Twelve (13) paid weeks
Mileage reimbursement for travel between offices and places of work.
Relocation Assistance for out of state new hires available for some positions.

Application Process:

The position will remain open until we receive enough qualified applicants. To apply, please submit a cover letter detailing your interest in the position as well as your resume, three professional references. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and candidates are encouraged to apply early. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted. The Florence Project values diversity in the workplace and strongly encourages applications from people of color, LGBTQ individuals, persons with disabilities, and members of underrepresented communities.

At FIRRP, we recognize that people come with a wealth of experience and talent beyond just the requirements of a job.  If your experience is close to what you see listed in our current job opportunities, please still consider applying.  Diversity of experience and skills combined with passion is a key to innovation and excellence, which is very much valued at FIRRP.  Therefore, we encourage people from all backgrounds to apply to our positions.  Please let us know if you require accommodations during the interview process.

This job announcement is for informational purposes only and is subject to change and modification without notice. This job announcement includes a non-exhaustive list of responsibilities, qualifications and requirements of the position, but does not necessarily include all the job functions of the position.  This position is eligible for membership in the union Proyecto Solidaridad-FIRRP affiliated with OPEIU Local 251.

**Salary and benefits for this posting updated on 6/2023.