the Florence Project is hiring a
This is an internal opening only.
The Organization:
The Florence Project 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, youth, and children detained in Eloy, Florence, Phoenix, and Tucson, Arizona on any given day. In 2001, the Florence Project implemented our Integrated Social Services Program, one of the first of its kind in this field. The Florence Project provides high quality legal and social services and supports initiatives for national changes in immigration law and policy.
Senior Staff Attorney – Direct Representation:
The Senior Staff Attorney will work within the Direct Representation Program and will provide direct representation to individuals detained in Florence and Eloy, AZ, and to individuals released within Arizona. They will also serve as a trainer and mentor to the Direct Representation Team. This includes co-chairing representation with Staff Attorneys before the Immigration Court and the Board of Immigration Appeals. The Senior Staff Attorney will work with the Managing Attorney to develop systems associated with intakes, case distribution, and allocation of resources to cases and take on special assignments as designated by the Managing Attorney or Program Manager. The Senior Staff Attorney will also be required to attend and play an active role in ad hoc meetings with staff and/or stakeholders.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities:
Leadership Responsibilities:
• Assist as needed with attracting, retaining, training, and mentoring an effective, diverse team.
• May also mentor law student interns, externs, special project fellows, and other volunteers, and actively participate in case reviews and in related advocacy and outreach projects.
• Provide a collegial, calm, and collaborative work environment that is client-centered and ego free.
• Responsible for working in collaboration with the Managing Attorney regarding hiring, training, and mentoring performance management, and evaluation of staff.
Casework:
• Provide direct representation to detained individuals in Florence and Eloy, and to individuals released within Arizona, including challenging casework, appeals, mental health casework, and second chairing cases with new attorneys.
• Remain current in immigration law, and on implications of criminal and civil law as it applies to the representation of immigrants and refugees.
• Collaborate with the Managing Attorney in the analysis and creation of legal strategies.
• Participate in training on immigration procedures and conduct in-house training sessions as assigned.
• Conduct case reviews with the legal teams.
• Provide training, mentorship, and support to the legal staff. Coach and support staff to ensure they have the necessary tools and resources needed to do well in their legal advocacy.
• Work with the Managing Attorney to develop evaluation tools and work plans of staff.
• Comply with required ethical standards, preserves client confidentiality, and avoids conflict of interest.
• Maintain complete and accurate case notes and client records.
• Prepare timely statistical reports.
• Conduct quarterly case audits for presentation and review.
Program Support:
• Coordinate case distribution to ensure the cases are fairly distributed and take into account the case demands of the legal team.
• Participate in ad hoc team meetings called by the team members, Managing Attorney, and other programs.
Advocacy:
• 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) and the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS), government and social service organizations, and community organizations.
• Attend occasional meetings with Eloy EOIR, ICE officials, and/or detention center officials to discuss ongoing issues.
• Communicate with the advocacy team about possible advocacy initiatives.
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:
• J.D. and admission to any state bar.
• Must be licensed to practice law in any state or jurisdiction (or willing to take Arizona bar exam), or eligible to waive into practice in Arizona (have two years of good standing in another state bar or have received a score of 273 or greater on the Universal Bar Exam).
• Demonstrate commitment to advocating for indigent immigrant clients in a respectful and empowering way.
• Demonstrate a zealous support of the Florence Project’s mission.
• Must be comfortable working with people with criminal convictions.
• Strong litigation experience and/or oral advocacy skills.
• 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.
• 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.
• Fluency or advanced proficiency in Spanish required.
• 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:
• 2+ years of minimum experience providing direct representation to immigrants removal proceedings, and extensive knowledge of immigration law, specifically deportation defense, asylum, and criminal-immigration law issues is strongly preferred.
• 2 years of prior experience practicing before the Arizona Courts, the Immigration Courts, or USCIS is strongly preferred.
• Prior experience working with trauma survivors or individuals with mental health issues 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) is a plus.
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.
• Require 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.
• Travel regularly between offices, and secondary work locations.
• Travel and frequent time in detention facilities and immigration courts located in Florence, Eloy, Phoenix, and Tucson.
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: $66,851.20 - $90,407.30 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:
This is an immediate opening. Salary is commensurate with experience. 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.