Staff Attorney - Direct Representation

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.

Staff Attorney - Direct Representation:
The Staff Attorney will work with the team to provide direct representation and release planning to detained individuals in immigration removal proceedings and custody redetermination hearings.

The Staff Attorney represents individuals with cutting edge asylum issues and provides direct representation to both detained and released individuals in removal proceedings with serious mental health conditions who have been found incompetent to represent themselves.  Requires frequent visits to detention facilities in Eloy and Florence.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

Direct Representation:

• Provide advocacy and assistance developing and connecting clients to services in the community.
• Federal court representation that may include a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus before the District Court, or a Petition for Review to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
• Comply with office and program requirements to track data and case progress.
• Assist with mentoring newer Florence Project attorneys in removal and bond matters.
• Occasionally assist with other Florence Project legal duties to assist with coverage.

Casework

• Provide legal representation in cases retained through vetting referred intakes and in cases appointed to FIRRP. Legal representation includes representation in immigration proceedings and custody redetermination hearings before the Immigration Court, representation before the Board of Immigration Appeals, and other related services reasonably necessary to complete these proceedings.
• Provide pre-court counseling sessions.
• Develop and recommend case strategy consistent with immigration law and procedure to Managing Attorney. Implement agreed upon strategy.
• Prepare cases, draft legal papers, present required evidence, and engage in negotiations, in accord with the Code of Professional Responsibility for the legal profession.
• Conduct assessment of client’s social, economic, and psychological functioning.
• Determine appropriate range of services, interventions and referrals needed.
• Attend all team meetings, trainings, and is well versed.
• Remain current in immigration law, and on implications of criminal and civil law.
• Complies 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.
• Participate in training on immigration procedures and may conduct training sessions as assigned.
• 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 non-profits that provide services to the immigrant population.
• Develop and maintain professional relationships with the Immigration Court (EOIR), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS), 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.
• Perform other administrative duties as needed.

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 non-profits that provide services to the immigrant population.
• Develop and maintain professional relationships with the Immigration Court (EOIR), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS), 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.
• Perform other administrative duties 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:

• 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.

• 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.

• Travel regularly between offices, and secondary work locations.

• Frequent time in detention facilities and immigration courts located in Florence, Eloy, Phoenix, and Tucson.

• Travel and frequent time in detention facilities and immigration courts located in Florence, Eloy, Phoenix, and Tucson

• 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:

$ 68,848.00 - $ 93,107.71 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.

**Salary range updated effective 1/1/24.

Keywords

Staff AttorneyDirect RepresentationImmigrationLegal ServicesAdvocacyCourt RepresentationAsylumRemoval ProceedingsMental HealthImmigration LawSocial Services