Temporary Staff Attorney

About NYLAG:
Founded in 1990, NYLAG is a leading civil legal services organization combatting economic, racial, and social injustice by advocating for people experiencing poverty or in crisis. Our services include comprehensive, free civil legal services, financial empowerment, impact litigation, policy advocacy, and community partnerships. NYLAG exists because wealth should not determine who has access to justice. We aim to disrupt systemic racism by serving individuals and families whose legal and financial crises are often rooted in racial inequality. NYLAG goes to where the need is, providing services in more than 150 community sites (e.g. courts, hospitals, libraries) and on our Mobile Legal Help Center. During COVID-19, most of our services are virtual to keep our community safe. NYLAG’s staff of 400 impacted the lives of 129,000 people last year.

Job description
The New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG) seeks a highly motivated Temporary Staff Attorney for a full-time position representing individuals and families in applications for immigration relief. This position will collaborate with a team of other NYLAG staff attorneys and paralegals under the Office for New Americans (ONA) program to provide consultations, presentations, legal representation, and technical support for community-based organizations in Brooklyn/Queens and Manhattan/Bronx/Staten Island.   The Temporary Staff Attorney will represent immigrants in administrative and removal proceedings before USCIS and the Immigration Courts, will organize and present at community events, and will provide on-site consultations at community-based organizations.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Represent immigrants in applications before U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
• Represent immigrants in Immigration Court proceedings. 
• Screen clients for eligibility for immigration relief.
• Complete and file immigration applications.
• Interview clients and witnesses, prepare forms, affidavits, and other supporting documents to be submitted to USCIS or the Immigration Court.
• Conduct client consultations and track client cases, progress of applications, and follow up.
• Coordinate outreach to community organizations and provide group presentations to advise potential clients of their legal rights and entitlements and to educate community partners.
• Train the staff of partner organizations on immigration related issues.
• Organize and conduct small and large-scale clinics
• Represent NYLAG at community events.
• Maintain regular contact with partner organizations.
• Prepare and submit quarterly reports to coordinating attorneys.
• Any other job duties as required.

Qualifications

• J.D. required.
• Admission to the New York or other state bar.
• Fluency in Spanish or other language common to our client population other than English preferred.
• Minimum of two years of relevant experience working on immigration matters, preferred three to five years of experience.
• Excellent writing, speaking and organizational skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively with clients, community organizations, attorneys, the judiciary and the public.
• Ability to work in a collaborative setting with other professionals.
• Demonstrated commitment to working with immigrant communities
• Experience working with survivors of trauma.
• Ability to work independently and under pressure.
• Experience working with immigrant communities of color, including LGBTQIA+, youth, and survivors of violence
• Excellent written, oral and analytical skills
• Excellent time and project management skills
• Commitment to social justice and anti-racism

NYLAG’s Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
NYLAG is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. People of color, women, people with disabilities, immigrants, veterans, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people, and those with lived experiences in the communities we serve are strongly encouraged to apply.

Employment type:
☒ Temporary

Professional Level:
☒ Professional

Salary Range:
NYLAG is a unionized workplace, and salaries are set pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement. The current salary range for this position is between $91,354 - $104,544.

             
Benefits: Medical, dental, vision, 401k, life insurance, long term disability, commuter benefits, flexible spending accounts (FSA) for Medical and Dependent care.

Application Instructions: Please save resume and cover letter on one pdf.

Covid Vaccination Policy: Please note, to safeguard the health and well-being of our employees and clients, NYLAG requires all employees to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19, unless a medical or religious exemption is approved.

NYLAG is committed to a hybrid work policy for staff whose work does not require their full-time presence in the office. NYLAG’s current policy is that most staff are required to work in NYLAG’s offices or do other in-person work at least two days each week. This policy is subject to change.