PURPOSE STATEMENT:
To provide comprehensive legal representation and support to immigrants, with a focus on serving immigrant children as part of Ayuda’s children’s program and serve unaccompanied children detained by the Office of Refugee Resettlement and released to sponsors in the local community. It will also include serving survivors of intimate-partner violence, human trafficking, and vulnerable children and youth, in Virginia. This position will also include supervision of at least one staff attorney, as well as potentially one or more paralegals and/or legal interns.
ORGANIZATIONAL PROFILE
Ayuda is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to providing direct legal, social and language access services, education, and outreach to low-income immigrants in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Since 1973, Ayuda has provided critical services on a wide range of issues, in the process acquiring nationally recognized expertise in several fields including immigration law, language access, domestic violence and human trafficking. Ayuda has office locations in Washington, DC, Silver Spring, MD and Fairfax, VA.
WHY DO YOU WANT THIS JOB?
Because, just like everyone at Ayuda, you believe:
- In seeing communities where all immigrants succeed and thrive in the United States.
- In the overall success of our organization and all our programs.
- That families should be healthy and safe from harm.
- That all people should have access to professional, honest, and ethical services, regardless of ability to pay or status in this country.
- That diversity and equality make this country better.
WHAT WILL THIS JOB ENTAIL?
- Supervise several immigration staff members including attorneys, senior staff attorneys, paralegals and/or legal interns.
- Provide direct legal representation to low-income immigrants in a variety of matters before the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) and the US Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS), with a focus on serving immigrant survivors of human trafficking and domestic violence and vulnerable children and youth.
- Provide legal representation to children either in ORR custody or formerly in ORR custody released to custodians in Northern Virginia, including representation in removal proceedings, state court custody matters in Virginia, and applications for other forms of relief before USCIS.
- Provide legal representation to clients in especially difficult and/or novel cases, including appeals.
- Participate in Ayuda’s efforts to bring about systemic change on behalf of our clients, including but not limited to participating in cases likely to have an extensive impact, working on amicus or other appellate briefs, and participation in notice and comment process on proposed regulations.
- Where necessary, advocate on behalf of clients who have been victims of crimes, including human trafficking, in interactions with law enforcement.
- Represent Ayuda and our clients at local and regional stakeholder, coalition, and advocacy meetings.
- Stay current on relevant laws and policies by attending trainings and conferences and reviewing new laws, regulations and court rules.
- Assist with preparation of grant applications, grant administration, and reports.
[Note: May require travel to and from ORR shelters in Virginia, in addition to travel to local state and immigration courts.]
HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU CAN DO THIS JOB?
Eligibility:
- Satisfactory results from a background check to include criminal history and a search of the employee’s name against a national registry of sex offenders.
- Must be legally able to work in the United States and maintain proper work authorization throughout employment.
- Must be able to meet the physical requirements of the position presented in a general office environment.
- Must be a member in good standing of the Virginia bar or immediate eligibility for admission upon motion to the Virginia bar required.
- Must have at least three years’ experience practicing immigration law, including removal defense experience and experience representing survivors of trauma.
Education/Experience/Skills:
- At least one year of experience supervising legal assistants, paralegals, and/or legal interns required, with experience supervising other attorneys strongly preferred.
- Knowledge of a second language required, with Spanish language skills preferred (other languages commonly spoken by Ayuda’s clients include Tagalog, French, Ixchil, other indigenous languages spoken in Central America, Portuguese, Arabic, and Amharic).
- At least one year of experience as an attorney litigating child custody and/or guardianship petitions strongly preferred.
- At least one year of experience working with survivors of crime, with a strong preference for experiences representing clients on crime-based forms of relief, including U-Visas, T-Visa, VAWA Self-Petitions, and asylum.
- Experience working with detained clients, preference given to applicants who have served detained immigrant clients, in particular, detained children.
- Strong legal, organizational and time-management skills.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a diverse, multidisciplinary team.
- Demonstrated commitment to social, racial and economic justice.
- Valid driver’s license and access to a vehicle is preferred.
