Immigration Staff Attorney

Min 2 yrs required

Full-time

No

# Immigration Staff Attorney

Organization Queens Defenders is seeking a full-time Immigration Staff Attorney to join their Immigration Department. The Immigration Program was launched in 2012 and currently consists of three immigration attorneys, a community outreach officer, and paralegal support. The Immigration Staff Attorney will work collaboratively to represent non-citizen and immigrant clients in a wide range of legal matters.

## About Queens Defenders

Founded in 1996 as Queens Law Associates, Queens Defenders (QD) is a public defender organization in Queens, New York serving the most ethnically diverse county in the United States. QD provides legal defense to people in the criminal, family, and immigration systems. They believe that all individuals have the constitutional right to legal representation if they are charged with a crime and cannot afford an attorney. In addition to legal defense, Queens Defenders also provides social services in order to improve the well-being of their clients and their families.

## Job Description

The Immigration Staff Attorney will report to the Supervising Immigration Attorney and will be responsible for:

* Advising defense attorney and strategizing with clients on alternatives that can mitigate negative immigration consequences.
* Providing immigration support to the attorneys at arraignments.
* Providing legal representation before the Immigration Courts, Board of Immigration Appeals and support emergency response to ICE enforcement actions.
* Other duties as assigned.

## Qualifications/Skills

The ideal candidate will possess the following qualifications and skills:

* Admission to the New York Bar (or the ability to be admitted through reciprocity).
* Two years experience directly representing clients in all aspects of immigration court proceedings preferred.
* Proficiency in Spanish preferred.
* Demonstrated commitment to public interest, pro bono work and advancing the rights of the underserved populations.
* Excellent research, writing analytical, and communication skills.
* Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and remain calm under pressure.
* Ability to work with highly confidential and privileged information.

## Application Instructions

Applicants should email a cover letter, resume and writing sample to Joshua Epstein, Supervising Immigration Attorney, at

## Salary Range

The salary range for the Immigration Staff Attorney position is $76,406 to $124,032 annually. Salary is commensurate with experience and subject to the collective bargaining agreement between Queens Defenders and UAW Local 2325 – Association of Legal Aid Attorneys.

## Benefits

Queens Defenders offers a generous benefits package which includes:

* Health/Dental/Vision
* 401(k)
* Generous Paid time off
* Parental Leave
* Disability insurance
* FSA and HSA
* Life insurance

Queens Defenders is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a culturally diverse staff and fostering an inclusive working environment. They seek to hire staff that reflect the full range of racial, ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic identities of the communities they represent so that they better serve their clients, understand their diverse circumstances, and meet their needs. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against based on disability.

Not specified

Health/Dental/Vision, 401(k), Paid Time Off, Parental Leave, Disability Insurance, FSA and HSA, Life Insurance

Spanish preferred

Legal representation, immigration support, advising, strategizing, research, writing, analytical, communication

Not specified

Email cover letter, resume, and writing sample to Joshua Epstein, Supervising Immigration Attorney, at

Qualification and Experience Admission to the New York Bar, two years of experience directly representing clients in immigration court proceedings preferred

Legal