Staff Attorney

Min 1 yrs required

Full-time

No

Job Description
The Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights invites applications for the full-time position of Staff Attorney to be based in Grand Rapids. This position is a unique opportunity for an attorney to join a passionate team made up of social workers, attorneys, and administrative staff, to engage in interdisciplinary written and oral best interests advocacy on behalf of children in immigration removal proceedings.

Organization: Young Center
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Job Title: Staff Attorney
Experience: 1+ years
Salary: $70,645-$78,495 annually (commensurate with experience)

Duties and Responsibilities:
- Advocate for children’s best interests before government or other interested parties
- Supervise volunteers appointed as Child Advocate for unaccompanied and separated children
- Serve as Child Advocate for a limited number of cases
- Visit children as needed and communicate with caregivers, family members and stakeholders
- Provide internal case consultation and case support
- Support local and national efforts to recruit, train, support, and retain volunteer Child Advocates
- Participate in internal and external working groups
- Meet regularly with local stakeholders
- Develop and maintain relationships with stakeholders or organizations in the community
- Assist in meeting case goals and other deliverables
- Capture accurate and timely data management
- Participate in a supportive, collaborative work culture
- Consult with social worker colleagues to develop child-centered advocacy
- Draft and submit best interests determinations
- Actively engage with colleagues and supervisors
- Accompany children to court hearings and interviews
- Assess which children may need additional supportive and/or mental health services
- Other duties as assigned

Minimum Requirements:
- . and license to practice law
- Prior experience working with children and/or youth
- Legal analysis, negotiation, and mediation skills
- Effective communication skills
- Excellent case management skills
- High-level organizational skills
- Ability to work independently
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively and creatively as part of an interdisciplinary team
- Ability to work in a flexible, evolving environment
- Commitment to a comprehensive culture of feedback
- Commitment to learn and apply diversity, equity, inclusion, and/or anti-racism principles
- Ability to effectively engage across different cultures, identities, and ethnicities
- Strong writing skills
- Aptitude and thoughtfulness in working with children
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office products, Zoom, Adobe Acrobat
- Bilingual ability in English/Spanish or other languages spoken by the population served
- Valid driver’s license and access to a car

Preferred Qualifications:
- Lived experience supporting immigrant children and their families
- Understanding of the impact of trauma on children
- Background and/or demonstrated interest in immigration law, juvenile law, or other areas of law impacting children

Physical Demands:
- Regular attendance
- Keyboarding
- Sitting for long periods
- Driving
- Ability to use a computer, telephone, and copy machine
- Ability to travel within the .
- Occasional lifting
- May be requested to work weekends

COVID-19 Considerations:
- All employees must be fully vaccinated prior to first day of employment

Application Details:
- Clearance of background checks and tuberculosis test is a condition of employment
- Review of candidates will begin immediately
- Please apply on the Young Center website with a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and three references

The Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate and actively promotes diversity in its hiring practices. The organization encourages applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, creed, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, ancestry, marital or parental status, pregnancy, citizenship, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, genetic information, or veterans’ status. Reasonable accommodations will be made for qualified disabled applicants.

In summary, the Staff Attorney position in Grand Rapids, MI is a full-time role with a salary range of $70,645-$78,495 annually, commensurate with experience. The organization, Young Center, is a national organization dedicated to protecting and advancing the rights and best interests of immigrant children in the United States. The Staff Attorney will work with a passionate team to advocate for children's best interests in immigration proceedings and will also have the opportunity to supervise volunteer Child Advocates. The ideal candidate will have a . and license to practice law, prior experience working with children and/or youth, and a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Not specified

Health/dental/vision insurance, paid vacation, sick time, 401(k) plan with employer match

Bilingual ability in English/Spanish or other languages spoken by the population served

Legal analysis, negotiation, mediation, communication, case management, organizational, independent work, adaptability, diversity, equity, inclusion, anti-racism principles, bilingual, MS Office, Zoom, Adobe Acrobat, child-centered advocacy

Master's degree

Apply on the Young Center website with a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and three references.

Qualification and Experience J.D. and license to practice law or ability to acquire license within first year of employment, prior experience working with children or demonstrated interest in field

Legal