Asylum Attorney in Baltimore, MD

Public Interest

Baltimore, MD

Asylum Attorney in Baltimore, MD

Attorney

Min 3 yrs required

No

Senior Staff Attorney

Job Overview:

The organization is seeking a Senior Staff Attorney to join its Children Legal Services team in the department in Baltimore. The role is focused on providing legal services related to immigration, asylum, and removal defense. The position is temporary, lasting until September 30, 2025, with the possibility of extension based on funding. The candidate will be part of a team that supports legal service programs across the United States.

Job Responsibilities:

Direct Legal Representation:
- Conduct legal screenings and consultations with clients and community members.
- Provide direct legal representation in affirmative asylum and removal defense cases before USCIS and EOIR, including various forms of immigration relief such as asylum, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, VAWA, U-visa, and T-visa.
- Represent and appear in state court for unaccompanied children released to sponsors in designated counties.
- Coordinate with multidisciplinary teams to identify client legal needs and facilitate referrals to other services.
- Ensure accurate data collection and reporting in line with program requirements.
- Stay updated on changes in asylum and immigration policies through research, training, and collaboration with legal advocates.
- Conduct training sessions for staff and external parties as needed.
- Work collaboratively with the Baltimore ILS team and participate in community-based coalitions related to immigrant rights.
- Advocate for humanitarian immigrants, maintaining strict confidentiality and ethical practices.

Supervisory Responsibilities:
- Supervise legal assistants and provide supervision or mentorship to staff attorneys.

Community Partnerships and Workshops:
- Develop and maintain outreach strategies to build strong relationships with community organizations, local attorneys, and nonprofit legal providers.
- Collaborate with other departments and partners to offer community-based workshops or information sessions when direct legal representation demand exceeds capacity.

Key Working Relationships:
- Reports to: Managing Attorney
- Directly Supervises: Staff Attorney(s), Legal Assistant, or DOJ accredited representative

Job Requirements:

- Possess a law degree (JD or LLM) from an ABA-accredited . institution and admission to any state bar, with a Maryland license required or to be obtained within one year of hire.
- At least 3 years of experience providing direct representation in immigration court and/or before USCIS to asylum applicants and other immigrants seeking humanitarian relief, with a preference for experience representing unaccompanied minors.
- Excellent research, writing, analytical, and organizational skills, along with excellent legal judgment.
- Ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both orally in a courtroom setting and in writing.
- Bilingual skills in one or more languages of the survivor population are preferred.
- Evidence of being a strong team member in a highly collaborative multidisciplinary environment.
- Deep commitment to immigrant rights and working with humanitarian immigrants.
- Possess trauma-informed and sensitive listening and communication skills.
- Maintain personal integrity in handling ethically complex and confidential situations.
- Strong computer literacy, research, and analysis skills.
- Working Environment:
- Standard office environment with occasional participation in community outreach and legal assistance events.
- Frequent travel to the organization's Silver Spring Office is required.
- May require occasional weekend and/or evening work.

Education and Experience Information:

- JD or LLM from an ABA-accredited institution.
- Admission to any state bar, with a Maryland license required.
- At least 3 years of relevant experience in immigration law.

Salary Information:

- The salary range for this position is between $84,000 and $100,000 annually, based on factors like labor market, job type, internal equity, and budget. Exact offers depend on work location, candidate experience, and skills relative to the job requirements.

Equal Opportunity Employer:

The organization is an Equal Opportunity Employer, considering all applicants based on merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law.

US Benefits:

The organization offers a comprehensive benefits package including sick days, holidays, paid time off, medical, dental, and vision insurance, FSA for healthcare and commuter costs, a 403b retirement savings plan with matching, disability and life insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program.

Standard of Professional Conduct:

Employees must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the organization's Code of Conduct, which include Integrity, Service, Accountability, and Equality.