SENIOR ATTORNEY, IMMIGRATION

About Survivor Justice Center

Survivor Justice Center “the Center” formerly known as the Los Angeles Center for Law and Justice, is a nonprofit law firm serving survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault throughout Los Angeles County. Our mission is to secure justice for survivors and empower them to create their own future. While the Center’s primary practice areas are family law and immigration, we strive to provide clients with holistic legal services and have a growing criminal justice advocacy and appellate practice. The Center serves clients using an integrated legal/social worker service model whereby community advocates work alongside attorneys to provide supportive services such as accompaniment, education, safety planning, and linkages to other service providers. The Center is committed to a trauma-informed and culturally responsive workplace and service delivery model.

The Position

Survivor Justice Center is seeking a Senior Attorney with significant experience in the practice of immigration law and a strong commitment to social justice advocacy. The successful candidate will represent low-income survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and/or human trafficking in a variety of affirmative and defensive immigration matters, with a focus on providing relief under VAWA, U and T Visas. The position is responsible for representing clients at interviews before USCIS, at removal defense hearings at EOIR, at hearings in state courts to obtain SIJS orders, and at ICE check-ins, as needed. The successful candidate will also represent immigrant survivors in the areas of criminal justice advocacy and public benefits and other related areas of practice that intersect with survivor areas of need. Finally, this senior attorney position will provide mentorship, guidance, and technical assistance to immigration staff attorneys, legal advocates, and pro bono partners, as needed.

Responsibilities

Key duties include but are not limited to:

• Providing litigation-related services such as: drafting legal documents, conducting discovery, case management, oral advocacy, and negotiation in hearings and trials;
• Drafting immigration petitions, motions and appeals to USCIS, EOIR, and BIA, as needed;
• Conducting client intakes and maintaining a client caseload;
• Providing mentorship to other attorneys and co-counseling cases with staff as needed;
• Providing educational presentations to community partners and client communitiies on immigration topics and legal remedies for immigrant survivors;
• Leading projects related to specialized areas of immigration law;
• Assuming a leadership role among community partners and service providers by providing technical assistance and training and participating in provider networks related to areas of expertise;
• Assisting with program administration and the development of best practices for case management and other areas of service delivery; and,
• Engaging in other tasks and projects that further the Center’s mission and operations.

Qualifications

• J.D. degree and membership in good standing in the California Bar
• A minimum of seven years’ legal experience, including experience as lead counsel
• Demonstrated knowledge of and expertise in immigration law
• Excellent legal writing and oral advocacy skills
• Ability to read, write and speak fluently in Spanish

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements

• Work will be performed remotely or in an office, at a workstation, and/or in court in person
• This position requires concentration on tasks while facing distractions
• This position requires attendance at meetings, both remote and in person, in and outside the Center’s office, and requires applicants reside in Southern California
• Position requires the ability to work from, and travel between, the Center’s main office at 5301 Whittier Blvd. in East Los Angeles and various Court, USCIS and Community partner locations around Southern California.
• Work requires use of office equipment including computers, copiers, and phones

Salary and Benefits

This is a full-time, exempt position with an annual salary range of $95,000-$105,000 depending on experience. The Center offers a generous benefits package that includes: a 35-hour workweek, unlimited vacation, generous paid sick leave and holiday time, 100% employer-paid medical, dental, long-term disability, and life insurance for employees. Additional benefits include: a 403(b) plan with matching, flexible savings accounts, and supplemental insurance offerings. The Center is an eligible nonprofit employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program.

To Apply

Interested candidates should email a cover letter and resume to Marilyn Florentino at marilyn@survivorjusticecenter.org. Please write “Senior Attorney, Immigration” in subject line. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and accepted until the position is filled.

Survivor Justice Center is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age (40 and over); ancestry; color; ethnicity; religious creed (including religious dress and grooming practices); denial of family and medical care leave; disability (including mental and physical disability); marital status; medical condition (cancer and genetic characteristics); genetic information; military and veteran status; national origin (including language use restrictions); race (including traits historically associated with race – which includes but is not limited to – hair texture and protective hairstyles); sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and medical conditions related to pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding); gender (including gender identity and gender expression); sexual orientation; and any other characteristic protected by State or federal law.