Immigrant rights organization in Tacoma seeks a committed, Spanish-speaking bilingual attorney to work with the Legal Orientation Program (LOP) at the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma, Washington. Under the LOP, which is funded by the Executive Office for Immigration Review and managed by the Vera Institute, private nonprofit agencies give detained individuals essential information about court procedures and available options for legal relief prior to their immigration hearing. The LOP consists of four primary components: (1) group orientations; (2) individual sessions; (3) self-help training in the form of pro se workshops; and (4) referral of cases to pro bono attorneys. NWIRP seeks an attorney to work with all aspects of the LOP program.
In addition to LOP work, roughly half of the attorney’s time will be spent providing direct representation to detained persons in removal proceedings, including representation at the Tacoma or Seattle Immigration Courts, the Board of Immigration Appeals and the Ninth Circuit court of appeals.
This position will be located at the NWIRP office in Tacoma, Washington. Tacoma is located approximately 35 miles south of Seattle. The attorney will also spend a significant amount of time working at the Northwest Detention Center, a regional immigration detention facility that houses 1200-1575 people from Alaska, Oregon, Washington, and overflow from other states.
Reports To:
Directing Attorney of the Tacoma Office
Primary Responsibilities:
Conduct daily presentations, workshops and consultations in Spanish and English to persons detained at the immigration detention center in Tacoma, Washington;
Conduct self-help workshops for unrepresented detainees seeking relief from removal;
Communicate regularly with ICE, GEO, and EOIR;
Perform administrative tasks related to LOP presentations;
Provide direct representation to clients on the detained docket before the Department of Homeland Security and before the Executive Office for Immigration Review (NOTE: Time allocated towards direct representation is not covered under the LOP and is covered by funding that is separate and apart from funding allocated by the DOJ);
Maintain a working knowledge of significant policies, laws and trends in immigration law, particularly as it impacts low-income immigrants and refugees ; and
Engage in outreach and education in the area of immigrant rights.
Professional Qualifications, Experience and Attributes:
Law degree;
Admission to the bar of any state in the U.S. (or a recent law graduate who is taking the bar in February 2011);
Demonstrated commitment to immigrant rights;
Excellent written and oral communication skills;
Commitment to working in a diverse and challenging working environment;
Fluent in English and Spanish;
Strong organizational skills and ability to work independently; and
Proficiency in use of MS Word, MS Access, and MS Excel.
Beginning salary is $43k or DOE plus benefits.
For full consideration, please submit application by January 21, 2011. Position is open until filled.
http://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/lgl/2151147887.html
