Staff Attorney, Detained Adult Program

Staff Attorney Position

The Amica Center for Immigrant Rights fights for the rights, safety, and unity of immigrant communities, standing with those trapped in our nation's fundamentally flawed immigration system. We engage in unwavering legal defense and strategic litigation for immigrant children and adults facing detention and deportation in the Capital Region and beyond, because everyone has the right to be free, safe, and supported.

The Detained Adult Program (DAP) works with hundreds of adults who are detained by ICE each year, providing information, support, and legal representation. We provide trauma-sensitive, person-centered services, and deeply value the autonomy of the people we work with in detention as they navigate the fundamentally inhumane immigration system.

Amica Center's Detained Adult Program is a highly collaborative work environment. Each team lead works directly with a focused team, but all colleagues are interconnected through, for example, case workshops or staff-run committees.

DAP staff is a source of expertise in the highly complex and ever-changing immigration system. They have persisted through administration changes, policy shifts, and attacks on the rights and freedoms of immigrants through project-focused cohorts that arise to address challenges or to brainstorm and implement affirmative strategies.

A Staff Attorney in the Detained Adult Program focuses on: (i) screening individuals for program eligibility and immigration relief, (ii) managing a caseload of direct legal services to immigrant adults held in facilities in Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and elsewhere outside the DMV region, (iii) maintaining client and stakeholder information up to date in the organization's database, (iv) advocating with stakeholders and community representatives for program and clients, and (v) the mentoring of pro bono attorneys. This project provides legal representation to detained immigrants regardless of their criminal history and immigration procedural postures.

General duties and responsibilities include:

• Manage a caseload of in-house direct legal representation of detained clients in removal proceedings mainly before the Annandale, Baltimore, Elizabeth and Sterling Immigration Courts and other courts as needed. This includes representation in cases such as Asylum, Withholding of Removal, Protection under the Convention against Torture, Board of Immigration Appeals, U-Visas, T-Visas, and Cancellation of Removal. Provide expert mentoring to outside pro bono attorneys representing detained immigrants on a pro bono basis.
• Prepare post release plans and social service plans, in coordination with social services staff.
• Research, engage, and prepare experts on health, behavioral health, and country conditions.

Detention facility services include:

• Conduct government detention center visits as needed to prepare clients for their immigration hearings.
• Conduct individual intakes with immigrants at the detention facilities or remotely as necessary. Provide necessary follow-up after intakes to evaluate program eligibility and eligibility for relief, including performing research, securing criminal/juvenile delinquency records and obtaining additional information from family and community members.

Organizational services include:

• Ensure the inputting and accuracy of data and case information into shared databases in a timely fashion.
• Assist other program staff in completion of their workload during high-work/low-bandwidth periods.
• Take part in stakeholder relationship activities, including in-person and telephonic meetings with community groups, governmental bodies and representatives, and other legal service providers.
• Engage with internal Amica Center committees and working groups to lend a voice to the growth and strategy of the organization if so desired.
• Undertake own administrative functions, including casework (e.g., preparation of all aspects of filings). Amica Center attorneys do not have dedicated paralegals for assistance on cases and non-attorney staff time is dedicated to client-facing tasks (e.g., jail visits).
• Program-specific duties and responsibilities include coordinating with all internal DAP Programs to ensure all programs are kept abreast of developments and clients.

Position type: Full-time, Exempt

Reports to: Senior Attorney

Supervisory responsibility: This position does not include primary supervision of other staff; however, it may involve temporary supervision of paralegals or interns depending on case-specific needs.

Hiring timeline: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Salary: $61,500 to $69,700

Location and/or travel requirements: This position will be based at the Washington, D.C. or Baltimore, M.D. Office. Travel to the area when needed for hearings, jail visits, and programmatic meetings is required.

Telework: Amica Center operates a hybrid work environment where staff are required to work at least one day per week in-office, but some roles require more office/on-site attendance or travel.

Benefits: Amica Center offers a competitive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, flexible spending account, life insurance and pre-tax commuter benefits for those living in the DMV.

Paid time off: Amica Center provides personal, sick and volunteer time off, federal holidays, winter break closure and parental leave.

EEO statement: Amica Center for Immigrant Rights is an equal opportunity employer. In accordance with anti-discrimination law, it is the purpose of this policy to effectuate these principles and mandates. Amica Center prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type and affords equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Amica Center conforms to the spirit as well as to the letter of all applicable laws and regulations.

COVID-19 vaccination: All employees are required to be fully vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19. To be fully vaccinated means having completed the full dosages required for the type of vaccine obtained as designated by the CDC. If boosters are subsequently recommended by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) then employees will be required to receive the booster within thirty (30) days of their eligibility to access the boosters.

How to apply: Submit your resume, cover letter and writing sample that explains your interest in this role with your Paylocity submission.

Competencies required:

• Legal proficiency
• Client and programmatic proficiency
• Administrative

Qualifications required:

• JD and 0-3 years of relevant experience with at least one year of immigration law preferred.
• Must be licensed to practice law and in good standing with a state bar.
• Written and oral Spanish proficiency required, fluency preferred.
• Ability to manage a docket of detained removal defense cases.
• Strong trial advocacy skills preferred.

It is expected that the candidate will need to travel for work-related business. As a result, the candidate must possess a valid driver's license and be comfortable operating a vehicle upon hiring. This role requires travel, but qualified individuals with disabilities may be accommodated in a reasonable manner under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).