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The Immigration Attorney represents low income, culturally diverse clients in humanitarian and family-based immigration cases. The Multicultural Center (MC) at NVFS provides multicultural mental health, case management and legal services that address the needs of low-income, English-limited immigrants and refugees for whom existing services are inaccessible due to language and cultural barriers. Clients include individuals from all cultural and ethnic groups whose mental health and socio-economic stability is compromised as a result of trauma, poverty, chronic stress, and other tremendous challenges posed by the process of cultural adjustment. Trauma informed services are provided by bilingual, bicultural counselors, therapists, case managers and attorney/ accredited representatives.

This unique position will be embedded within the mental health and case management staff at the Multicultural Center. The attorney will represent clients in complex humanitarian immigration cases (particularly asylum, VAWA, U/T visas, and removal defense) as they simultaneously receive other supportive services in a holistic, wraparound model. The attorney will also provide consultation and training on immigration policy to other non-Legal MC staff. The prospective applicant should be excited by cross-discipline collaboration, committed to trauma-informed client representation, and interested in working with MC leadership to develop novel ways of integrating services.

This position has a starting salary of $62,000. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, this position will work remotely while providing some essential services which may require occasional in-person and/or in-office work.

Essential Job Duties: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with known disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Conduct initial phone intake and legal consultation to determine eligibility for program services
• Prepare and submit immigration applications for the following:
• Asylum, withholding of removal, Convention Against Torture claims
• VAWA petitions, removal of condition waivers, and cancellation of removal
• U visas
• T visas
• Special Immigrant Juvenile Status
• Naturalization
• Adjustment of status
• Family petitions
• Consular processing
• Temporary Protected Status/Deferred Enforced Departure
• DACA
• Waivers of inadmissibility
• Additional benefits such as employment authorization documents, travel documents, renewal of permanent resident cards, Certificates of Citizenship, FOIAs , etc.
• Other types of immigration cases as necessary
• Represent clients before U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the Executive Office for Immigration Review, and the Board of Immigration Appeals; including attending immigration interviews, asylum interviews, immigration court hearings, and InfoPass appointments
• Perform administrative duties necessary to support legal representation (copying, filing, translating, etc.)
• Ensure client fees are assessed and collected per retainer agreements
• Maintain client database and files in accordance with program/legal requirements and NVFS guidelines
• Comply with all legal ethical standards
• Make internal and external referrals to other services within the Agency and community, and work with other NVFS staff to provide collaborative services to clients
• Ensure operations and delivery of the legal services program is effective, efficient, and in compliance with all external regulatory standards and professional code of ethics
• Keep informed of changing immigration laws and procedures
• Assist in the development of grants or contract proposals and reporting
• Conduct outreach, lead trainings and participate in networking activities to promote services and to learn about available resources; collaborate with other agencies to complement services
• Maintain bar membership through continuing education

Qualification and Additional Requirements: An individual may obtain skills through a variety of professional, personal, educational, and volunteer experiences. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required to perform essential job duties.

• JD required; must be a member of good standing of any U.S. Bar, with the Virginia Bar preferred
• At least two (2) years of experience practicing immigration law required
• Experience with asylum, SIJS, and domestic violence-related applications preferred
• Passion for providing nonprofit legal services and serving vulnerable populations
• Oral and written fluency in English and Spanish required; additional language skills always welcome
• Experience working with survivors of trauma preferred
• Must be willing and able to transport clients for hearings; clean DMV record, valid U.S. driver’s license and own/reliable transportation required
• Proficiency in usage of basic technological tools including laptops/computers, email, phones, and internet required. Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite required.
• Demonstrated interest in working collaboratively with other professionals (case managers, mental health therapists, etc.) in wraparound services model; interest in developing the Legal Services Program.
• Willingness to expand skill set and learn new areas of the law
• Must be able to demonstrate and live the organizational values of Communication, Integrity, Respect, Collaboration, and Accountability.
• May be called upon to work beyond normal working hours
• Must be willing and able to travel to various locations within Northern Virginia and Maryland which may include courts, immigration offices, police stations, other attorneys’ offices, community locations for trainings, and other non-government locations at times to accommodate clients’ needs.
• Successful completion of background checks required upon hire

At Northern Virginia Family Service (NVFS), we value the diversity of backgrounds, experience, perspectives, and skillsets that we collectively provide to our community, clients and coworkers. We celebrate and thrive on our differences and welcome everyone’s unique contributions. NVFS is committed to advancing equity, embracing diversity, and promoting inclusion and is an equal opportunity employer. NVFS is an E-Verify participant and drug-free workplace.

NVFS values diversity in our workforce. We strongly encourage all interested individuals to apply, including people of color, all genders and gender identities, people of all abilities, LGBTQ+ individuals, other members of marginalized communities, veterans and national service alumni.

Experience

• 2 year(s): Experience practicing immigration law

• 1 year(s): Experience working with survivors of trauma
• 1 year(s): Experience with asylum, SIJS, and domestic violence-related applications

Education

• Juris Doctor or better

Licenses & Certifications

• Bar Admission

Skills

• Language-Spanish
• Computer-Microsoft Office Suite