BayLegal seeks a culturally sensitive immigration law attorney with a strong commitment to public interest and social justice advocacy to represent low-income, noncitizen survivors of interpersonal violence in obtaining and maintaining legal status and work authorization for themselves and their qualifying, immediate relatives. As a member of BayLegal’s regional immigration team, this position reports to the Managing Attorney of Immigration Law Practice. This position is based in our Contra Costa County Regional office in Richmond and will involve travel within BayLegal’s broader service areas as needed in the practice of the immigration cases, to ensure client access, and as necessary for training and broader advocacy. See below description of our current work environment due to COVID-19.
Immigration Law Temporary Staff Attorney – Duties and Responsibilities:
- To learn and assist with the diverse legal needs of underserved and marginalized communities affected throughout the Bay Area to reduce homelessness, enhance stability, and address social injustice.
- Represent low-income noncitizen survivors of interpersonal violence primarily in petitioning for U visas, T visas, VAWA relief, I-751 Waivers, and/or Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS), and applying for related fee waiver requests, work authorizations, adjustment of status, and naturalization. Representation may include seeking predicate orders in state court for SIJS cases if a member in good standing of the CA Bar.
- Collaborate with BayLegal’s Pro Bono Department to conduct immigration-related legal clinics and train and mentor volunteers throughout their representation of noncitizen survivors of interpersonal violence applying for immigration relief.
- Provide workshops and technical assistance to BayLegal staff, pro bono volunteers, community partners, and client communities on immigration relief and other civil legal remedies for noncitizen survivors of interpersonal violence.
- Develop relationships and engage in collaboration with a range of public and private community partners, including governmental agencies, courts, and community-based organizations, to ensure integrative services and address systemic barriers facing noncitizen survivors of interpersonal violence.
- Participate in media interviews related to the legal remedies and immigration relief available to noncitizen survivors of interpersonal violence.
- Work closely with BayLegal’s development, grants and contracts, and communications team to promote BayLegal’s mission and resource development.
- Engage in other tasks and projects that further BayLegal’s operations as a non-profit.
Requirements/Qualifications/About the Successful Candidate:
- Must have received or be willing to receive the COVID-19 vaccination by date of hire to be considered. Proof of vaccination required.
- Cultural humility in working with colleagues and clients across the spectrum of diversity, including race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, immigrant status, religious identity, physical and mental disabilities, and/or limited English proficiency.
- A current Bar membership in good standing.
- Experience working with survivors of trauma and/or interpersonal violence.
- Minimum two years relevant immigration law experience with U visa, VAWA relief, T visa, and/or SIJS. Additional desirable practice areas include adjustment of status, family-based petitions, naturalization, asylum, and removal defense. Significant clinical, internship, and/or fellowship experience will be considered.
- Spoken fluency in Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, Vietnamese, Tagalog, and/or Farsi, preferred.
- Strong personal work ethic and ability to organize time, manage diverse activities, and meet critical deadlines with minimal supervision.
- Excellent writing, editing, and proof-reading skills.
- Detail oriented.
- Curious and self-directed with an ability to anticipate what needs to be done.
- Experience and skills in simultaneously managing multiple projects while maintaining a firm grasp of individual project details.
- A driver’s license and access to a car, or access to alternate means of transportation.
Health & Safety and Hybrid Work Environment: BayLegal is committed to the health and safety of our staff, clients, and community. Being accessible to our client communities is integral to our mission and commitment as a direct services community-based law firm. BayLegal has implemented detailed health and safety protocols to minimize risk of exposure to Covid-19 and has an evolving plan to continue to increase in-person services and activities in our offices and community-based advocacy sites. Currently, most BayLegal employees work a hybrid model including set on-site and in-person work and working from home on a part-time basis. All employees are expected to reside in California and at a distance allowing them to commute to their physical BayLegal base location and service delivery locations as needed during the standard work week and in compliance with public health advisories.
Compensation and Benefits: We offer a diverse, family friendly environment, and compensation based on competitive public interest salaries along with medical and dental benefits, paid holidays, and sick leave. Compensation is based on experience and competitive public interest salaries. The estimated annual salary range is 74,500 – $93,000 (placement in range determined primarily by years of related experience).
Applications: BayLegal thrives on our diversity, and we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to building a culturally diverse workplace and strongly encourage women, LGBTQIA+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer, Intersex, Asexual) and QTBIPOC (Queer, Trans, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) individuals, veterans, individuals who have been impacted by the criminal justice system, persons with disabilities, and persons from other underrepresented groups to apply. We are committed to equal employment opportunity and providing reasonable accommodations to qualified candidates and employees pursuant to applicable law. We value and encourage diversity and solicit applications from all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, gender, sex, age, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, medical condition, military and veteran status, gender identity or expression, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. If you require a reasonable accommodation as part of the application process, please contact BayLegal’s Human Resources Manager at (510) 250-5225.
BayLegal will begin reviewing applications upon receipt and continue until the position is filled. Please submit (1) cover letter including response to question below (no page limit), (2) resume, (3) references, and (4) writing sample through BayLegal’s career application portal.
AS PART OF YOUR COVER LETTER,PLEASEADDRESS THE FOLLOWING:
BayLegal’s clients are low-income and very low-income members of our communities. They include LGBTQIA+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer, Intersex, Asexual) and QTBIPOC (Queer, Trans, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) individuals, the working poor, seniors, people who are limited English proficient, veterans, persons with disabilities, survivors of abuse and exploitation, individuals impacted by the criminal justice system, and people who are experiencing or at risk of homeless, and persons from other underrepresented groups. To ensure our organization is best serving these populations, BayLegal strives to promote an evolving set of behaviors and attitudes amongst our staff, as well as policies that enable us to work effectively across cultures, with clients, with our coworkers, and with the community. We see this as a commitment to enhance the provision of our services to all clients; to raise the level of positive client outcomes; and to create an inclusive and respectful workplace in which differences are acknowledged and valued.
How do you think your experiences, professional or otherwise, prepared you to serve our diverse client base effectively, work effectively with colleagues from different backgrounds than your own, and to contribute to our commitment to humility, inclusion, and diversity? Feel free to think broadly about your response to this question, applying various aspects of your life and personal experiences.