Staff Attorney - Phoenix, United States - Florence Project

Florence Project

Verified Company

Phoenix, United States

3 weeks ago

Posted by:

Mark Lane

beBee recruiter

Description

The Organization:

The Florence Project was founded in 1989 to respond to a representation crisis for indigent non-citizens detained at the rural Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Detention Center in Florence, Arizona.

Through our programs today, we provide services to thousands of adults, youth, and children detained in Eloy, Florence, Phoenix, and Tucson, Arizona on any given day.

In 2001, the Florence Project implemented our Integrated Social Services Program, one of the first of its kind in this field.

The Florence Project provides high quality legal and social services and supports initiatives for national changes in immigration law and policy.

Primary Purpose of the Job:

The Staff Attorney will work on a team to provide pre-court counseling sessions and direct representation, including challenging casework, and appeals, for unaccompanied children in front of the Department of Justice, including EOIR and the BIA, juvenile courts, and U.S.

Citizenship and Immigration Services.

The position includes extensive client contact with youth, including indigenous youth and youth who have suffered abuse, abandonment, neglect or other emotional and physical trauma.

It requires significant time in state and immigration court.

The position also provides "Know Your Rights" presentations as needed and the opportunity to participate in outreach activities and collaborative projects within a national network of legal service providers for unaccompanied immigrant children.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

Casework

Provide legal representation in cases accepted through the Children's Program. Legal representation includes representation in immigration proceedings before the Immigration Court, representation before the Board of Immigration Appeals, representation before the Arizona Juvenile Courts, and other related services reasonably necessary to complete these proceedings.
Supervise legal assistants assigned to each case.
Provide direct representation in front of the immigration court, juvenile court, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, including challenging casework, and appeals before the appropriate bodies.
Develop and recommend case strategy consistent with immigration law and procedure.
Prepare cases, draft legal papers, present required evidence, and engage in negotiations, in accordance with the Code of Professional Responsibility for the legal profession.
Conduct assessment of client's social, economic, and psychological functioning.
Collaborate with Children's Program social workers by identifying needs of the client and making appropriate referrals.
Determine appropriate range of services, interventions and referrals needed.
Attend and is engaged in all team meetings and trainings.
Remain current in immigration law and policy, and on impact of criminal and civil law on the immigration case.
Complies with required ethical standards, preserves client confidentiality, and avoids conflict of interest.
Maintain complete and accurate case notes and client records.
Prepare timely statistical reports.
Conduct periodic case audits for presentation and review.
Participate in training on immigration procedures and develop and conduct training sessions as assigned.

Advocacy

Conduct intake interviews and provide "Know Your Rights" information to detained and nondetained unaccompanied immigrant children, as needed
Appear as Friend of the Court before Immigration Court (EOIR).
Liaise with children's detention shelters as part of a team with legal assistants.
Develop and maintain cooperative relationships with local and national community partners, including but not limited to private immigration attorneys, public officials, law enforcement officials, and other nonprofits that provide services to the immigrant population.
Develop and maintain professional relationships with the Immigration Court (EOIR), Superior Court of Arizona Juvenile Courts, and the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS), government and social service organizations, and community organizations.
Communicate with the Managing Attorney about possible advocacy initiatives and legal trainings for the community.
Support Florence Project advocacy, outreach and development activities as needed.
Perform other administrative duties as needed.

Other Duties & Responsibilities:

Participate in organizational fundraising and outreach efforts as requested.
Participates in developing and implementing special projects or presentations.
Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Requirements:

J.D. and admission to any state bar.
Demonstrate commitment to advocating for indigent immigrant clients in a respectful and empowering way. Must be comfortable working with people with criminal convictions.
Demonstrate a zealous support of the Florence Project's mission.
Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.
Strong legal resea