Staff Attorney - Tucson, United States - Florence Project

Florence Project

Verified Company

Tucson, United States

2 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 Florence Immigrant & Refugee Rights Project's Border Action Team Staff Attorney position intended to enhance the provision of legal services to asylum seekers encountered at the U.S.

southern border.

The Staff Attorney will be under the direction of the Border Action Team's Managing Attorney and will collaborate with a team comprised of legal assistants.

This position is intended to be adaptive, based on the constantly evolving landscape of U.S.

border policy - including, but not limited to, policies like metering, expulsions without due process, removal proceedings at the border, and various forms of expedited removal - as well as the impact those policies have on the use of detention.

The Staff Attorney will provide legal orientation, consultation, and some direct representation to asylum seekers at the Arizona/Sonora border and/or in the credible fear process at the border or in ICE detention.

The distribution of tasks is highly dependent upon team priorities at the time, based upon current border and asylum policies.

The Staff Attorney will also collaborate on advocacy efforts to protect and improve due process in the asylum process.

The Staff Attorney will be an employee of FIRRP but, like all members on the Border Action Team, will work closely with the Kino Border Initiative staff and other NGO community partners as well.

This position is based out of FIRRP's Tucson office but requires frequent travel to Sonora, Mexico. Some travel to the detention facilities and Immigration Courts in Eloy and Florence, Arizona may also be required.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

Legal Orientation and Education at the Arizona/Mexico border:

Conduct regular "Know Your Rights" presentations, legal orientations, and/or group workshops in, but not limited to, Nogales, Sonora, Mexico or within Arizona.
Communicate and interpret immigration and department policies and programs to the public, including public speaking on such matters as "Know Your Rights" and other matters as requested.
Develop or update _pro se _materials for the populations the Border Action Team serves
Remain current on implications of criminal and civil law as it applies to immigrants and refugees' options for relief from removal.
Actively stay apprised and trained in developments in both border and immigration policies, whether they are proposed policies, impending policies, active policies in effect, or past policies.

Advocacy:

Support the Florence Project's efforts to document cases of due process violations at the Arizona/Sonora border and collaborate in the preparation of reports and advocacy documents explaining the legal implications and human consequences of these violations.
Proactively communicate with community partners and supervisors at FIRRP, including participating in joint quarterly meetings to review caseload, documentation for advocacy efforts, and other emerging considerations.
Participate in local, regional, and national stakeholder meetings, as necessary, to stay abreast of border policy.
Create agendas and track deliverables and requests in stakeholder meetings and relay that information to the team or external stakeholders, as appropriate.

Casework at the Arizona/Mexico border:

Conduct indepth intake interviews for either _pro se _or direct representation of asylumseekers at the Arizona/Mexico border. Communicate with clients to obtain initial and followup information.
Provide either _pro se_ support or direct representation to individuals seeking immigration relief at the Arizona/Sonora border, including evaluating for not only underlying immigration relief but also for exemptions or exceptions from any current deterrencebased border policies.
Ensure the accuracy, substance, and timeliness of statistical and narrative reports, projects, schedules and other relevant work products.
Work with other team members to develop case strategies consistent with immigration law and procedure. Assist in implementing agreedupon strategy.
Prepare legal filings and submissions (make copies) and submit them to the court as needed by the attorneys.
Maintains complete and accurate case notes and client records. Prepares timely statistical reports.
In accordance with required