• Job Description

  Req#: IMMIG001298

  Position Title: Immigration Staff Attorney – Higher Education Legal Services Program

  Organization: Jewish Family Service of San Diego

  Department: Immigration Services

  Position Type: Full-Time (37.5+ hours/week), Exempt

  Work Setting: Onsite

  Reports To: Lead Immigration Attorney – Higher Education Legal Services Program

  Pay Range: $72,500-$77,500/year, depending on years of experience

  Total Compensation:

  In addition to standard pay, compensation for this position includes:

  • Comprehensive, low-cost healthcare coverage for employees
  • Generous employer 401(k) contributions
  • Employer-covered life insurance

  Time Away from Work:

  Being able to take time away from work is critical in bringing your best self to work. Time off benefits for this position include:

  • Generous paid vacation time and sick leave
  • 17 paid holidays, including Federal, Jewish, and floating holidays
  • 2 Wellness Days to be taken any time during the year to support employees’ mental wellness

  Position Overview:

  Jewish Family Service of San Diego (JFS) is one of four refugee resettlement agencies in San Diego County, a Department of Justice Recognized organization, and a core partner of the San Diego Rapid Response Network (SDRRN) - a group of 40+ immigrant rights and social service organizations, attorneys and community leaders who educate, protect and assist immigrant individuals and families – including refugees and asylum seekers – with legal support and social services. JFS has a large Immigration Legal Services Department (ILSD) where it not only coordinates the legal services for SDRRN, but also has a large team of lawyers, DOJ accredited representatives, and support staff working on a wide range of services for low-income and vulnerable immigrants in San Diego and Imperial counties. This position will work within the ILSD team at JFS. The ILSD team specializes in removal defense, family-based petitions and applications, administrative relief, naturalization, and humanitarian relief. The ILSD team has experience and regularly practices immigration law before Department of Homeland Security (DHS), such as with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Border Patrol (BP) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), as well as before the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) at the San Diego, Otay Mesa and Imperial Immigration Courts and Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA), and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. The ILSD team also represents clients in relevant immigration matters before San Diego Superior Court on simple post-conviction relief and probate guardianship matters. The ILSD is also the legal service provider which coordinates the Higher Education Legal Services (HELS) program at 2 CA State Universities – San Diego State and CSU San Marcos, in addition to 9 community colleges in San Diego and Imperial counties.

  JFS is looking for a compassionate, mission-driven individual to join the Immigration Legal Services Department with the Higher Education Legal Services Program as the Immigration Staff Attorney. In this role, you have the opportunity to use your legal skills and experience to make a meaningful difference in your community and help change lives across San Diego. Under the supervision of the Supervising Attorney, Immigration Staff Attorney will provide direct legal representation in affirmative cases to adults and children seeking asylum; Special Immigrant Juvenile petitions; families seeking family petitions; and crime victims seeking VAWA classification or U visas, immigrants seeking Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), among other affirmative immigration benefits. There is a possibility for some removal defense work before the Executive Office for Immigration Review for HELS eligible clients. The Immigration Staff Attorney will also provide critical emergent intervention in support of the SDRRN for clients eligible for HELS who are detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

  Responsibilities :

  • Prepare filings and represent clients before US Citizenship and Immigration Services and other DHS agencies as needed
  • If licensed in California, provide direct representation in California State Court for clients seeking Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS)
  • In some situations, there may be the need to provide representation to HELS eligible clients placed in removal proceedings, this includes people who are referred to the program by the San Diego Rapid Response Network (SDRRN). Removal cases are currently not common for HELS. However, there is a possible for a small number of cases that may need these services
  • Participate in community workshops, information sessions, and other outreach activities, as needed
  • Manage a full active caseload of mostly affirmative cases, and some removal defense cases if HELS eligible clients need those services
  • Stay in constant communication with clients about the status of their pending immigration cases
  • Coordinate and document client communications and necessary data for our funding obligations
  • Provide general support to the ILSD team, including the DOJ accredited representatives, pro bono attorneys, and other staff as assigned, through regular engagement, case assistance and mentorship
  • Stay up to date on rapidly changing immigration laws and policies
  • Comply with ILSD, program, and agency-wide policies and procedures, data and case management policies and procedures, and program reporting requirements
  • Be ready to perform any additional case management or administrative tasks
  • Ensure supervisees, if assigned supervisory oversight of an intern, are meeting all responsibilities according to their job description

  Required Formal Education and/or Licenses:

  • Law graduate
  • Licensed to practice law in the U.S

  Skills/Experience/Abilities That Are a Must-Have:

  • A passion for social justice for immigrants
  • A passion for providing culturally competent, trauma-informed, services to noncitizens and newcomers in San Diego County, Imperial County, and generally in the San Diego border region, including but not limited Tijuana/Mexicali, Mexico
  • A valid driver’s license, access to an automobile, insurance, and willingness to drive to off-site locations
  • A willingness to undergo extensive immigration law-focused legal training and complete required bi-annual ethics trainings
  • Excellent interpersonal skills, including good communication and active listening skills.
  • Detail oriented and self-directed with strong oral and written communication skills in English
  • An ability to record accurate data
  • Strong relational skills and professional attitude
  • Strong case management, legal research, and legal writing skills
  • A demonstrated ability and willingness to zealously defend the rights of immigrants and newcomers
  • A demonstrated ability to take initiative and work under pressure
  • An ability to work both independently and in a group and with a team
  • An ability to work flexible hours, including some evenings and weekends
  • Ability to prioritize, multi-task and organize in a fast paced and fluid environment
  • Proficient in Microsoft software including Excel, Word, and Outlook
  • Experience working with immigrant populations and in multi-cultural settings
  • Experience working with detained immigrants or other incarcerated populations
  • Experience working with marginalized populations and survivors of trauma
  • Dedication to serving immigrant communities with a sincere commitment to working on behalf of low-income immigrants

  Physical Demands of the Job:

  • Ability to work in office and Community Colleges and University campuses
  • Available to work occasional evenings and weekends, as necessary
  • Must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds

  Skills/Abilities We’d Like You to Have :

  • Bilingual English/Arabic, Spanish, Farsi, Haitian Creole, and/or Portuguese – desired

  Important Notice:

  Incomplete submissions will not be considered. Please, no phone calls. Please, principals only. Please, local candidates only (relocation is not provided).

  About Jewish Family Service of San Diego
  Jewish Family Service of San Diego is a client-centered, impact-driven organization working to build a stronger, more resilient community. For over 100 years, Jewish Family Service has been a trusted resource for the entire community, offering an array of services that are always life-changing, and often life-saving. At Jewish Family Service, we believe our employees are the backbone of our Agency. We strive to ensure that each employee is treated with dignity and respect. Our goal is your success. Come work at JFS and be our partner in Moving Forward Together. To learn more about JFS, please visit jfssd.org.

  *Jewish Family Service is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.

• About the company

  Jewish Family Service (JFS) is a client-centered, impact-driven organization working to build a stronger, healthier, more resilient San Diego. In partnership with our supporters and volunteers, we Empower Individuals & Families to Move Toward Self-Suff...

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