Spanish-Speaking Staff Attorney

The Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota is seeking a staff attorney in its Saint Paul, Minnesota office. The staff attorney will be an integral part of our Community Defense team. Second language fluency in Spanish is required.

The mission of the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota is to enhance opportunities for immigrants and refugees through legal representation for low-income individuals, and through education and advocacy with diverse communities. Our goals are to:

• Remedy legal problems by providing quality immigration legal services to low- income immigrants and refugees of all nationalities; and
• Prevent legal problems by providing law-related education to immigrants and refugees of all nationalities;
• Raise public awareness of immigration issues to encourage sound public policy that protects the universal human rights of immigrants and is both compassionate and practical.

BACKGROUND: The Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota (ILCM) is a 32-person office with five locations in the State of Minnesota including two Saint Paul offices and offices in Moorhead, Worthington, and Austin. ILCM has been in operation for 23 years, and is funded through individual, law firm, corporate, United Way, foundation, and local, state, and federal government support.

RESPONSIBILITIES: The Staff Attorney is responsible for legal representation in a variety of immigration matters, including immigration court cases, and for providing information, technical assistance, outreach, and training on behalf of income-eligible persons of all nationalities.

Responsibilities will include:

• Provide representation to individuals and families in defensive immigration matters in both detained and non-detained cases, including some or all of the following tasks: prepare and submit written pleadings and motions to the Immigration Court in Fort Snelling, MN, draft and file appropriate applications for relief from removal (i.e.: cancellation of removal, asylum, waiver applications, among others), meet with clients at detention facilities, prepare clients and witnesses for individual hearings, and represent clients (where appropriate) to the Board of Immigration Appeals.
• Provide representation to individuals and families in affirmative immigration matters, including some or all of the following tasks: prepare and submit immigration applications to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS); respond to requests for evidence; keep clients informed about their case status; ensure that clients receive and understand communications from USCIS regarding their pending applications; prepare clients for interviews with USCIS; and educate clients about their rights and obligations under immigration law. Case types will include, but are not limited to: naturalization, U Visas, VAWA, DACA, and family unity.
• Conduct Know Your Rights presentations at immigration detention facilities for unrepresented individuals.
• Engage in outreach efforts to immigrant and refugee communities regarding our legal services.
• Conduct intake consultations with and provide advice to potential clients, including individuals in immigration detention.
• Identify and resolve legal issues on behalf of new clients, accept cases, maintain client files.
• Maintain client data in compliance with organization protocols, grant and contract requirements, and ethical obligations.
• Provide information about immigration law to agencies that work with immigrant and refugee communities on a one-to-one basis and through presentations.
• Assist in grant proposal and report preparation as needed.

QUALIFICATIONS: J.D. degree and admission to a state bar. Experience with immigration law and immigration court matters preferred. Other Skills/Requirements include:

• Second language fluency in Spanish required;
• Excellent oral, listening, and written communication skills;
• Ability to and interest in representing clients in defensive, immigration court proceedings;
• High level of flexibility in adapting to changing immigration laws, procedures, and policies;
• High level of attention to detail and ability to manage multiple projects concurrently;
• Familiarity with diverse refugee and immigrant communities, community agencies, and resources;
• Demonstrated interest in serving the low-income immigrant and refugee community and experience working with persons of diverse economic, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds;
• Ability to work constructively with others, possess good judgment, learn quickly, and work well independently and under pressure as well as in collaboration with other staff and with other organizations;
• Working knowledge of standard word processing and presentation programs (i.e. Microsoft Word and Power Point) required; knowledge of immigration form programs and case database experience a plus; and
• Own car and able to travel to detention facilities 2-3 times per month (up to 100 miles from ILCM St. Paul office), to meet with clients, and to conduct outreach.

SALARY:  Salary range is $43,700-$65,550, dependent on experience. Benefits include paid-time-off; health, dental, life, short-term disability, and long-term disability insurance; and retirement plan with employer matching.

APPLICATIONS: Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Please forward cover letter and resume to oficinalegal@ilcm.org or mail to ILCM Legal, 450 North Syndicate Street., Suite 200, Saint Paul, Minnesota 55104. Position is open until filled. For further information on the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota, please visit www.ilcm.org.

ILCM is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing a work environment that is free from harassment and discrimination. ILCM provides equal opportunity to all applicants for employment in accordance with all federal, state, and local laws and will not refuse to hire any qualified individual, or otherwise discriminate against any individual by reason of an employee’s race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, familial status, status with regard to public assistance, or any other characteristic protected by law.