Immigration Attorney

JOB TITLE: Immigration Attorney/ Senior Immigration Attorney

DEPARTMENT: Immigration Legal Services

REPORTS TO: Director of Immigration Legal Services

LOCATION: Concord or Berkeley - Hybrid

EMPLOYMENT TYPE: full time (37.5 hrs/wk), exempt

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HOW TO APPLY

Please complete an application through the JFCS East Bay Career Center by clicking on the link or going to our website: https://jfcs-eastbay.org/jobs/. Please note: If you apply via an external site (Indeed, LinkedIn, etc.) rather than directly through the Career Center, you may need to submit a cover letter and resume as one document if the site only allows for one uploaded attachment.

OUR ORGANIZATION

JFCS East Bay partners with our clients, staff, and community to pursue justice, promote healing, and advocate for meaningful change. We are an innovative human service and community-based organization that has served individuals and families throughout Alameda and Contra Costa counties since 1877. We reunite and strengthen families, care for the mental and physical health needs of people impacted by trauma, support healthy relationships between young children and their caregivers, provide legal representation to immigrants, and resettle refugees who seek to start their lives anew. We advocate for housing justice, mobilize community resources, and build bridges across our diverse East Bay to support our clients in meeting their goals and strengthening our community.

Our staff is characterized by its dedication, teamwork, warmth, and humor. JFCS East Bay actively seeks to hire team members who reflect the cultural and linguistic diversity of East Bay and of our clients. If you are deeply committed to developing authentic relationships with clients and colleagues, thinking creatively, and advocating for justice for our clients, this is the role for you. BIPOC, LGBTQ+, immigrant, multilingual, older adult or candidates with disabilities, and people of all faiths or none are encouraged to apply.

How We Operate

• We partner with our clients, staff, and community to advocate for justice and promote healing.
• We engage in our work with integrity, accountability, and transparency.
• We commit to anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• We maintain unwavering stance against antisemitism and all forms of prejudice.

Job Summary

JFCS East Bay is looking to hire an Immigration Attorney and/or a Senior Immigration Attorney to provide legal services to indigent immigrants in California. The position(s) will report to the Immigration Legal Services (ILS) Director. The overall goal of JFCS East Bay’s ILS program is to provide accessible legal services to low-income and vulnerable immigrant families so that they understand their rights and feel safe pursuing available legal options. These services include legal consultations and representation in removal defense and affirmative immigration cases as well as occasional federal litigation. The Senior Attorney role, in addition to the above duties, combines direct representation of clients with staff supervision, mentoring, and program management. This position will work collaboratively with staff and volunteers to advance the organization’s mission of promoting social justice and equity for immigrant communities.

Position Responsibilities

• Provide holistic representation to non-detained and detained immigrants who live in the East Bay in removal proceedings before the San Francisco and Concord Immigration Courts, as well as in matters before U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”), the Board of Immigration Appeals (“BIA”), Circuit Courts, and potentially state courts to obtain Special Immigrant Juvenile Status findings.
• Manage a caseload which can include affirmative applications and petitions such family-based petitions, consular processing, and adjustment of status, humanitarian relief (VAWA, U visas, asylum, TPS, SIJS) and naturalization applications and unlawful presence waivers.
• Prepare and submit applications, declarations, legal briefs, and supporting documentation for cases involving asylum, withholding of removal, relief under the Convention Against Torture, Cancellation of Removal, and adjustment of status with applicable waivers, refugee waivers and bond hearings before EOIR.
• File habeas petitions with the Federal District Court and other release requests for detained clients. Visit detained individuals at California detention centers. Provides consultations for detained and non-detained individuals.
• Stay up to date on changing immigration law, policies, and procedures by participating in training and workshops.
• Maintains accurate and up-to-date client information incase management database and assists with grant reports.
• Collaborate with partner organizations to refer clients to legal, social, healthcare, and mental health services as appropriate.
• Conduct outreach events and presentations, including know-your-rights workshops and legal screening events to increase awareness of pathways to relief, legal rights and responsibilities, and enable access to legal resources.
• Participate in attorney of the day or legal clinics to support pro se immigrants.
• Other duties as assigned

Senior Attorney, In addition to the above duties:

• Manage JFCSEB’s regional and countywide collaboratives, including developing and maintaining Know Your Rights resources, conducting training, and mentoring staff. This role also includes overseeing projects and supervising attorneys participating in these initiatives.
• Hire, train, and supervise and accredited representatives, legal assistants and/or immigration attorneys.
• Conduct case reviews to ensure compliance with ethical and professional standards. Assist the ILS Director with program development and reporting, fostering a culture of collaboration, feedback, and strategic partnership.

Minimum Qualifications

• JD and membership and in good standing in any bar in the United States
• 3-5 years of experience providing legal representation to non-citizens before USCIS and EOIR. For the Senior Attorney role, 5+ years of progressive immigration legal experience is required.
• Familiarity with immigration law and procedures, including applications for asylum, family-based immigration, U-visas, adjustment of status, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS), and cancellation of removal.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint) and legal case management systems.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Commitment to equity, inclusion, and anti-racist principles in legal practice. Demonstrated ability to work effectively with individuals from diverse cultural, linguistic, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Clear DMV record and driver’s license

Preferred Qualifications

• Membership and good standing in the California State Bar.
• Spanish language fluency
• Prior supervision experience of legal interns, paralegals or attorneys. (For Senior Immigration Attorney)

Position Funding & Stability

This position is a 2-year grant funded position through a long-standing contract that has historically been renewed. While we remain confident in our continued partnerships, we believe in full transparency with prospective team members. The broader landscape of community-based services is currently shifting, with potential changes at state and federal levels that may impact funding structures in the future.

Compensation and Benefits

The salary range for an Immigration Attorney will be $74,000-$106,000. The salary range for a Senior Immigration Attorney will be $80,000-$116,000. Compensation is established based on the level of the position, the specific program of hire, and the candidate’s qualifications and experience.

Benefits include:

• Medical/Dental/Vision
• Life Insurance/AD&D
• Long Term Disability
• Flexible spending accounts (Health, Dependent Care, Parking, and Transit)
• 401(k) with 6% matching contribution after one year
• 28 paid days off per year (Earned Time Off/ETO)
• Up to 16 paid holidays per year

We also offer the option for hybrid work schedules where employees can work from both an assigned office and home.

EEO Statement

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, JFCS East Bay does not discriminate on the basis of any protected categories: age, ancestry, citizenship, color, disability, gender, immigration status, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran's status. The agency is committed to the principles of diversity in employment and to creating a community where everyone can flourish with dignity.

Condition(s) of Employment

Satisfactory completion of a background check (including Live Scan where applicable). The background check may include, but is not limited to a criminal records check, verification of academic credentials, licenses, certificates, credit history, professional references and/or verification of work history is required for employment. JFCS East Bay will issue a conditional offer of employment to the selected candidate, which may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information.

COVID VACCINATION POLICY

JFCS East Bay requires staff to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, including one booster shot, or declare a medical or religious exemption. Candidates should be prepared to provide proof of vaccination or complete a medical or religious exemption form on their first day of employment.