LGBTQ Pro Bono Senior Attorney I

About NIJC

The mission of NIJC is to ensure human rights protections and access to justice for immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers. NIJC provides direct legal services to and advocates for these populations through advocacy, impact litigation and strategic communications. NIJC leverages assistance from more than 2,500 pro bono attorneys throughout the country to provide legal services to more than 10,000 immigrants annually.

Job Summary:

The LGBTQ Immigrant Rights Initiative offers legal services to low-income immigrants who identify as LGBTQ or who are living with HIV. Reporting to the managing attorney, the senior attorney position provides technical support to pro bono counsel assigned to complex NIJC cases including affirmative, defensive, detained, and non-detained asylum cases. The person in this position may occasionally provide direct representation to clients as appropriate.

This position is located in Chicago, IL, but remote candidates will be considered.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Individual accountability and work volume will be defined through annual Success Objectives.
• Reviews and provides constructive feedback on materials for pro bono attorneys, including briefs, legal memos, affidavits, work permit applications, and other filings.
• Supports pro bono teams in navigating various parts of the immigration legal system including entering appearances, filing FOIA requests, drafting legal arguments, obtaining corroborating evidence, and appearing before government agencies including the Asylum Office and the Immigration Court.
• Drafts practice advisories and explainers on various relevant legal topics.
• Advises pro bono teams on case strategy for complex immigration legal matters.
• Presents at training and outreach events on topics including updates in immigration law and representation of LGBTQ asylum seekers.
• Provides direct representation to NIJC clients as needed and/or as appropriate, including preparing cases for interview or hearing, drafting legal papers, conducting client advocacy, presenting evidence, etc. in accord with the Code of Professional Responsibility for the legal profession.
• Remains current on immigration law, policies and procedures. Remains current on implications of criminal and civil law as it applies to the representation of immigrants.
• Maintains complete and accurate client records. Prepares timely statistical reports. Conducts routine case audits for presentation and review of the Supervisor.
• Identies trends and recurring legal and social concerns. Recommends strategies for solutions and other needed advocacy.
• Other duties may be assigned.

Qualifications:

• Education and/or Experience: Juris Doctorate Degree required; and at least three years of practicing law with a preference in immigration and/or human rights law; self-motivated and committed to civil liberties and LGBTQ advocacy; ability to represent individuals in complex cases and to formulate and implement sophisticated legal strategies.

• Language Skills:
• Excellent writing and analytical skills; Ability to communicate eectively in legal and non-legal settings with a wide range of individuals and organizations. Ability to read, analyze, and interpret professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to draft reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to eectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public. Fluency or proficiency in a language in addition to English is a plus.

Competencies:

• Reasoning Ability:
• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

How to Apply

Please Include:

• Your resume
• A compelling cover letter, including the following:
• Why you are interested in this specific role and in working for NIJC
• How your unique skills and experience will enable you to make a significant impact on our team and help us achieve our mission.
• A specific, brief example of a project or accomplishment from your past that best demonstrates your relevant qualifications.

Physical Abilities Statement

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Must be able to remain in a stationary position 50% of the time
• The person in this position occasionally needs to move about the inside of the office to access filing cabinets, office machinery, etc.
• Constantly operating a computer and other office productivity machinery, such as a copy machine.

It is the policy of NIJC not to discriminate against any applicant for employment, or any employee because of age, color, sex, disability, national origin, race, religion, or veteran status.