Staff Attorney

We are the largest university-based legal assistance program in the nation, providing free, high-quality, and confidential immigration law services. We believe in empowering immigrants to take control of their immigration cases through a legal assistance model known as pro se. Using this approach, our attorneys and paralegals support thousands of individuals each year on their path to U.S. citizenship.

In addition to individualized services, we’ve developed a nationally recognized event-based model designed to assist large groups with their immigration applications. This innovative approach has been adopted by organizations nationwide and continues to expand access to legal support for immigrant communities

Reporting to the Managing Attorney for the City Council Program, the Staff Attorney will provide consultations on immigration-related issues and application assistance at New York City Council member sites, and events. The Staff Attorney will primarily focus on providing legal assistance in the areas of naturalization and family based immigration law.

• Counsels participants on immigration law and related issues
• Assists participants in the completion and review of immigration application/petitions
• Reviews and authorizes release of applications and petitions completed by paralegal staff
• Ensures that staff and volunteers are complying with work policies and procedures
• Conducts immigration workshops and seminars to benefit staff, participants, and targeted communities
• Interprets immigration laws, rulings, and regulations for staff and community partners
• Analyzes complex immigration case types e.g. criminal convictions and fraud
• Ensures data and reports are compiled on the services rendered
• Reports regularly to Managing Attorney on the provision of services and outreach to the community
• This is a hybrid position with at least 2 days in office and requires travel within NYC
• Other duties as assigned

• D. and State Bar admission
• Some immigration experience and/or passion about immigrant issues preferred
• Second language requirement is preferred
• Excellent supervisory skills, including the ability to oversee and guide the work product and professional development of staff and volunteers
• Ability to work in an open environment with limited privacy
• Excellent communications, interpersonal, writing, and legal writing skills; customer service focus
• Flexibility, self-motivation, and the ability to motivate others
• Ability to work independently as well as with a team in order to further the mission of CCN!
• Willingness to work on weekends and/or occasional evenings

The Research Foundation of The City University of New York (RFCUNY) is a nonprofit educational corporation founded in 1963 to provide post-award fiscal and administrative support for CUNY’s research and sponsored programs. RFCUNY’s services allow CUNY researchers, faculty, and staff to focus on their intellectual curiosity and scientific discoveries, on projects and programs that serve our local and global communities, proposing concrete solutions to society’s most pressing challenges.

RFCUNY serves as a fiscal agent and works closely with all the CUNY campus Grants Offices to perform the core functions of post-award financial management for CUNY research projects and sponsored programs. These functions include legal assessment and signing of agreements where RFCUNY is named as a fiscal agent; setting up award accounts; preparing sub-awards and assisting PIs in monitoring the work of the recipients of sub-awards; supporting project directors with hiring and managing research project and sponsored program staff; supporting the purchasing and paying for goods and services with grant and program funds; managing financial aspects of projects including accounts receivable, financial reporting, invoicing, budget monitoring, and cost compliance with uniform guidance; ensuring that sponsor financial requirements are met; monitoring compliance with applicable project and financial management rules and laws; supporting the management of independent and external audits and financial reviews; and providing data, information, management expertise, and other supports to CUNY’s research and sponsored programs.