Immigration Staff Attorney

Immigration Staff Attorney Position
NYCDS seeks an immigration staff attorney to join our Immigration Unit. The Immigration Unit attorneys, integral to the NYCDS defense team, provide Padilla advice and support to NYCDS clients and criminal defense attorneys.

Founded in 1997, New York County Defender Services (NYCDS) is a public defender office located in downtown Manhattan. Our mission is to provide the best possible legal defense for poor people ensnared in the criminal legal system. Our Immigration Unit currently consists of three immigration attorneys who specialize in the intersection between immigration and criminal law and work collaboratively with trial attorneys, social workers, and investigators to avoid negative immigration consequences for non-citizen clients.

Applicants please submit a cover letter, resume and a brief writing sample. 

Job Description and Responsibilities:

• Advise and strategize with our trial attorneys and clients to avoid negative immigration consequences;
• Provide immigration support to trial attorneys at arraignments;
• Present information to judges and assistant district attorneys through written or oral advocacy;
• Advocate for clients by conducting jail visits and accompanying clients to ICE appointments;
• Must be committed to working collaboratively with a diverse group of criminal defense attorneys and other advocates;
• Manage a high-volume caseload;
• Present in-office trainings on crim-imm basics and changes to crim-imm law;
• Attend IDP’s monthly roundtable meetings;
• Participate in other immigration coalition and organization meetings; and
• Supervise law student interns.
• Immigration staff attorneys may also have opportunities to provide legal representation before the Immigration Courts and to help clients apply for affirmative benefits before USCIS.

Qualifications:

• Commitment to advancing the rights of poor and low-income immigrants;
• Commitment to criminal justice issues;
• Must be fluent in Spanish;
• Minimum of three years’ experience in immigration law, particularly as it intersects with criminal law;
• Excellent research, writing, analytical, interpersonal and communication skills;
• Strong organizational and time-management skills;
• Must be admitted to practice law in New York State;
• We welcome candidates who are flexible, enjoy collaboration and think creatively.

Salary Range: $90,000 - 120,000

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