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Staff Attorney – Immigration Law

Working Hours:

Mon-Fri / Day Shift / On-Site with occasional local travel

Classification:

Full time

Pay Range:

$78,000 to $82,000 annually based on education and experience

Job Summary:

The mission of the International Institute of Buffalo (IIB) is to make Western New York a better place for, and because of, immigrants and refugees. IIB’s legal team was started in 2021 to address the pressing need for legal representation of Afghans and Ukrainians. It has since expanded to offer legal representation to other refugees and immigrant groups on a variety of humanitarian legal matters.

We are seeking an experienced Staff Attorney who can both represent refugees and immigrants, and also mentor and train pro bono attorneys on immigration matters. Through funding from the NYS Office of New Americans, IIB has begun to recruit and train pro bono attorneys they can represent clients on legal permanent residency, naturalization, employment authorization, asylum, family sponsorship, etc. The Staff Attorney will train pro bonos on various aspects of immigration law, and will review the work product of pro bonos before case filing.

The Staff Attorney should have experience representing clients on affirmative matters before USCIS and some defensive representation experience before U.S. Immigration Court. The ideal candidate will preferably have some experience representing clients on habeas matters before U.S. District Court, or is willing to be trained on habeas petition, due to the evolving need for this area of legal representation in immigration cases.

The ideal candidate will be comfortable managing an active caseload, and will have the patience and approachable demeanor to advise and mentor volunteer attorneys who are not familiar with immigration law. IIB runs a monthly walk-in legal clinic and is holding regular trainings for pro bonos on focused topics of law, to allow them to step in and assist on specific kinds of cases.

As a member of the legal team, the Staff Attorney must ensure compliance with legal practice ethics and funder parameters. Collaboration with other departments in order to serve clients and funders and uphold established IIB protocol is required.

Qualifications:

Graduate of U.S. ABA-accredited law school, Juris Doctor
Admitted to practice with a law license in good standing with any US state bar, NY bar preferred

Minimum of two (2) years of legal work experience within the scope of immigration law
Experience with leading legal trainings/presentations
Experience with mentoring others in a legal setting (law students, interns, pro bonos, etc.)
Excellent organizational and problem-solving skills
Extensive experience working with diverse cultures, underserved and underrepresented communities, and survivors of trauma
Strong written and oral advocacy skills
Strong communication skills
Proficient legal research skills
Ability to work independently
Basic computer skills using MS Office
Experience with case management database software
Authorized to work in the U.S.

USE OF PERSONAL VEHICLE: The candidate must have access to a personal vehicle and have a valid Driver License along with proof of active insurance coverage. Some local travel is required to client appointments and trainings, and to local courts and adjudication interviews.

Duties And Responsibilities:

Represents retained clients on matters before USCIS, the NVC and Consulates on immigration matters including Adjustment of Status, Naturalization, family-based sponsorship petitions, Employment Authorization (EAD), inadmissibility waivers, consular processing, DACA, asylum, VAWA, U & T visa applications and Temporary Protected Status (TPS), and related appeals for any USCIS-denials of these applications
Some representation at Buffalo Immigration Court – performing legal research, establishing case strategy, preparation of applications for relief, attending hearings, writing briefs, and working with expert witnesses
Deliver periodic trainings to pro bono attorney volunteers on focused topics; pre-screen cases for pro bono placement; review pro bono’s work product before submission to USCIS/EOIR.
Patient, responsive and clear communications with pro bono attorneys, while staying on top of case deadlines.
Provide consistent communication with clients such as following up through texts, telephone calls and letters
Seek out and maintain subject matter expertise on U.S. immigration Law; continuously develops knowledge of case law, statutes, regulations, agency policies; attends conferences and legal education trainings/CLEs
Prepares training materials and advise the Supervising Attorney and other staff on subject matter expertise, as requested or appropriate.

Adheres to IIB’s organizational policies, legal practice management policies, and case management system.
Other duties as assigned by a member of management within the job scope

Working Conditions:

Office environment requires, with or without accommodation, employees to consistently use manual dexterity in reaching, writing, navigating around the workspace. This position requires fully functional vision and auditory abilities. This position may include hours standing and walking, including up and down stairs, occasional driving, and moving items of up to 30 pounds.

Apply:

Qualified candidates should send a cover letter and resume to careers@iibuff.org. Please include the job title of which you are applying to in the subject line.

The International Institute of Buffalo is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, religion, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation or preference, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, marital status, physical or mental disability, veteran or military status, or any other protected classifications in employment or any other aspect of our programs and activities. Should you require an accommodation, according to the guidelines of the ADA, please seek the counsel of Human Resources for assistance.

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