11/17/09
NORTHWEST IMMIGRANT RIGHTS PROJECT
STAFF ATTORNEY POSITION
DETENTION AND REMOVAL DEFENSE, TACOMA, WA
SUMMARY:
NWIRP seeks a committed, Spanish-speaking bilingual attorney to work with the Legal Orientation Program (LOP) at the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma, Washington. Under the LOP, which is funded by the Executive Office for Immigration Review and managed by the Vera Institute, private nonprofit agencies give detained individuals essential information about court procedures and available options for legal relief prior to their immigration hearing. The LOP consists of four primary components: (1) group orientations; (2) individual sessions; (3) self-help training in the form of pro se workshops; and (4) referral of cases to pro bono attorneys. NWIRP seeks an attorney to work with all aspects of the LOP program.
In addition to LOP work, the attorney will also provide direct representation to detained persons in removal proceedings.
This position will be located at the NWIRP office in Tacoma, Washington. Tacoma is located approximately 35 miles south of Seattle. The attorney will also spend a significant amount of time working at the Northwest Detention Center, a regional immigration detention facility that houses 1200-1575 people from Alaska, Oregon, Washington, and overflow from other states.
REPORTS TO:
Supervising Attorney of the Tacoma Office
RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Conduct daily presentations, workshops and consultations in Spanish and English to persons detained at the immigration detention center in Tacoma, Washington;
• Conduct self-help workshops for unrepresented detainees seeking relief from removal;
• Under the Supervising Attorney, communicate regularly with ICE, GEO, and EOIR;
• Perform administrative tasks related to LOP presentations;
• Provide direct representation to clients on the detained docket before the Department of Homeland Security and before the Executive Office for Immigration Review (NOTE: Time allocated towards direct representation is not covered under the LOP and is covered by funding that is separate and apart from funding allocated by the DOJ);
• Maintain a working knowledge of significant policies, laws and trends in immigration law, particularly as it impacts low-income immigrants and refugees ; and
• Engage in outreach and education in the area of immigrant rights.
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE AND ATTRIBUTES:
• Law degree;
• Admission to the bar of any state in the U.S. (or a recent law graduate who has taken the bar or is taking the bar in February 2010);
• Demonstrated commitment to immigrant rights;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills;
• Commitment to working in a diverse and challenging working environment;
• Fluent in English and Spanish;
• Strong organizational skills and ability to work independently; and
• Proficiency in use of MS Word, MS Access, and MS Excel.
Beginning salary is $43k or DOE plus benefits.
To APPLY:
Send cover letter, resume and references to: hr@nwirp.org with the subject "Tacoma Attorney". Review of applications will begin immediately, applications will be accepted until the position is filled.