Senior Litigation Attorney

The Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights invites applications for the full-time position of Senior Litigation Attorney to be based remotely with preference to those near one of our operating offices. The Senior Litigation Attorney will manage litigation and legal advocacy efforts aimed at protecting the rights of immigrant children and youth facing removal from the United States, as well as those at risk of permanent separation from parents or caregivers due to removal. This role involves tracking, analyzing, and engaging in litigation affecting immigrant children, with a particular focus on unaccompanied youth in federal custody. The Senior Litigation Attorney will identify strategic opportunities to challenge policies, practices, and cases that harm the best interests of immigrant children and youth.

Key responsibilities include conducting factual investigations, performing legal research, drafting legal filings, and developing compelling legal arguments on issues affecting unaccompanied and separated immigrant children. This work will be done both with Young Center staff and in collaboration with other organizations and law firms. In addition to litigation work, the Senior Litigation Attorney will collaborate with the policy team to advocate on issues that intersect with ongoing or potential litigation and will contribute to the development of policy advocacy, including drafting comments on proposed federal regulations.

In the future, the Senior Litigation Attorney may also supervise or mentor attorneys, paralegals, and fellows, ensuring effective and high-quality work in support of the organization’s mission.

ABOUT THE YOUNG CENTER

The Young Center for Immigrant Children's Rights is a national organization dedicated to protecting and advancing the rights and best interests—safety and well-being—of immigrant children in the United States. The Young Center’s Child Advocate Program (CAP) serves as the federally-appointed bests interests representative for unaccompanied and separated immigrant children in federal custody. Through CAP’s state initiative, we also serve and are appointed by the Superior Courts of New Jersey as independent Child Advocates to children released from federal custody into the New Jersey community. Child Advocates meet with children and learn their stories in order to identify and advocate for their best interests through an interdisciplinary, trauma-informed, and culturally sensitive lens. The Young Center’s Policy Program fights for wholesale reform of the immigration system while pursuing immediate changes in policy and practice that center children’s rights and best interests in all decisions. The Technical Assistance Program, the Young Center’s newest program, offers intersectional expertise and critical resources to advocates and service providers working with immigrant children involved in child welfare and other state court systems.

The Young Center has offices in Houston, San Antonio, and Harlingen, Texas; Chicago, Illinois; New York, New York; Washington, D.C.; Phoenix, Arizona; Los Angeles, California; and Grand Rapids, Michigan. We also serve children through our program in New Jersey.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Manage impact litigation efforts to safeguard and advance the rights of immigrant children and youth.
• Draft and revise legal filings, conduct factual investigations, and perform legal research for both potential and ongoing litigation before immigration agencies and federal courts.
• Track and analyze litigation affecting unaccompanied and separated immigrant children, including reviewing court decisions and key legal developments.
• Stay informed on legal, policy, and political changes affecting unaccompanied and separated immigrant children, as well as children whose families are dual systeminvolved in child welfare and immigration proceedings. Assess the potential impact of proposed legislation, executive orders, and policy directives, and help shape legal strategies when necessary.
• Identify strategic opportunities to engage in litigation that advances the best interests of immigrant children and youth.
• Innovate new legal theories and develop creative litigation strategies.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with partner organizations, pro bono counsel, co-counsel, plaintiffs (individual clients or organizations), and other key stakeholders and serve as the point of contact for specific cases.
• Research, draft, and submit comments on proposed federal regulations.
• Lead trainings and webinars for Young Center staff, partner organizations, supporters, and donors on litigation and legal issues.
• Supervise attorneys, paralegals, and fellows as needed.
• Collaborate with colleagues across policy, communications, TAP, and CAP teams to integrate litigation and legal advocacy strategies into broader advocacy work.
• Represent the Young Center in coalitions, meetings, and events aligned with the organization’s policy and advocacy goals.
• Other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Juris doctor degree and active licensure in good standing in candidate’s state of residence
• Minimum of 5 years of post-law school legal work experience, including a minimum of 3 years of federal court litigation experience
• Significant experience researching complex legal issues and drafting legal briefs and other litigation-related documents
• Demonstrated ability to investigate, develop, and conduct litigation, including, but not limited to, proficiency in: investigation and development of impact cases; research and writing; motion practice; oral arguments; taking and defending depositions; drafting and responding to discovery; managing plaintiff relationships; and mediation and/or settlement negotiations
• Excellent legal strategy, analysis, writing, and editing skills
• Excellent oral communication skills, including in both legal advocacy and public communication
• Ability to work both autonomously and collaboratively
• Creative thinking and problem-solving skills
• Excellent organizational skills
• Tech savvy
• Passion, tenacity and optimism for the issues affecting immigrant children and their families
• Proficient in Microsoft Office

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience with plaintiff-side litigation, including class actions
• Experience with appellate litigation
• Fluency or proficiency in Spanish
• Experience—lived, volunteer, or professional—with immigration matters

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Physical demands include regular attendance, keyboarding, sitting for long periods (at least 5 hours a day). Ability to use computer, telephone, and copy machine. Ability to travel by plane, car and other conveyances within U.S. Occasional lifting for event setup/preparation.

COVID-19 CONSIDERATIONS

All employees must be fully vaccinated prior to first day of employment except where prohibited by state law.

APPLICATION DETAILS

The Young Center is an "at-will" and equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate in and affirmatively factors diversity into its hiring practices. Young Center encourages applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, creed, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, ancestry, marital or parental status, pregnancy, citizenship, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, genetic information, or veterans’ status. Reasonable accommodation will be made so that qualified disabled applicants may participate in the application process; no applicant will be penalized for requesting an accommodation. Please advise in writing of special needs at the time of application.

SALARY:

$102,603 to $117,158 is the standard new hire range for this position ($112,863-$128,873 for those residing in the Los Angeles and DC metropolitan areas; $117,993-$134,731 for those residing in the NYC metropolitan area). Actual salaries will vary depending on factors including but not limited to location and experience. The Young Center does not ask for prior pay history from our candidates and our offer-making process is negotiation-free for salaries and benefits. We offer our best possible salary based on relevant experience. The range listed is just one component of the Young Center’s total compensation package for employees. The Young Center provides excellent benefits, including health/dental/vision insurance (employee & dependents) at no cost to the employee, paid vacation, sick time, and a 401(k) plan with employer match.

A criminal background check will be conducted.

Review of candidates will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Please apply on the Young Center website with a cover letter, resume, three references, and two recent legal writing samples (unedited or only lightly edited; no more than 10 pages each). Only complete applications will be considered.

To learn more about the Young Center’s work, please visit www.TheYoungCenter.org.