Staff Attorney-Esperanza Immigrant Rights Project

Background:

Esperanza Immigrant Rights Project, a program of Catholic Charities of Los Angeles, Inc., is a non-profit law firm which provides community education and legal representation to immigrant adults, families, unaccompanied minors, individuals with mental health issues, and in cases involving crimmigration. Esperanza is one of the few programs across the country that provides services to pro se detained and non-detained immigrants. Esperanza has proudly provided legal services to immigrants and their families in Southern California for over 15 years. More information can be found about Esperanza at www.esperanza-la.org

Responsibilities:

Esperanza seeks a full-time Staff Attorney to work primarily in our Representation Program, assisting detained and non-detained immigrants in removal proceedings.

Esperanza seeks a full-time Staff Attorney to work in our Community Education program. The immigration court system does not provide court-appointed counsel to individuals facing deportation who cannot afford an attorney, so this vulnerable population relies on our Community Education program to obtain critical information about the process. The Community Education program was created to more effectively meet this need and guide pro se immigrants through the increasingly complicated and strained immigration system.

The Staff Attorney will work under the direct supervision of a manager to provide various self-help immigration services for adults and families, some of them facing housing insecurity. The core program services include legal orientations regarding immigration relief; intake and follow-up services; self-help workshops; and referrals for pro bono assistance or social services.

Responsibilities:

• Conducting Friend of Court services during hearings.
• Mentoring and supervising interns and volunteers.
• Creating and properly maintaining participant files.
• Referring individuals to social services.
• Developing and updating legal program materials and presentation techniques; and
• Expanding access to counsel through pro bono referrals.

Qualifications:

• Juris Doctorate degree.
• Active bar admission or awaiting bar results (California state bar preferred, but not required); Experience (including internships) in the legal setting (preferably in immigration and/or public interest law).
• Strong organizational, case management, legal research, and legal writing skills required.
• Spanish language proficiency required and will be tested at time of interview.
• Ability to take initiative and work under pressure.
• Willingness to be a team-player with an attitude and aptitude for collaboration; and
• Passion for social justice for immigrants and vulnerable communities

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working with vulnerable client populations, such as with children, families, or clients with mental health issues;
• Experience in community outreach and/or public speaking.