Immigration Staff Attorney - Rian Immigration Center

Immigration Staff Attorney

Join our team! The Rian Immigrant Center is seeking an Immigration Staff Attorney to join our immigration legal services team ASAP.

ABOUT THE RIAN IMMIGRANT CENTER

Rian Immigrant Center offers a comprehensive, multi-service approach to supporting families from more than 126 countries. Rian provides immigration legal advice, and resource and support services immigrants need to gain stability, security, and build pathways to success. Rian was founded in 1989 by a group of immigrants, and we have assisted over 40,000 immigrants make successful transitions to new beginnings in New England.

In addition to our services, rooted in the tradition of welcoming others and social justice, we help newcomers find community, and stand up for immigration policies that are humane and just. We are proud to continue the tradition of welcoming immigrants to this country and working together to create a better future for all. Rian strives to intentionally create an environment for staff, individuals we serve and others, that fosters intercultural belonging, and is anti-racist and equitable. We are committed to valuing and promoting anti-racist ideas and policies.

How to Apply: Please send a cover letter and resume as a PDF to hr@riancenter.org with Immigration Attorney as the subject line.

Full Time: 40 Hours per week

Status: Exempt

Salary: $70,000 - $78,000

Reports to: Director of Legal Services

SUMMARY

The Rian Immigrant Center seeks an attorney for its Immigration Legal Services team to expand the overall team’s capacity to provide legal consultation and representation to clients of Rian and our partners. The Immigration Staff Attorney will provide direct immigration legal services to low-income immigrants, refugees, and asylees.

Rian provides more than 2,000 legal consultations a year, and full case representation before U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for over 600 immigrants. We also provide in-person “walk-in” consultations at Boston Public Library branches, and pro se forms preparation for pre-screened clients for certain case types. We help low-income immigrants gain legal status, work authorization, and reunite with their families so they can become empowered, reach stability, and move out of poverty. We also assist eligible immigrants in becoming U.S. citizens, guiding them throughout the application process and representing those with complex cases. We work in partnership with local organizations to support immigrant patients receiving medical care, unhoused families, and immigrant youth.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Manage an immigration case load and provide legal representation to immigrant clients, including appearances before USCIS, as well as possibly EOIR and Massachusetts Probate & Family Courts;
• Provide legal representation on cases such as family-based immigration cases, Temporary Protected Status (TPS), consular processing, asylee and refugee adjustments and I-730 petitions, VAWA petitions, Special Immigrant Juvenile petitions, U- and T-visa petitions, naturalization applications, unlawful presence waivers, and medical deferred action applications;
• Provide expert immigration consultations for culturally and linguistically diverse clients, with high levels of integrity, inclusivity and respect;
• Ensure fulfillment of ethical and professional standards and provide quality legal services;
• Keep apprised of developments in immigration law and share this information with other staff as necessary;
• Work collaboratively with other Rian attorneys, paralegals, and different teams across the organization;
• Support the mission and values of Rian by demonstrating a commitment to social justice and equity; actively participate in Rian's efforts toward being an anti-racist organization; and value, promote, and integrate anti-racist ideas and policies into our work;
• Support Rian’s engagement with foundations and donors and assist Rian to accomplish our new business development and partner goals by attending occasional events in person as needed;
• Perform other relevant tasks as required by the Director of Legal Services.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Commitment to the overall mission and values of Rian;
• A law degree and admission to a U.S. state bar (Massachusetts strongly preferred; by transfer of UBE acceptable);
• A minimum of 2 years of experience practicing immigration law, including representation before USCIS;
• Excellent leadership, interpersonal, communication, organizational and problem-solving skills;
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and database management;
• Preferred fluency in Spanish or Haitian Creole; French also very helpful.

Rian Immigrant Center is committed to a policy of providing equal employment opportunities for all and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnic or national origin, creed or religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, age, veteran status, or physical or mental disability. We encourage applications from all those interested and qualified.

Working at Rian: Our staff of 16+ includes immigration attorneys, social workers, educators, youth workers and others, who bring enthusiasm and a commitment to our mission and the work at the Center. We work as one team. Our generous benefits package includes a hybrid work environment with flexible work time, health benefits, 20 vacation days, 15 holidays, 5 sick days, a 403(b) plan, and occasional offsite community building time together.