Staff Attorney/Clinic Legal Assistance Manager

Make the Road States (MRstates) is the national home for the second-generation Make the Road family of organizations in Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Nevada, this in addition to New York, that serves to uplift the voices of working-class, immigrants, women, LGBTQIA people, and people of color across the Make the Roads umbrella. From an operational spectrum it serves as the Finance and Human Resources Compliance Officers for the umbrella at large.

Make the Road New Jersey (MRNJ) builds the power of immigrant and working-class communities to achieve dignity and respect through community organizing, the provision of high quality legal and support services, transformative education, and policy innovation. MRNJ is a project of Make the Road States. Founded in 2014, MRNJ operates centers and organizing hubs in the cities of Elizabeth, Passaic, Perth Amboy, and Newark, that reach thousands of immigrants and working-class people of color each year. Our member-led organizing committees -- which work on the issues named above-- implement strategies to combat shared problems and develop leadership and the capacity for civic participation. In the past four years, MRNJ has won more than 10 pro-immigrant and pro-worker policies, including the nation’s first guaranteed severance law, landmark anti-wage theft legislation, occupational and drivers’ license for undocumented immigrants and a $15 minimum wage. We also provide an array of high-quality bilingual services including ESOL, legal services in the areas of immigration and workplace rights, workplace safety training and college access.

Make the Road Action (MRA), a 501(c)(4) organization is committed to building power for justice in immigrant and low-income working-class communities of color. MRA operates in five states - New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Nevada, and Pennsylvania. We work to create social change, connect voters to the candidates and issues that are most important to them, and work hands-on in a fast-paced environment to create long-term impact in the communities that need it most.

Current Opening:

The staff attorney/clinic legal assistance manager will provide legal representation on a wide range of immigration matters both before the Executive Office of Immigration Review (“EOIR”) and United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”). The individual will provide legal support for active MRNJ campaigns. As clinic legal assistance manager, the individual will coordinate, organize, oversee, and report on immigration legal assistance clinics as needed to fulfill grant deliverables. The individual will provide support on policy campaigns and data and grant management. The position will be partially remote with work conducted in one of our offices in Elizabeth, Passaic or Perth Amboy.

Responsibilities but not limited to:

• Providing individualized assistance to clients currently in removal proceedings or eligible for immigration relief, in a broad range of categories including SIJ, Asylum, U/T Nonimmigrant Status, VAWA, and Cancellation of Removal, adjustment of status, including representing individuals in immigration, family and federal district court as well as before USCIS;
• Manage caseload as determined by department and annual goals;
• Maintain client files in good order, in accordance with the department’s Standard Operating Procedures. Maintain client and case information in Legal Server or other case management systems, in accordance with the department’s Standard Operating Procedures;
• Conduct immigration consultations and provide legal advice and referrals;
• Translate documents or secure translations as necessary, and secure interpretation assistance, as necessary;
• Work with MRNJ’s Social Worker to meet clients’ social service needs;
• Coordinate, organize, and oversee immigration legal assistance clinics as needed to fulfill grant deliverables, under the supervision of the Supervising Immigration Attorney.
• Recruit, train, and supervise volunteers for legal assistance clinic.
• Assist the Supervising Immigration Attorney with data and grant management associated with immigration clinic legal services.
• Help coordinate and participate in community outreach and educational activities, including Know-Your-Rights workshops;
• Develop relationships with stakeholders and community partners;
• Provide policy support and legal advice to MRNJ’s community organizing campaigns and participate in some organizing and organization-wide events;
• Participate in team and department meetings and contribute to grant applications and reports.
• Participate in ongoing CLE and other trainings related to areas of immigration law;
• Apply movement lawyering principles and other critical concepts that underscore our organizational approach to building power, such as racialized capitalism.

Requirements:

• Eligible to work in the US;
• Fully vaccinated with a FDA approved COVID-19 vaccine, required;
• At least 2 years of immigration legal practice experience, which may include clinic and/or legal internships.
• Membership in good standing with in the bar of New Jersey; if barred in another state, ability to waive into New Jersey or commitment to take the next scheduled Bar exam for New Jersey;
• J.D. or L.L.M. from an accredited university;
• Proficiency (fluency preferred) in Spanish.
• A commitment to social justice and community lawyering;
• Excellent communication, analytical, organizational, and writing skills;
• Demonstrated commitment to social, racial and economic justice and community lawyering, and an understanding of the challenges facing low-wage workers, immigrant communities, and communities of color;
• Self-motivated, detail oriented, well-organized, and able to prioritize assignments and workload.
• Experience with populations that make up major portions of Make the Road’s membership – such as documented and undocumented immigrants, individuals facing domestic violence, members of TGNCIQ communities, those who have experienced the criminal legal system, and youth
• Interest in supporting community organizing, campaigns, and policy and advocacy initiatives
• Desire to work collaboratively
• Flexibility to attend evening and weekend events and meetings, as needed.

Salary and Benefits:

Starting salary is based on a scale set by a democratically-elected personnel committee and will depend on factors such as experience and education. MRStates offers an excellent benefit package including health insurance, 401K, and generous paid vacation, sick, personal days. The salary range for this position is from $69,551 to $80,768

How to Apply:

Please attach cover letter/resume and submit all documents to the Make the Road New States career center.

Make the Road believes that social change is best achieved through grassroots community-based organizing that flows directly from and engages the community demanding the change. As a membership-based organization, we are committed to providing equal employment opportunities regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, criminal history, or Veteran status. We strongly encourage those from historically excluded groups to apply.