Staff Attorney – Detention Project

Based in Portland, Maine, the Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project (ILAP) is Maine’s only state-wide immigration legal aid organization. ILAP’s mission is to help low-income immigrants improve their legal status and to work for more just and humane laws and policies affecting immigrants. ILAP’s work includes direct legal services for over 3,000 clients each year; education and outreach to immigrant communities and service providers; and systemic advocacy on local, state, and federal immigration law issues.

ILAP is committed to having a respectful, collaborative, and equitable work environment, with equal opportunity for all employees. We strongly encourage applications from people of color, immigrants, and other underrepresented and historically marginalized groups. We believe in building an organization that is reflective of the communities that we serve and is diverse in work background, experience, education, race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, ancestry, national origin, or sensory, mental, and physical abilities. We believe that having a diverse and equitable organization strengthens our programming and services and advances our organizational values.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

ILAP is seeking a full-time staff attorney based in ILAP’s Portland Office whose primary role is to coordinate and provide immigration legal services to noncitizens detained by immigration authorities in Maine.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide overall coordination of ILAP’s role in a collaborative project extending legal services to immigrants detained in Maine.
• Meet with partners to review new intakes, evaluate eligibility for relief, and coordinate steps needed to connect immigrants with legal representation at ILAP, with partner organizations, and/or pro bono attorneys. Provide necessary follow-up on cases including conducting in-depth consultations, performing research, securing criminal records, and more.
• In consultation with the Co-Legal Director in the Portland Office, and with input from relevant staff, develop programming strategy and protocols for ILAP services to detained individuals.
• Provide full legal representation to detained immigrants on matters including bond, Asylum, Withholding of Removal, Protection under the Convention against Torture, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, T and U Visas, and more.
• Coordinate litigation to challenge unlawful detention-related policies and practices, including habeas petitions.
• Monitor immigration enforcement trends across Maine and keep ILAP staff and partners abreast of relevant happenings. As needed, help to coordinate ILAP’s response to specific enforcement actions.
  • Participate in ILAP legal team meetings; collaborate and share expertise with other ILAP attorneys and legal staff.
• In collaboration with other ILAP attorneys, train and supervise interns and volunteers.
• Maintain client data in accordance with ILAP protocols, grant requirements, and ethical obligations.
• Participate in outreach activities and collaborations as needed.
• Perform such other tasks and assume such other responsibilities deemed appropriate by the Co-Legal Director or Executive Director.

QUALIFICATIONS

• • J.D. and a member in good standing of any state Bar. Membership to the Maine Bar is an asset.
  • A minimum of one year of experience with immigration matters. A minimum of two to five years of immigration law experience, including removal defense experience, is strongly preferred. Experience with detained matters is an asset as is experience advising on the immigration consequences of criminal matters.
  • Strong analytical, research, and writing skills.
  • Good judgment and the ability to work collaboratively with others.
  • Strong computer skills including proficiency with Office 365.
• Ability to multi-task effectively, including having strong detail-orientation, planning, and organizing skills; and the ability to work well under pressure.
  • Demonstrated passion for advancing immigrants’ rights and an ability to work well with individuals from different cultures and with varying levels of English proficiency.
  • Fluency in a relevant language, including Spanish, French, or Portuguese, is strongly preferred.
  • Personal and professional commitment to racial justice and equity.

COMPENSATION

For 2025, ILAP’s base salary for attorneys ranges from $72,100 - $86,520. Placement on our salary scale is based on multiple factors including job classification, years of relevant experience, and lived immigrant experience. Employees may also receive additional compensation based on language proficiency in one or more relevant client languages, supervision responsibilities, and membership on ILAP's Equity Committee.

ILAP offers a generous benefits package. Current benefits include:

• Fully paid individual health and dental insurance coverage and significant coverage for dependents’ health insurance;
• Vacation (20 days), holidays (14.5), sick days (12), and personal days (4);
• Paid parental leave and a paid family and medical leave policy;
• Paid sabbatical after each 5 years of employment;
• Employer retirement contributions;
• Health savings plan;
• Employer paid premium for long-term disability and life insurance;
• Individual and staff-wide professional development opportunities; and
• Alternative Work Arrangement (eligible after 90-day onboarding).