Immigration Attorney, Detained Removal Defense

Brooklyn Defender Services (BDS) is seeking an Immigration Attorney to join our detained removal defense team.

BDS is a public defense office representing low-income New Yorkers in criminal, family, immigration, and civil legal matters. Our work with clients is focused on the intersection of the legal systems that disproportionately impact Black and Brown people living below the poverty level in Brooklyn.

BDS represents thousands of people each year who have diverse, complex, and multi-faceted legal needs. In addition to a zealous legal defense, our interdisciplinary teams of attorneys, social workers and advocates provide a wide range of legal and advocacy services, including housing, public benefits, education, and employment issues.

BDS’s Immigration Practice is a collaborative team of over 50 staff members. Attorneys on the detained removal defense team represent low-income noncitizens held in immigration jails before immigration courts in New York City and elsewhere. Attorneys also represent noncitizens in non-detained removal proceedings, complex applications before U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, appeals before the Board of Immigration Appeals and federal circuit courts, and habeas corpus and mandamus actions before federal district courts.

Responsibilities

• Represent noncitizen clients in detained and non-detained removal proceedings and immigration appeals.
• Litigate issues including custody and bond, removability, and eligibility for immigration relief.
• Make regular appearances in immigration court and appear in person when required.
• Maintain consistent communication with clients including meeting with detained clients in person at immigration jails when necessary.
• Effectively navigate a demanding caseload where hearings and other case-related deadlines are short and may be changed with little notice.
• Conduct complex legal research and writing on a range of removability, relief, and appellate issues.
• File applications for immigration benefits with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, respond to Requests for Evidence, attend USCIS interviews, and file administrative appeals.
• Collaborate with supervisors, attorneys, social workers, paralegals, and administrative staff to fully develop cases and build trusting relationships with clients.
• Coordinate with staff of other departments concerning overall legal strategy and client needs.
• Maintain case files, notes, and court appearance data on case management and document management systems in accordance with professional responsibility rules and BDS policies.
• Occasionally, in collaboration with federal court specialists, represent clients in habeas corpus, mandamus, and other actions before federal district courts and circuit courts.
• Additional duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• New York State Bar admission or Bar admission in any U.S. state or territory and ability to obtain admission in NYS.
• Minimum two years of experience in immigration law. Relevant experience may include law school clinics and/or internships.
• Ability to effectively and respectfully communicate and connect with people with varied backgrounds, identities and experiences.
• Effective research, writing and courtroom advocacy skills.
• Highly organized, attentive to detail and cognizant of deadlines.
• Spoken and written fluency in Spanish highly preferred.

Position Information 

This is an exempt, salaried position in the Collective Bargaining Unit. The normal schedule is Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm. However, attorneys may need to work outside these hours on occasion in order to accommodate court and jail visitation scheduling. The position is based at BDS’s offices in Downtown Brooklyn. There is a three-day per week in-person requirement for attorneys. Attorneys are also expected to handle all their own cases in court, as well as meet with clients as needed, even if that results in additional days in-person. The in-person requirement is subject to change.

BDS determines salary on a pay scale based on education and experience. For this position there is a base salary range of $81,000 for an attorney who graduated law school in 2024 up to approximately 103,096 for an attorney who graduated law school in 2015. BDS offers comprehensive benefits including health insurance and a 403(b) retirement plan. In order to support work/life balance and family-friendly policies, BDS has generous vacation, sick, holiday, family, and medical leave policies.

Application Instructions

 Click HERE to submit a cover letter and resume on our online application portal. Applications will be accepted until May 12, 2025, however, interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis and applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

Brooklyn Defender Services is a proud equal opportunity employer committed to celebrating diversity and maintaining an equitable and inclusive work environment. We strongly encourage candidates of all identities, expressions, orientations, disabilities, and experiences to apply. If you require an accommodation due to a disability or another reason, please contact the Managing Director, Human Resources, Christina Wallace, at cwallace@bds.org.