REMOVAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY

We are hiring an immigration attorney to primarily represent immigrants in detained and non-detained removal proceedings.

A little about us!

Our vision is to live in a world where people have the right to move and resettle across borders with dignity and respect.We work towards this vision through our mission: defending immigrants against deportation, promoting community education and empowerment, and engaging in policy advocacy. We also work towards this vision internally by building a horizontal, consensus-based organization.

Our team: We started in 2013 with a team of 1.5 and now are 19 (2 based in San Jose and 16 in San Francisco). Our majority POC staff and board of directors are diverse in their migration backgrounds, and extremely supportive of each other. What brings us together is our dedication to our work, each other, and the larger movement for immigrants’ rights.

Our work: We operate on three levels: direct legal representation, policy advocacy, and community empowerment and education. Attorneys at Pangea participate in traditional lawyering – zealously representing immigrants in their removal proceedings and appeals.Attorneys also act as movement lawyers – working with clients, their families, grassroots organizers, legislators, and media to create systemic change. Our goal for representation is not only to achieve positive legal outcomes for each client, but also to provide our clients with opportunities for politicization and social transformation, thus advancing the larger movement for immigrant justice.

Our offices: Pangea’s main office is located in downtown San Francisco, near key immigration offices, including the detained and non-detained immigration courts, ICE, USCIS, and the asylum office. Our San Francisco office is also within a few blocks of muni and BART. Pangea’s Santa Clara County office is located in the San José Unified School District office, allowing us to partner with and serve parents, teachers, and students. We work in our physical offices 2 days per week.

Our internal work: Pangea is more than a job; it’s an opportunity to become a director and share ownership in an organization that reflects the values we want to see in the world. Over the last 10 years, we have built an organization where everyone receives equal pay, authority is delegated by consensus, and everyone’s responsibilities are equally important regardless of organizational role. All employees serve on 1-2 organizational “hubs” that help run, build, and strengthen our organization. After 9 months of employment, new employees are voted on to become co-directors of the organization and voting members of at least one hub. We are committed to continuing to develop our organizational model guided by our social justice ideals, and we invest significant time in its upkeep and growth.

Job Title: Immigration Attorney

Primary Responsibilities

• • Represent immigrants in detained and non-detained removal proceedings
  • Depending on experience and interest, potential to take on appellate work (appeals at the BIA and the 9th Circuit, habeases at the District Court level) or rapid response work
  • Create opportunities for clients to share their stories, participate in community empowerment activities, collaborate with organizers and public campaigns, and join the larger movement for immigrant rights
  • Help to maintain and grow Pangea as a democratically-run organization, and actively participate in an organizational “hub”

Required Skills and Experience

• • License to practice law in the United States
  • Spanish language proficiency
  • Excellent written communication skills
  • 1+ years of removal defense experience
  • Attention to detail, while still able to see the big picture

Bonus Skills and Experience

• • Spanish language fluency, proficiency in other languages
  • Experience in movement-building / community organizing
  • Experience working with survivors of trauma
  • Excellent verbal communication skills
  • 3+ years of removal defense experience
  • Ability to wear multiple hats and juggle various responsibilities/roles

First 9 months: The first 9 months at Pangea are considered a “sponge” period. During this time, an employee receives and absorbs significant training and orientation around our horizontal model. During the sponge period, an employee is a non-voting member of the team, and receives the same salary as all other teammates (currently $80,000/year).

After 9 months: After successfully completing the sponge period, an employee is voted on as a full member of the team. Their title is updated to that of Co-Director, and they get voting rights.

In terms of benefits:

• • Staff have a 4 day work week (Mon-Thurs) and our physical office is closed Fridays.
  • We offer health insurance through Kaiser (Silver Plan) at no cost to staff, and cover 50% of dependent premiums.
  • We offer up to $2,400 in health reimbursements for things like glasses, therapy, or co-pays.
  • We offer up to $3,500 in childcare reimbursements.
  • We have a Simple IRA plan with an automatic 2% employer contribution.
  • We pay for professional membership fees, trainings, coaching, and staff development.
  • Our vacation benefits start at 12 days in the first year and increase with tenure up to 20 days per year.
  • We close our office for 13 holidays a year, as well as a week over the winter holidays.