Staff Attorney

Immigration Attorney Fellow

Position Type:
​Temporary Full-Time​ ​Exempt​

Location:
Fellow will have the choice of officing in Minneapolis, St. Cloud, or Willmar and will work with clients in all three office locations.

Introduction:

MMLA is seeking a dedicated individual to be part of our dynamic team. If you’re ready to contribute your skills and compassion to meaningful work, we invite you to explore this exciting opportunity.

The successful candidate will work fully in the office during the training period to ensure comprehensive onboarding and integration into our processes. Upon completion of training, a hybrid work model will be offered, allowing for a mix of in-office and remote work.

What’s in it for you?

We believe in work-life harmony. This role offers the flexibility to blend remote work with in-office collaboration.

On Fridays, the office closes at noon and employees enjoy a half-day of paid flex time.

MMLA provides on-the-job training and mentorship, with opportunities for growth within the organization.

An opportunity to jump start your legal career with a high impact, dynamic immigration practice.

Why MMLA?

We’re not just ticking boxes. We’re genuinely committed to diversity. Bring your unique identity, experiences, and perspectives—we want them all!

Our mission? Equal justice for all. In your cover letter, tell us how your background can amplify this cause. Let’s change our lives together.

Discrimination and harassment have no place here. We’re building a respectful, supportive workplace where everyone thrives.

Diversity, equity and inclusion are core values for Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid, and it is critical that we incorporate these values into all aspects of our work. We recognize the particular and highly detrimental impact of racism — and of Minnesota’s racial disparities — on MMLA’s clients and staff. We, therefore, devote special attention to issues of racial justice.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Provide legal assistance to clients in immigration law. Specifically, this position will oversee the Special Immigrant Juvenile Status pro bono project, including reviewing work from volunteer attorneys and providing corresponding case services in asylum, U visa, T visa, and other humanitarian forms of relief as needed. This fellow will also be responsible for providing removal defense to current MMLA clients in our St. Cloud and Willmar service areas, including limited services of drafting and responding to motions, filing forms of relief, and immigration court hearing preparation. The fellow will also provide some direct, full representation to people detained in immigration custody in currently underserved areas.
• Conduct legal research, draft legal documents, and represent clients in immigration court and before the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
• Collaborate with colleagues and community partners to address legal needs.
• Advocate for clients’ rights and ensure access to justice.

Required Qualifications:

• Proficiency in Microsoft Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).
• Dedication to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) principles.
• A J.D. from an accredited law school
• License to practice law in Minnesota or ability to seek admission in Minnesota
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Self-motivated and able to work independently
• Strong communication and collaboration skills within a team
• Ability to multi-task and work well under pressure
• Ability to relate to people in crisis situations
• Ability to travel throughout all of MMLA’s 21 county service area as needed, and to detention facilities

Preferred Qualifications:

• Work, volunteer, or lived experience with diverse economic, social, rural, and/or cultural communities
• Prior immigration law experience
• Prior experience working with survivors of domestic violence and trauma
• Experience with case management software
• Experience with diverse populations
• Fluency in a second language relevant to the communities we serve; particular preference for Spanish, Somali, Afghani languages, Karen, Hmong, Haitian Creole, or Russian

Compensation Information:

$80,000 to $82,182, depending on experience​, plus benefits. Benefits include family medical and dental insurance, short- and long-term disability, life insurance, 403(b) with employer match, FSA, employee assistance programs, and generous paid time off.​

Salary Determination:
Salary is based on relevant prior experience and aligned with our organizational salary matrix. Candidates are placed on the schedule according to years of directly related experience to ensure consistency and equity.

Language Proficiency Credit:
For client-facing roles (e.g., attorneys, legal assistants, intake staff), fluency in a relevant non-English language or ASL may count as one additional year of experience. Fluency must be certified at Intermediate High or above, with sufficient oral and written skills to perform all job duties without an interpreter. Assessment is conducted by an external testing service.

This position is considered a temporary, fellow position that we intend to hire from January 2026 through June 2027.

Application Submission:

Interested candidates should submit their cover letter, resume, and references at https://mylegalaid.org/employment by 12/21/2025

If the above link directed you to our Career Page and you do not see the correct posting, we have paused or ended the application submission window.

If you require a reasonable accommodation for completing this application, interviewing, or otherwise participating in our employee selection process, please contact Megan Cook at mcook@mylegalaid.org.

Please direct all other inquiries to hiring@mylegalaid.org.

Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid is an Equal Opportunity employer. The terms and conditions of employment, including wages, benefits, and job security, may vary based on union status. Positions within our organization may be governed by collective bargaining agreements and union representation, while others are not.