Senior Attorney for Pro Bono

Esperanza Immigrant Rights Project, a program of Catholic Charities of Los Angeles, Inc., is a non-profit law firm which provides community education and legal representation to immigrant adults, families, unaccompanied minors, individuals with mental health issues, and in cases involving crimmigration. Esperanza has proudly provided legal services to immigrants and their families in Southern California for over 15 years. More information is available atwww.esperanza-la.org.

Esperanza seeks a full-time Senior Attorney for Pro Bono/ Pro Bono Coordinator to oversee and supervise our Pro Bono Program. The Pro Bono Coordinator will work under the supervision of a Directing Attorney or Managing Attorney. The Pro Bono Coordinator will be responsible for all pro bono attorney recruitment, placement, and mentorship. Additionally, the Pro Bono Coordinator will be expected to carry a small caseload consisting of a variety of affirmative and defensive immigration cases for both adults and children.

Responsibilities include:

• Recruiting, training, supervising, and retaining volunteer attorneys, and law students.
• Developing written materials for volunteers including training manuals.
• Building and maintaining the infrastructure necessary to monitor the work of the volunteer attorneys and provide on‐going technical assistance and support.
• Maintaining Esperanza’s existing relationships with other non‐profit organizations, legal clinics, schools, and law firms.
• Representing Esperanza in community programs and conference planning and programming.
• Expanding the visibility of Esperanza’s Pro Bono Program, including publicizing the program, and developing relationships with the private bar and government lawyers.
• Supporting staff attorneys working with volunteers and advising on the development of new pro bono programs related to the work of in‐house attorneys.
• Coordinating legal clinics in partnerships with the private bar, law schools, and other pro bono attorneys.
• Maintaining information about case activity and statistics, as well as volunteer information.
• Supervising the Pro Bono Program Assistant.
• Supporting the Pro Bono Program with other related duties as needed.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Juris Doctorate.
• Active, California State Bar License, or license from another jurisdiction.
• Minimum 3 years of experience in immigration law with at least 2 years in removal defense preferred.
• Strong case management, legal research, and legal writing skills.
• Demonstrated ability to take initiative and work under pressure with limited supervision.
• Passion for social justice for immigrants and vulnerable communities.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience supervising lawyers and/or law students.
• Experience working in or with large law firms.
• Spanish language proficiency.
• Experience litigating cases in state criminal, dependency, family or probate courts.
• Experience in community outreach and/or public speaking.

Catholic Charities offers a wide range of employee benefits to support the total wellness of its employees. Our competitive package provides the flexibility to select the benefits that best meets the employee’s needs. Benefits are effective the first of the month following 30 days of employment.

• Medical, Dental & Vision
• Life Insurance
• Retirement Plan to include 401a/employer contribution only and 403(b)
• Supplemental Insurance (life, Accident, disability insurance, etc.)
• Flexible Spending Account
• Health Care Spending Account Reimbursement accounts (HAS)
• Vacation days – 12 days per year
• Sick time – 10 days per year
• 13 holidays per year for regular f/t & p/t employees
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness
• Cell Phones for those working in Shelters or with Clients outside of the office 
• Employee Recognition - Annual Staff Appreciation Day Event
• Free Parking