Senior Staff Attorney/Supervising Senior Staff Attorney, Rapid Response
Human Rights First See More Job Openings by This Employer
Job Description
Salary
JOB DESCRIPTION
| Job Title: | Senior Staff Attorney/ Supervising Senior Staff Attorney, Rapid Response | Reporting Office: | New York, NY |
| Department: | Refugee Representation | Job Classification: | Fulltime; Exempt |
| Supervisor: | Managing Attorney, Refugee Representation (NY) | Union Classification: | SSA—Union/ SSSA—Non-Union |
| Accountable To: | Director, Refugee Representation | Last Updated: | 08/21/2025 |
Purpose of the Job
Human Rights First aims to provide critical legal assistance and representation to immigrant families impacted by anti-asylum and anti-immigrant enforcement policies. The Senior Staff Attorney or Supervising Senior Staff Attorney (depending on experience) will play a key role in coordinating and leading efforts to provide rapid response legal services to asylum-seeking adults with children in New York, particularly in the face of restrictive policy changes, large-scale detention, family separation, and mass deportation efforts. This position involves direct client representation, collaboration with pro bono attorneys, and engagement in research and advocacy efforts to push back against these policies and create narrative change.
Major Duties and Responsibilities:
- Legal Representation & Casework: Proactively identify cases appropriate for legal representation where the clients are impacted by enforcement actions or asylum-restrictive policies. Work closely with clients to prepare and present their cases in immigration courts and before other relevant agencies. Maintain a case load of full-scope and limited-scope representation matters, and provide pro se assistance where appropriate.
- Rapid Response Coordination: Collaborate with the Refugee Advocacy and Protection Programs to identify and respond to emerging legal needs in response to new or evolving immigration policies, particularly anti-asylum measures. Help develop and implement strategies for providing legal services in a rapidly changing environment.
- Pro Bono Engagement: Leverage Human Rights First’s pro bono network of attorneys, law firms, law school clinics, and legal service providers to assist in the provision of legal services. Develop training materials and provide guidance and supervision to pro bono volunteers in handling asylum and deportation cases. Provide training and mentorship to pro bono volunteer attorneys.
- Policy Advocacy Integration: Integrate legal representation with broader advocacy and communications strategies. Work with the communications and advocacy teams to elevate client stories and legal challenges that highlight the human impact of policy changes, contributing to public messaging efforts aimed at policy reform.
- Stakeholder Collaboration: Establish and maintain effective partnerships with other legal service providers, advocacy groups, and community organizations. Participate in national and local coalitions to coordinate rapid response efforts across impacted communities.
- Monitoring & Reporting: Coordinate with the Refugee Protection team to leverage rapid response representation efforts to support Human Rights First’s broader research, reporting, and advocacy efforts. Track and report on the outcomes of legal cases, identify trends, and contribute to data-driven assessments of the impact of anti-asylum and anti-immigrant policies. Assist in preparing internal and external reports, presentations, and briefings.
- Supervision & Mentorship: Help recruit, train, and supervise interns and volunteer attorneys. Foster a collaborative, team-oriented environment within the legal team. Supervising Senior Staff Attorney would also supervise Refugee Representation staff (e.g., senior staff attorney, staff attorney, associate attorney, legal fellow, and/or legal services coordinator).
- Assist in efforts to secure and maintain funding for the organization and Refugee Representation team.
- Other duties as requested, based on the team and/or organization’s need.
Qualifications:
- A U.S. law degree (J.D.) and active membership in good standing with a state bar; preference for NY state bar membership.
- At least 5 years of experience in immigration law, with specific expertise in asylum law, removal defense, detained representation, and experience representing asylum seekers at all levels of the administrative process.
- Deep knowledge of U.S. immigration law and policy, particularly related to asylum and expedited removal.
- Experience in rapid response or crisis-driven legal efforts is highly preferred.
- Demonstrated commitment to human rights, social justice, and public interest work.
- Experience managing complex litigation, including legal research, legal analysis, case preparation, and court representation.
- Strong ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and adapt to evolving legal and political landscapes.
- Excellent communication skills, both written and oral, with the ability to convey complex legal issues in an accessible manner.
- Ability to work collaboratively with diverse teams and external partners.
- Fluency in Spanish is strongly preferred (reading and writing); fluency in additional languages is a plus.
- Commitment to working with volunteer lawyers and experience in mentoring other attorneys, especially on immigration law matters.
- Ability to manage numerous tasks simultaneously, work under pressure, and meet deadlines.
- Ability to communicate patiently, respectfully, and empathetically with individuals from a variety of backgrounds as well as survivors of trauma or torture.
- Ability and willingness to travel to detention centers for representation- and advocacy-related purposes (travel costs reimbursed).
- Supervising Senior Staff Attorney: Prior supervisory experience, and a deep commitment to providing training, guidance, mentorship, and professional development opportunities to staff.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility Competencies (DEIA)
Human Rights First acknowledges the existence of systemic and structural biases and believes it is necessary to be strategic and intentional in pursuing diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in all aspects of governance, operations, and programming. As an employee, you are expected to:
- Support adoption of best practices to create a more diverse, equitable, inclusive, and accessible work experience for colleagues and external partners.
- Strive to consider the people, places, and cultures that might be missing from your work and look for opportunities to increase inclusivity in all the work you do.
- Support the mission of Human Rights First in all interactions with colleagues and stakeholders.
- Dedicate efforts to enriching DEIA consciousness throughout our office-wide interactions.
- Foster a culture of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility by promoting adherence to the standards delineated in the Culture of Respect and Teamwork statement in the Employee Handbook.
Applicants should indicate in their cover letter whether they believe they are best suited for the Senior Staff Attorney or the Supervising Senior Staff Attorney position. In addition, please submit a legal writing sample.
Senior Staff Attorney Salary range $80,000-$93,000
Supervising Senior Staff Attorney Salary range $94,000-$106,000
- $80,000 - $93,000
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