Staff Attorney

About the Organization

Interfaith Ministries (IM) for Greater Houston is an inclusive connector of people, faith communities and resources in our nation’s most diverse city, sustaining healthy and respectful lives for vulnerable populations and promoting interfaith relations and volunteerism. 

IM provides four areas of service to the greater Houston community including: Meals on Wheels, Refugee Services, Interfaith Relations and Community Partnerships, and Volunteerism and Civic Service. Each of these programs serve different communities but all are based on our shared beliefs and aspirations of building a more respectful, connected, and caring society.   

Service is at the core of what we do at Interfaith Ministries. Through empathy and resilience, our employees help provide support to our community through programming and meaningful connection. 

About the Role 

The Staff Attorney will provide legal services to refugee and immigrant clients needing immigration services, through passionate direct representation as well as pro bono facilitation, including consultation, training, and technical assistance to pro bono attorneys. The Staff Attorney will report to the Supervising Attorney.

Main Responsibilities  

• Under the guidance of the Supervising Attorney, the Staff Attorney will work closely with Refugee Services (RS) staff to staff to effectively address the legal needs for RS clients.
• Provide direct representation to a large caseload of individuals and/or families in immigration matters, including cases pertaining to family reunifications,  CAM (Central American Minors), Affidavits of Relationship (AOR), cases concerning Iranian minorities, Visa 93, and offering support for EADs (Employment Authorization Documents) for Cuban Parolees and other clients, re-parole applications, TPS (Temporary Protected Status), as well as Afghan Asylum and SIV (Special Immigrant Visa) applications.
• Provide culturally competent immigration legal services to a wide variety of RS clients, including Refugees, Cuban-Haitian Parolees, APA, SIV (Special Immigrant Visa), UHP (Ukrainian Humanitarian Parole) and others.
• Ensure timely, accurate, and detailed case data entry, according to funder provisions and as required by IMGH. 
• Assist Supervising Attorney with grant reporting. 
• Represent IMGH in community presentations, outreach, workshops, stakeholder meetings, and/or media interviews. 
• Provide direct representation to clients with complex immigration issues before U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
• Assist in the recruitment, training, and supervision of legal assistants and mentor pro bono attorneys.
• Other duties as needed and/or as directed by supervisor.

Qualifications, Skills & Experience

• J.D. from ABA certified law school. 
• Licensed to practice law in the state of Texas. 
• Fluency in Spanish preferred. 
• Minimum two years of experience representing clients in immigration matters, including experience with filing for Employment Authorization, Permanent Residence, Naturalization, and various types of family reunification applications.  
• Experience representing clients at Individual Hearings in Immigration Court. 
• Exceptional legal research and writing skills, excellent organizational skills.
• Integrity in handling ethically complex and confidential situations.
• Demonstrated ability to promote an organizational culture that reflects IMGH core values. 
• Self-motivated and able to work in a fast-paced environment with a high volume of clients and cases.
• Demonstrated commitment to serving immigrants and sensitivity to the needs of low-income, culturally diverse clientele.  
• Must be able to be insured under organization’s malpractice insurance and other applicable insurance policies.
• Must have a valid driver’s license and automobile liability insurance. 

We are an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, age, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.