Cabrini | Staff Attorney, Afghan Assistance Program

Catholic Charities is looking for the right people; people who wish to serve their community as a part of a family friendly organization doing good within the Houston-Galveston area. We attract and retain the best talent by investing in our employees. People of all faiths helping people in need.

Join the Cabrini team as a Staff Attorney.  The Staff Attorney (Afghan Assistance Program) is responsible for providing direct legal representation to clients served by St Frances Cabrini Center for Legal Assistance in immigration matters. Legal representation includes entering an appearance as the attorney of record on matters and in proceedings before the USCIS, Asylum Office, State, federal and immigration courts, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, agencies within the Department of Homeland Security, Department of State, as well as appellate agencies such as the Administrative Appeals Office and Board of Immigration Appeals. The Staff Attorney also provides legal services in the form of community outreach and legal education, legal workshops, legal intake, legal research, individual legal representation as well as supervising caseworkers and/or law student interns. The Staff Attorney works under the direct supervision of Senior Attorney, Managing Attorney and/or Associate Legal Director. The Staff Attorney works as a team with the Legal Assistant/Paralegal and other Cabrini Center staff.

The Expertise We're Looking For

• Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D.) degree from an ABA accredited law school

• Licensed to practice law in the State of Texas; or

• Have an active license from another U.S. jurisdiction and be eligible to waive into the State Bar of Texas within 12 months of hire.

The Skills and Assets You Bring, and More

• You have excellent legal research and legal writing skills.

• You have excellent verbal and written communication and negotiation skills.

• You have the ability to handle a high-volume caseload, multiple deadlines, and other tasks simultaneously.

• You have knowledge and proficiency in basic typing skills and computer applications such as MS Office

• You demonstrate multi-cultural skills and sensitivity.

• You have the ability to handle and maintain confidential information.

• You have experience working with low-income immigrant community.

What you Deliver

Legal Assistance

• You provide legal assistance and direct representation to immigrant clients before the USCIS. Asylum Office or Immigration Court on matters such as family petition, removal of conditional status, adjustment of status, naturalization, asylum, removal defense and any immigration proceedings. Direct representation encompasses the following tasks: conduct legal intake and screening, interview with clients, affiants, witness, experts, case managers, and others who can provide information or statement in furtherance of the client's immigration matters; draft, prepare and assemble relevant immigration petitions; conduct legal research; write memorandum of law, motions or briefs in support of applications and petitions filed before USCIS. Asylum Office. State, Immigration and federal Courts, Board of Immigration Appeals, Administrative Appeals Office, EOIR, and other immigration agencies; prepare client for interviews or court hearings. Assist in preparing clients for court hearing and USCIS interviews, perform interpretations at USCIS, asylum office, and other interviews.

Case Management

• You maintain client physical and electronic files according to program requirements, including case notes, correspondence, filings, calendars, and dockets. Maintain a case status list and case service statistics for Cabrini Center and program funders. Participate in case reviews with Senior Attorney, Managing Attorney or Associate Legal Director as applicable. Maintain a minimum of 30-40 active cases. Keep abreast of new immigrations regulations and policies as they arise to better serve clients.

Meetings

• You attend and participate is mandatory in team meetings, Cabrini staff meetings, and other agency meetings. Participate in calls and meetings organized by funders, city-wide advocacy groups, and local service providers when appropriate and helpful.

Contract Compliance

• You comply with all contract requirements. Provide data and statistical information for grant, contract and other reporting purposes. Provide accurate and timely monthly data, time logs, and reports for internal use, funder use, and other entity use. Participate in trainings, webinars, meetings, calls, etc. as required by funders.

Charla and Outreach

• You participate in Charlas by presenting and performing legal consultations. Participate in program and agency community legal education and outreach efforts (Spanish and English), particularly as they relate to issues of immigration law and remedies for survivors of crime, providing direct Information to prospective clients, attending information sessions on asylum, deportation and other immigration relief.

Personal

• You provide legal review and substantive direction to Paralegal and/or interns on a full range of legal services provided by the program.

Other

• You perform other duties as assigned by the Legal Director and Managing Attorneys such as assisting with in house meetings and trainings, coordinate with community partners, engage in coalition activities, participate in staff and agency retreats, assist with special events.

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Catholic Charities is an equal opportunity employer.  We actively foster an environment that is free of racism, discrimination, bias, and harassment where all individuals are treated with dignity, safety, and respect.  Successful applicant must comply with federal contractor vaccine mandate requirements.

The work you do will help us advocate for the vulnerable among us, a network of support services to people of all ages and from all walks of life and religious backgrounds.