Senior Staff Attorney

Job Title:	Senior Staff Attorney	Reporting Office:	New York (preferred) or Remote
Department:	Refugee Representation	Job Classification:	Fulltime; Exempt
Supervisor:	Managing Attorney	Union Classification:	Union
Accountable To:	Senior Director, Refugee Representation	Last Updated:	11/7/2024

• Assist in identifying cases for pro bono placement and direct representation within our program.
• Conduct legal screenings and intake interviews with asylum seekers.
• Provide legal information to asylum seekers and help lead any pro se clinics or know-your-rights workshops conducted by the Refugee Representation team.
• Ensure that refugees accepted into Human Rights First’s pro bono program receive high quality legal representation by: (1) providing in-depth mentoring to volunteer attorneys and (2) directly representing clients, when necessary.
• Provide volunteer attorneys with prompt and thorough legal and procedural support on pro bono asylum cases, including conducting trainings, strategizing on individual cases, reviewing draft submissions, developing training and template materials, and informing volunteers of significant legal developments in asylum law.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with local law firms, corporations, law school clinics, and volunteer attorneys.
• Assist in placing our cases with volunteer attorneys and promote attorney interest in pro bono representation of asylum seekers.
• Collaborate with other local service providers to strategize on how to best meet the needs of the immigrant population and improve access to legal representation.
• Identify, analyze, and respond to legal or procedural changes that affect asylum seekers, including statutory changes, proposed regulations, and court decisions.
• Contribute to and lead efforts to develop training materials for volunteer attorneys, including the online Pro Bono Resource Library, and other manuals, memoranda, videos, or trainings.
• Provide legal advice, mentorship, and guidance to Refugee Representation staff and interns across all offices, and work with the entire Refugee Representation team to ensure inter-office support and team collaboration.
• Assist in managing law school and undergraduate internship program, including helping recruit and supervise interns.
• Assist in furthering advocacy initiatives by meeting with local officials at government agencies, and engaging in other advocacy efforts in collaboration with the Refugee Protection, Refugee Advocacy, and Communication teams, as needed.
• Promote Human Rights First’s mission by participating in local community, promotional, and other professional networking events to increase the organization’s profile in the community.
• 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.

• 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.

• A U.S. law degree (J.D.) and active bar membership required.
• At least five years of direct representation of asylum seekers at all levels of the administrative process, with preference for immigration court experience.
• 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, and to identify and analyze legal issues.
• Knowledge of U.S. immigration law and policy.
• Ability to communicate patiently, respectfully, and empathetically with individuals from a variety of backgrounds as well as survivors of trauma or torture.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively, particularly in a collegial, team-based approach to work.
• Strong interpersonal and written/oral communication skills.
• Adaptability to embrace and navigate new, dynamic projects, and an ability to recognize and maximize opportunities on behalf of the organization.
• Demonstrated ability to work successfully across organization lines, to work comfortably in a variety of settings, including legal, academic, and advocacy, and to work confidently with government officials and the media.
• Preferred candidates will be based within commuting distance to our New  York City office, but open to remote candidates with the ability for occasional travel to New York City. 
   
  Human Rights First is committed to equal employment opportunity and recruiting talent from across all diverse groups. We do not discriminate against any person because of the individual’s race, color, creed, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, affection preference, gender identity, marital status, national origin, citizenship status, disability, status as a war veteran, status as a victim of domestic violence, or on any other basis prohibited by law.  Minorities are strongly encouraged to apply.