Children's Immigration Law Academy - Senior Staff Attorney

The American Bar Association (ABA) was founded on a commitment to advance the rule of law in the United States and beyond by providing practical resources for legal professionals, conducting law school accreditation, developing model ethics codes and more. Today, the ABA remains a member-based organization that works to ensure access to justice for all, a fair legal process, and respect for the rule of law at home and across the globe.

The ABA is committed to service and refining the standards that guide the legal profession. ABA staff are provided multiple types of continuing education and career development opportunities. Your work will help eliminate bias, enhance diversity, and advance the rule of law throughout the US and around the world.

The ABA recognizes the value staff contribute to our success through a generous benefits package that protects their health and their financial security.  The ABA’s wide array of benefit offerings include 401(k), medical, dental, vision, flexible spending accounts, health spending accounts, supplemental life and disability insurance, prepaid legal programs, and a complimentary membership to the American Bar Association, which offers additional benefits.

Flexible/hybrid work arrangements may be available for residents of CA, DC, IL, IN, IA, MD, MI, MN, TX, VA, and WI.  Residency requirements may apply. ABA employees are eligible to apply for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF). 
 

Job Summary

• Provide technical assistance, coordinate training, create written resources, and facilitate working group meetings for advocates who represent unaccompanied children. Strives to help advocates understand the immigration process for children including all forms of legal relief available to children such as asylum and Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, as well as skills in working with children from diverse backgrounds and who have dealt with varying levels of trauma and grief, in both detained and released settings.

Essential Job Functions and Responsibilities

• Responds to legal technical assistance requests from legal services staff, pro bono attorneys, private practice attorneys, and other advocates who work with unaccompanied children on issues relating to immigration legal relief, such as Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, asylum claims, U and T visas, removal defense, and other immigration law issues, as well as ethical issues, and working with children in a trauma-informed and culturally sensitive manner.
• Coordinates multiple webinar training courses throughout the year on a variety of topics in children’s immigration law including development of material, presenting, and recruiting outside experts to present at trainings.
• Drafts manuals, practitioner advisories, blog posts, and other educational materials for attorneys, legal staff, and others on children’s immigration law and related topics.
• Coordinates working groups by advertising upcoming meetings, preparing the agenda, and leading the collaborative meeting.
• Participates in meetings with stakeholders as needed.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Required Education, Qualifications, Experience

• Juris Doctorate or Master of Law (LLM) from an ABA-accredited law school and be in good standing, and three or more years’ experience in representing clients preferably on immigration matters.
• Licensed to practice law in a U.S. state or territory.
• Intermediate proficiency with Adobe and Microsoft Office products (Word, Excel, OneDrive, Teams).
• Must be familiar with conducting virtual meetings, training, and observations on software such as Zoom, Teams, etc.
• Excellent writing, editing, legal analysis, and oral presentation skills.

Preferred Education, Qualifications, Experience

• Licensed to practice law and member of the State Bar of Texas, and five years’ experience with at least three years on immigration matters.
• Prior work experience with children, particularly from Central America and including indigenous language-speaking populations.
• Prior volunteer, community, or work experience regarding immigration or detention.
• Prior non-profit experience, particularly involving unaccompanied children.

Extent of Travel Required in the Job

• As a normal course of business, this job will typically require travel of less than 15% of the time.