Staff Attorney

Job Description:

The Office of Immigrant Services Immigration Services (OIS) provides low-bono and pro-bono immigration legal assistance. Services include: family reunification, citizenship and naturalization, humanitarian services, victims of crime services. This position reports to the OIS Program Leader and has no supervisory responsibilities.

The Office of Immigrant Services Staff Attorney is responsible for representing clients before USCIS, EOIR and in Tennessee Civil courts as needed. The OIS Staff Attorney prepares applications and petitions for submission to the appropriate agency. They participate in community outreach and educational activities as needed. The OIS Staff Attorney will be responsible for managing Humanitarian Cases as described by USCIS. Such cases include but are not limited to: Asylum, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS), and Temporary Protected Status (TPS).

Job Responsibilities:

• Use trauma-informed approach to provide direct legal services to vulnerable immigrants, including unaccompanied minors
• Conduct individual consultations
• Represent individuals in the appropriate Tennessee civil court with the purpose of obtaining predicate orders for SIJS cases
• Represent individuals with USCIS and EOIR
• Maintain and further develop collaborative relationships with organizations that provide services to culturally-specific and underserved populations, order to ensure clients receive wraparound support to mitigate effects of victimization and trauma
• Follow case management documentations protocols in compliance with best practices/legal ethical standards and ensure programmatic compliance with grant requirements, allocations, and reporting
• Oversees administrative assistants, interns and volunteers as instructed by the OIS Program Leader
• Participates in staff meetings with the OIS Program Leader as needed
• Any other duties as assigned by the OIS Program Leader
• Process client payments

Job Requirements:

• Law degree and admission to the Tennessee bar at the time of hire
• Demonstrated commitment to immigrant rights
• Excellent written, analytical, oral, organizational, and time management skills
• The ability to provide trauma-informed and culturally competent legal assistance
• Strong legal research, analysis, and writing skills
• Team player; the ability to work collaboratively with different program staff and partner organizations to further develop community relationships and facilitate holistic and wraparound services
• Strong organizational skills and ability to meet deadlines
• Strong ability to think and act independently
• Experience with Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook