Job Description

Summary

The Center for Immigration Legal & Support Services (CILSS) advances racial, gender, and economic equity through high quality, multi-year legal representation and focused case management. With CILSS’ culturally sensitive support, first and future generations are able to break through systemic barriers, achieve their aspirations, and become full participants in the social, civic, and economic fabric of our community.?

The Immigration Staff Attorney will provide robust direct legal representation to low-income individuals and families in the Bay Area in affirmative and defensive immigration matters. The services include, among others, giving general consultations representing clients before EOIR, USCIS, and California Superior Courts, networking with other community-based legal service providers in the area in advocacy efforts, and administrative duties, including data entry, client intakes, fee reconciliation, and answering phones. This position is based in San Francisco but serves clients from all over the Bay Area and may require travel between the San Francisco or San Mateo offices.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Responsible for individual caseload, providing affirmative and defensive immigration services, with a primary focus on representing unaccompanied minors.

• After determining that a client is entitled to any given immigration benefit, prepares applications or petitions with supporting evidence and represents clients before USCIS and EOIR.
• Provide support as needed to other attorneys, accredited representatives, legal assistants, and volunteers on substantive legal matters and Participate in the development of case selection criteria.
• Provides legal representation to low-income migrant children in guardianship, parentage, and custody proceedings in California Superior Courts, as well as SIJS and asylum applications before the San Francisco Immigration Court, or before USCIS.
• Works closely with partner community-based organizations and in-house social services to ensure that clients receive holistic service addressing their many needs beyond legal representation.
• Maintains proper client files and documentary evidence required to prove eligibility for legal benefits and equities under all applicable law. Maintains proper case management notes in the case management platform.
• Participates in community events performing different tasks including but not limited to: consultation, supervision, and final case review.
• Uses cultural sensitivity and awareness to develop appropriate and effective strategies to address the needs and advance the rights of vulnerable communities.
• As opportunities arise, prepares and gives presentations on immigration legal benefits and facilitates workshops both at the Program’s permanent site, at the parishes within the Archdiocese of San Francisco and in other community event organized by our Agency, Latin-American consulates and other organizations.
• Other duties as assigned.
• Nothing in this job description restricts management's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education And/or Experience

• Law degree; admitted and in good standing with the California State Bar required.
• 1–3 year of experience providing direct legal immigration services and working knowledge of immigration law, policies, and procedures.
• SIJS related work experience and experience with complex immmigration cases strongly preferred.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Bilingual (English/Spanish) required.
• Capacity to work under pressure with minimal supervision.
• Capacity to discuss sensitive and traumatic topics with youth and other vulnerable populations.
• Computer proficiency (Immigration Software preferred, Word, PowerPoint, E-mail, Internet)
• Excellent listening, communication, facilitation and influencing skills.
• Demonstrated ability to supervise legal support staff.
• Demonstrated planning, presentation and organizational skills.
• Demonstrated creativity and high energy.
• Ability to market our programs, make sound judgments and maintain perspective.
• Collaborative and able to develop, support and maintain positive relationships.
• Demonstrates the necessary attitudes, knowledge and skills to deliver culturally competent services and work effectively in cross-cultural situations.

Salary

$75,000 - $80,000

Prerequisites Required Prior to the First Day of Employment

• Fingerprints: Required
• TB Screening - Negative Tuberculosis Test: N/A
• First Aid Certificate: N/A

Council on Accreditation (COA) roles

• Serves on monthly committee for Performance and Quality Improvement (PQI) committee.
• Serves on Performance and Quality Improvement PQI Committee responsible for monitoring goals and reporting.

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Intermittent bending, standing, stooping, kneeling, reaching, twisting, and walking.
• Intermittent lifting, pushing, and pulling.
• Intermittent repetitive motions: Making substantial movements (motions) of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers.
• Sedentary work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time.
• The worker is required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; and extensive reading.
• Driving is required for this position.

If driving a car is required for the position, incumbent must have a valid California driver's license and be able to provide proof of DMV record and personal insurance (if required.)

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Will be exposed to weather conditions prevalent at the time.
• Noise level in the 36 37th Avenue SM or 2873 Mission Street SF offices is usually minimal; however, the Immigration Program is a work environment that consists of an 8:30am-5:00pm office environment, with weekly workshops, scheduled client appointments in person and over the phone consultations, information and referral, and intake.

DISCLAIMER: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. All personnel may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed.

CATHOLIC CHARITIES IS AN EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER and is committed to providing equal employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, legal domicile status, veteran status, disability or AIDS/HIV status or any other characteristic protected under federal or state law.

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)

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