Immigration Legal Services Staff Attorney

Note:   Candidates awaiting bar results will be considered for the position of Law Clerk, and promoted to Staff Attorney once they are licensed.

About us: Opening Doors, Inc., envisions a world in which migrants and refugees lead lives of joy and belonging, embraced by welcoming communities. Our mission is to enrich communities by supporting immigrants, refugees, and survivors of trafficking on their path towards stability, self-sufficiency and belonging.

Opening Doors is guided by our organizational values:

·         Rising Together: We are in this together and depend on each other.

·         Honoring Dignity: We recognize and honor everyone’s strength and inherent dignity.

·         Embracing Courage: We do the right thing, even when the path is uncertain.

·         Seeking Joy: We take time to be together, celebrating our diverse cultures and recognizing our victories.

Opening Doors began in 1993 as a small refugee resettlement agency, and today serves 2,000 clients per year across our 5 program areas: Refugee Programs, Human Trafficking Programs, Immigration Legal Services, Health Programs and Economic Prosperity Programs.

Ideal candidate: The ideal candidate is organized, proactive and solution-oriented, is detail oriented, and has strong and communication skills. 

They will have the ability to work effectively in multi-cultural work environments, showing respect and sensitivity for cultural differences, and will be passionate about Opening Doors’ mission.

Responsibilities: The essential duties and responsibilities of this position include the following:

·         Provide consultations to screen and counsel potential clients for various forms of immigration relief.

·         Prepare applications for immigration relief for eligible applicants, including but not limited to applications for Adjustment of Status, family-based petitions and waivers of inadmissibility, U visas, T visas, VAWA, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, DACA, Naturalization, and Asylum.

·         Represent detained and non-detained clients in removal proceedings before the Sacramento and San Francisco EOIR in applications for non-LPR and LPR Cancellation of Removal, Asylum/Withholding/CAT, waivers, bond hearings, and all other forms of relief for which a respondent in removal proceedings might be eligible.

·         Coordinate and participate in pro-se asylum workshops for Afghan parolees

·         Maintain case files in accordance with existing office procedures; use online case management software and grant tracking databases.

Other duties may be assigned in the sole discretion of the Organization. The Organization may assign or shift duties and responsibilities to this position at any time due to reasonable accommodation or other reasons.

Required qualifications: The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills and/or abilities required.

·         Law degree from an accredited law school.

·         Licensed to practice law in any state (Staff Attorney) or awaiting bar results or sitting for upcoming bar exam (Law Clerk).

·         Demonstrated interest in immigration law, specifically in removal defense, asylum, VAWA, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, U- and T- visas, or related areas of immigration relief

·         Excellent coordination and organizational skills and the ability to complete tasks correctly and on time.

·         Strong communication skills, including written and oral communication.

·         Dedication to providing client-centered, holistic, trauma-informed services

Preferred qualifications: The requirements listed below are not required but are desired.

·         Demonstrated experience in immigration law, specifically in removal defense, asylum, VAWA, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, U- and T- visas, DACA, naturalization, or other related areas of immigration relief.

·         Licensed to practice law in California.

·         Effective communication skills in one or more of the following languages: Arabic, Farsi/Dari, Pashto, Russian, Spanish, or Ukrainian. Spanish strongly preferred.

Physical requirements and work environment: The following demands are representative of the physical requirements necessary for an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the Staff Attorney position. Reasonable accommodation can be made to enable people to perform the described essential functions.

While performing this job, the employee is required to sit often and use their hands and fingers, to handle or feel and to manipulate keys on a keyboard, the employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, reach with arms and hands, lift approximately 25 pounds on occasion, and to stoop, kneel, or squat, and drive on occasion. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet to moderate.

HOW TO APPLY:

Please click on this link (https://openingdoorsinc.easyapply.co/) to apply for the position. This position requires that you upload a cover letter to accompany your application. 

Opening Doors provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees, applicants, and any third parties, for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. In addition to federal law requirements, Opening Doors complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination laws.

Opening Doors participates in E-Verify.

Salary : $54,211 - $72,281