Grand Rapids- Staff Attorney

Overview

We are seeking a dedicated and knowledgeable Staff Attorney to join our legal team. The ideal candidate will provide high-quality legal representation before the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and U.S. Department of State, and potentially the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), in immigration matters to community members in need.

• Provide general consultations on family-based and humanitarian immigration matters, including but not limited to citizenship, petitions for relatives, permanent residency for family, waivers, consular processing, refugee and asylee petitions, VAWA, U visas, TPS, and DACA, at Grand Rapids partner locations.
• Provide telephonic general consultations on Immigration hotline.
• Potentially conduct initial screenings, intakes, and eligibility assessments for asylum and other humanitarian protections (e.g., CAT, Withholding of Removal).
• Potentially prepare asylum applications (Form I-589), supporting affidavits, legal briefs, and documentation.
• Potentially represent clients in affirmative asylum interviews before USCIS and in defensive asylum proceedings before EOIR.
• Provide legal representation and coordinate all aspects of a client’s case, including client communication, preparing immigration forms, conducting relevant research, drafting personal statements, writing briefs, and compiling evidence.
• Utilize case management and office systems to manage substantial caseload.
• Communicate with USCIS, the NVC, US Consulates, and government attorneys on behalf of clients as case needs dictate.
• Utilize government websites (such as, but not limited to, the National Visa Center or USCIS FOIA website) for submitting applications, entering data, and making payments; participate in program outreach and public education about immigration law and policy, including assisting with preparing educational presentations and working with Legal Outreach Teams to coordinate education and outreach to hard-to-reach immigrant communities.
• Serve on community committees or coalitions such as the Michigan Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights or local coalitions and initiatives as necessary; serve on one committee with the board of directors.
• Engage in limited supervision of interns, support staff, and DOJ-accredited legal representatives who are engaged in similar duties with the Legal Services Program as necessary.
• Other duties as assigned.

• The qualified candidate will have a J.D. and must have an active license to practice law in any U.S. state (Michigan preferred). (We will not accept applications from recent law graduates who have not already passed their bar exam.)
• Membership in good standing of State Bar required.
• Must be highly proficient in English and Spanish.
• Preferred minimum of two years previous experience in a professional context with family-based, humanitarian-based, and/or asylum immigration matters preferred. [Pay commensurate with experience.]
• Must be committed to the mission and goals of Lighthouse Immigrant Advocates.
• Possess strong organizational and information management skills, have excellent time management skills, the ability to prioritize and work with minimal supervision.
• Possess strong client service skills, including, but not limited to, timely and effective written, phone, and in-person communication skills and knowledge and practice of trauma-informed communication methods.
• Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office Suite, Google Drive, and other computer applications.
• Must have competence in communicating and interacting with others of diverse cultural, geographic, and economic backgrounds in a professional and compassionate manner, including the ability to interact with individuals experiencing substantial levels of emotional, physical, financial, or other hardship.
• Must be committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion work both within the organization and within the community.

We encourage qualified candidates who are passionate about the law and committed to providing exceptional client service to apply for this exciting opportunity.

Full-time

From $65,000.00 per year

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply

In person