Immigration Attorney

Staff Attorney

REPORTS TO:

Managing Attorney

POSITIONS SUPERVISED:
Limited supervision of volunteers and interns

HOURS:

Full-Time (36-40 hours per week)

PAY: $65,000

BENEFITS:
Medical/Dental (0% copay after low deductible plan), IRA Simple Plan and 3% matching, Staff Health Day activities, 3 weeks Vacation Paid Time Off, 2 weeks end of year paid-time off, 11 paid holidays, Sick Time Off, flexible working hours and locations, with majority of time in office.

Lighthouse Immigrant Advocates (LIA) is a nonprofit in West Michigan offering affordable immigration legal services to community members. The organizational model includes a three-pronged approach to service: holistic case management, community education and advocacy. LIA has grown rapidly in the nearly ten years since its inception.

LIA believes that Michigan’s large immigrant population adds to our communities’ vibrant cultural and ethnic diversity, generating forward momentum in our communities and economy. The key to that work is supporting services that welcome, include and aid immigrant communities.

Employment with LIA is exciting and enriching. Furthermore, LIA is a family-friendly organization that offers flexible scheduling and does not discourage employees from bringing their children to the office when necessary.

Provide high-quality legal representation before the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the U.S. Department of State, and potentially the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) in immigration matters to community members in need.

• Provide legal representation and general consultations on family-based and humanitarian immigration matters, including but not limited to citizenship, petitions for relatives, permanent residence for family, waivers, consular processing, refugee and asylee petitions, VAWA, U visas, TPS, and DACA.
• 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.
• 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.
• Communicate with USCIS, the NVC, US Consulates, and government attorneys on behalf of clients as case needs dictate.
• Provide consultations to new clients.
• 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.
• Meet with existing clients to continue their immigration processes.
• Communicate with clients by phone, email, video call and in-person meetings.
• Assist clients in identification of documents required, and directs clients on how to obtain them.
• Participate in program outreach and public education about immigration law and policy, including occasional speaking engagements, assisting with preparing educational presentations, and working with Legal Outreach Teams to coordinate education and outreach to hard-to-reach immigrant communities.
• Provide assistance as necessary to in-house and mobile clinics at partner organizations.
• Provide telephonic general consultations on Immigration hotline.
• 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, volunteers, support staff, and potentially DOJ-accredited legal representatives who are engaged in similar duties with the Legal Services Program as necessary.
• Other duties as assigned.

• If Attorney - 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…