Queer Immigrant Justice Project Staff Attorney
Listed on 2026-02-12
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Law/Legal
Legal Counsel, Lawyer, Human Rights, Legal Assistant
Un Local is a community-centered non-profit organization that provides direct immigration legal representation and community education to New York City’s immigrant communities.
Queer Immigrant Justice Project within UnLocal provides LGBTQ+ affirming legal representation, as well as community engagement, education, and referrals to social service organizations, for LGBTQ+ immigrants.
SUMMARYUnLocal, Inc. is hiring a Staff Attorney for a full‑time, exempt position within UnLocal’s Legal Department. Applicants with significant experience will be considered for a Senior Staff Attorney title. The staff member will primarily support UnLocal’s Queer Immigrant Justice Project, which provides high‑quality representation in a wide variety of humanitarian immigration matters to LGBTQ+ immigrants. The existing docket is predominantly affirmative asylum, but is trending toward more removal defense.
Historically QIJP has also assisted with legal name and gender marker changes.
The role may also touch other parts of UnLocal’s work, including the General Practice, Pro Se Plus Project, the Post‑Order Defense Team (which is part of the Rapid Response Legal Collaborative). The role demands an innovative approach to problem‑solving, a deep commitment to clients, and a collaborative work style.
The Staff Attorney/Senior Staff Attorney will provide legal representation before USCIS, the Immigration Courts, Board of Immigration Appeals, and occasionally in District and Circuit Courts, as well as advocacy with ICE. This full‑time, exempt position reports to a Supervising Attorney.
Key Responsibilities- Develop and share expertise in working with LGBTQ+ clients.
- Conduct client intake interviews, assess eligibility for immigration relief, and provide comprehensive legal consultations.
- Represent clients in removal proceedings before Immigration Courts, including the preparation and filing of all necessary motions, applications, and appeals.
- Handle a diverse caseload of complex immigration matters, including asylum, withholding of removal, Convention Against Torture (CAT) claims, cancellation of removal, and other forms of relief.
- Prepare and submit affirmative immigration filings, such as asylum applications, adjustment of status, DACA, U Status, T Status, and other forms of relief.
- Assist with legal name and gender marker changes.
- Conduct legal research, draft legal memoranda, briefs, and other legal documents to support client cases.
- Workshops:
Collaborate with UnLocal’s Education and Outreach team to develop and present KYR and other information tailored to immigrant communities. Deliver legal information in accessible formats during community events. - Legal Clinics:
Participate in on‑site and virtual legal clinics, providing direct support including screenings, legal consultations, application assistance (I‑589, I‑765), pro‑se trial preparation, etc. - Materials Development:
Assist in creating educational content and handouts for community distribution to promote legal literacy on immigration processes and defenses.
- J.D. degree and admission to the bar of New York State.
- At least 3 years of relevant immigration law experience, including removal defense.
- Excellent writing and oral communication skills.
- Proven ability to work collaboratively, communicate effectively, multitask, and solve problems.
- Experience working with LGBTQ+ community members, people of color, and youth.
- Proficiency in a second language, particularly Spanish and/or French, to effectively communicate with diverse client populations is strongly preferred.
- Familiarity with pro‑se legal representation and resources, enhancing support for clients navigating their own legal processes.
- Experience in community education and outreach, particularly in immigrant communities, to promote understanding of legal rights and resources.
- Knowledge of federal litigation processes and experience handling cases in federal courts, particularly in immigration law contexts.
- Salary range is $80‑82K, dependent on experience.
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