Staff Attorney

About the Organization

Founded in 1979
, the National Immigration Law Center (NILC) is a leading non-profit organization (501(c)(3) in the U.S. exclusively dedicated to defending and advancing the rights and opportunities of low-income immigrants and their loved ones. NILC’s mission is grounded in the belief that everyone living in the U.S. regardless of race, gender/gender identity, immigration status, or economic status should have equal access to justice, resources, and educational and economic opportunities that enable them to achieve their full human potential.

Together, NILC and the affiliated NILC Immigrant Justice Fund (IJF), a 501(c)(4) organization, work to advocate more directly for federal immigration reform policies. NILC is committed to advancing its mission — which intersects race, immigration status, and class — through a racial, economic, and gender justice and equity orientation.

NILC is at an exciting moment in its organizational trajectory, supporting our five-year strategic framework and scaling the organization and its work through influencing systems, policy advocacy at the federal and state levels, engaging in movement and power building, and narrative and culture strategies in addition to continuous improvements to our operational model. We are looking for entrepreneurial, results-driven, relationship builders who are committed to NILC’s mission and values of racial justice & equity, valuing diversity, fostering partnerships & collaboration, encouraging respect & personal well-being, and striving for transparency, integrity, and honesty.

The Staff Attorney at NILC is a litigator who will initiate and support the identification, development, and litigation of precedent-setting cases to advance the rights of low-income immigrants and their families, primarily in the federal court system. The Staff Attorney will serve as a mentor and a teacher for law fellows and interns and will work with them to develop their skills in all aspects of case investigation, preparation, and litigation.

The Staff Attorney will endeavor to empower immigrant communities through supporting a multi-pronged approach of impact litigation, policy analysis, advocacy, strategic communications, and movement power building, using a client and community-centered lawyering approach. In addition to engaging in litigation, the Staff Attorney may also participate in and/or lead legal advocacy, including administrative and legislative advocacy.

This role is a member of the bargaining unit.

The Staff Attorney will be responsible for providing leadership and driving success in the following key areas:

• Conduct impact litigation on a range of issues in collaboration with litigation teams of other Staff Attorneys, Senior Attorneys, Deputy Directors, Paralegals, and other Program staff.
• Identify and develop litigation in federal and state courts with supervision and support from Senior Attorneys and/or Deputy Directors, including preparing pleadings, motions, and briefs; conducting discovery; presenting oral arguments; and handling appeals.
• Develop and maintain a significant litigation case load in state and/or federal court, typically in partnership with an internal case team and external co-counsel.
• Strategically, creatively, and boldly use plaintiff-driven, community-grounded impact litigation in combination and partnership with NILC’s other core strategies of policy research and analysis, strategic partnerships and advocacy, communications, and movement power building to advance NILC’s vision and mission.
• Advance NILC’s administrative and legislative advocacy by providing legal analysis and technical assistance to colleagues in NILC’s other departments; government officials and staff; the media; and advocates, organizers, and attorneys nationwide.
• Develop community education materials, co-create webinars, and provide Know Your Rights (KYR) presentations.
• Mentor and teach legal interns, legal fellows, and more junior attorneys in all aspects of case investigation, development, and litigation, as well as in other legal work.
• Collaborate with staff across the organization…