Senior Litigation Attorney

The Young Center for Immigrant Children's Rights invites applications for the full-time position of Senior Litigation Attorney to be based remotely with preference to those near one of our operating offices. The Senior Litigation Attorney will manage litigation and legal advocacy efforts aimed at protecting the rights of immigrant children and youth facing removal from the United States, as well as those at risk of permanent separation from parents or caregivers due to removal.

This role involves tracking, analyzing, and engaging in litigation affecting immigrant children, with a particular focus on unaccompanied youth in federal custody. The Senior Litigation Attorney will identify strategic opportunities to challenge policies, practices, and cases that harm the best interests of immigrant children and youth.

Key responsibilities include conducting factual investigations, performing legal research, drafting legal filings, and developing compelling legal arguments on issues affecting unaccompanied and separated immigrant children This work will be done both with Young Center staff and in collaboration with other organizations and law firms. In addition to litigation work, the Senior Litigation Attorney will collaborate with the policy team to advocate on issues that intersect with ongoing or potential litigation and will contribute to the development of policy advocacy, including drafting comments on proposed federal regulations.
In the future, the Senior Litigation Attorney may also supervise or mentor attorneys, paralegals, and fellows, ensuring effective and high-quality work in support of the organization's mission.

ABOUT THE YOUNG CENTER
The Young Center for Immigrant Children's Rights is a national organization dedicated to protecting and advancing the rights and best interests-safety and well-being-of immigrant children in the United States. The Young Center's Child Advocate Program (CAP) serves as the federally-appointed bests interests representative for unaccompanied and separated immigrant children in federal custody. Through CAP's state initiative, we also serve and are appointed by the Superior Courts of New Jersey as independent Child Advocates to children released from federal custody into the New Jersey community.

Child Advocates meet with children and learn their stories in order to identify and advocate for their best interests through an interdisciplinary, trauma-informed, and culturally sensitive lens. The Young Center's Policy Program fights for wholesale reform of the immigration system while pursuing immediate changes in policy and practice that center children's rights and best interests in all decisions. The Technical Assistance Program, the Young Center's newest program, offers intersectional expertise and critical resources to advocates and service providers working with immigrant children involved in child welfare and other state court systems.

The Young Center has offices in Houston, San Antonio, and Harlingen, Texas;
Chicago, Illinois;
New York, New York;
Washington, D.C.;
Phoenix, Arizona;
Los Angeles, California; and Grand Rapids, Michigan. We also serve children through our program in New Jersey.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Manage impact litigation efforts to safeguard and advance the rights of immigrant children and youth.
• Draft and revise legal filings, conduct factual investigations, and perform legal research for both potential and ongoing litigation before immigration agencies and federal courts.
• Track and analyze litigation affecting unaccompanied and separated immigrant children, including reviewing court decisions and key legal developments.
• Stay informed on legal, policy, and political changes affecting unaccompanied and separated immigrant children, as well as children whose families are dual system-involved in child welfare and immigration proceedings. Assess the potential impact of proposed legislation, executive orders, and policy directives, and help shape legal strategies when necessary.
• Identify strategic opportunities to engage in litigation that advances the best interests of immigrant children and youth.
• Innovate new legal theories and develop…