Senior Attorney / Staff Attorney II- Representation Program

Background:

Esperanza Immigrant Rights Project, a program of Catholic Charities of Los Angeles, Inc., is a non-profit law firm which provides community education and legal representation to immigrant adults, families, unaccompanied minors, individuals with mental health issues, and in cases involving crimmigration. Esperanza is one of the few programs across the country that provides services to pro se detained and non-detained immigrants. Esperanza has proudly provided legal services to immigrants and their families in Southern California for over 15 years. More information can be found about Esperanza at www.esperanza-la.org

Responsibilities:

Esperanza seeks a full-time senior staff attorney to work under the supervision of a Managing Attorney to provide legal representation to immigrants in removal proceedings and related state court proceedings. The senior staff attorney will be expected to carry a caseload consisting of a variety of affirmative and defensive immigration cases for both adults and children, with an emphasis on cases involving unaccompanied children.

The senior staff attorney will take on additional responsibilities including supervision of legal interns or law students as well as mentorship of a staff attorney, paralegals or other staff; participation in collaborative or stakeholder meetings; advocacy and policy; trainings and education; community engagement; and other special projects as needed.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Juris Doctorate;
• Active bar admission (California state bar preferred);
• Minimum 2 years of experience in the practice of immigration law required;
• Immigration court litigation experience strongly preferred;
• Experience litigating cases in state dependency, family, criminal or probate courts preferred;
• Strong organizational, case management, legal research, and legal writing skills;
• Ability to take initiative and work under pressure;
• Willingness to be a team-player with an attitude and aptitude for collaboration;
• Passion for social justice for immigrants and vulnerable communities

Preferred Qualifications

• Proficiency in a second language such as Spanish, French, Mandarin, Portuguese, or Mayan dialect;
• Experience working with vulnerable client populations, particularly with children, families, or clients with mental health issues;

Location:

Our office is located at 1530 James M. Wood Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90015. This position may require regional travel to courts.