Job Title: Staff Attorney
Classification & FLSA Status: Full time | Exempt
Salary: Starting at $70,000 annual salary, depending on experience and qualifications
Department: Legal Department | Citizenship & Family Based Immigration
Reports to: Supervising Attorney/OLAP and/or Managing Attorney
Location: Hybrid - Telecommute and CARECEN Los Angeles office

Job Summary
The Central American Resource Center (CARECEN) seeks a bilingual Spanish-speaking staff attorney for its Citizenship & Family-Based Immigration Unit. The staff attorney will work out of the Los Angeles office and will work under the supervision of the supervising attorney/OLAP and managing attorney from the Citizenship & Family-Based Immigration Unit. Law graduates awaiting state bar results will be considered for the staff attorney position. The staff attorney will regularly provide legal consultation and representation services primarily in affirmative immigration cases including naturalization, family petitions, adjustment of status, advance parole, parole-in-place, TPS, DACA, removal of conditions, green card renewals, as well as other case types assigned.

Job Requirements/Essential Functions

• Conduct and review client intakes for immigration relief for community members at CARECEN and other sites, as needed
• Prepare naturalization and citizenship derivation/acquisition cases, family petitions, adjustment of status, TPS, DACA, removal of conditions, parole-in-place, consular processing, and employment authorization applications, among others, including representing applicants before USCIS and EOIR
• Assist with peer reviewing intakes and client cases for immigration relief
• Assign and review casework of legal support staff in office and during workshops
• Ensure compliance with data reporting and program requirements
• Conduct community presentations, application workshops, and other community education activities, including at offsite locations, which may require periodic Saturday work
• Other duties as assigned by the supervising attorney/OLAP or managing attorney

Required Skills/Qualifications

• Juris Doctor degree and active bar membership in California
• Fluency in spoken and written Spanish required and subject to testing
• 1-2 years of practical experience in immigration law preferred (e.g. family-based adjustments, consular processing, naturalization, citizenship acquisition/derivation, TPS, Parole petitions)
• Excellent legal skills and broad knowledge of immigration law
• Capable of managing a time-sensitive caseload with multiple deadlines
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to work independently
• Skilled in working effectively with diverse populations, including individuals from various geographic and economic backgrounds, as well as clients with histories of severe trauma, criminal records and disabilities
• Strong commitment to the rights of immigrants and the mission of CARECEN
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Commitment to working in a diverse professional environment
• Must be willing to conduct community education and workshops
• Position will involve some evening and weekend work

Classification and Work Schedule
The position is a full-time exempt position. Office hours are 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday – Friday, with flexibility required based on the needs of the organization. Position may require some evening and/or weekend work, based on responsibilities. The normal workweek for this full-time exempt position is 35 hours, but a greater emphasis is placed on meeting the responsibilities assigned to the position. Exempt employees do not receive overtime compensation, compensatory time off, or additional compensation beyond the salary assigned to the position.

Work Environment and Physical Demands
This job operates in a professional office environment with possible partial work from home flexibility. The position requires the ability to lift files, open filing cabinets and bend or stand as necessary. Work is performed in a variety of work settings, including CARECEN’s offices, workspace provided by others such as libraries and other government facilities, among others.

Travel Requirements
Ability to travel to different CARECEN offices and offsite locations. Work may comprise up to 25% of travel time. Mileage reimbursement is available. The ability to drive with a valid CA license and a registered vehicle is preferred.

Benefits
CARECEN offers a generous health insurance package that has medical, vision, dental, life insurance and Flexible Spending Account (FSA). Supplemental insurance and a 403(b)-retirement savings plan are also available. Personal, sick and vacation accruals are also provided along with 14 paid holidays.

Application Deadline
Interested applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

To Apply
Please email a cover letter, resume, three references and a brief writing sample (maximum 10 pages) to Miriam Nunez: [email protected]

Candidates are urged to be specific regarding level of Spanish fluency in the cover letter. Only those applicants selected for interviews will be contacted. Applicants must apply directly. CARECEN will not consider applications through legal/staffing agencies. No inquiries or phone calls from applicants or legal/staffing agencies.

CARECEN is an Equal Opportunity Employer
All qualified applicants shall receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, ethnic group identification, ancestry, sex, age, marital status, political affiliation, condition of physical or mental disability, or sexual orientation, in accordance with requirements of Federal and State laws.