Job Title: Bilingual Immigration Staff Attorney

Full-time (40 hrs./wk.), exempt position.

Job Location: Santa Barbara, California (Hybrid Position)

Salary Range: $80,000-$85,000

 ABOUT ILDC:

 The Immigrant Legal Defense Center’s (ILDC) mission is to provide equal access to justice and due process to indigent immigrants residing in the Tri-County area by providing pro bono legal representation in removal proceedings and before the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services agency and informing immigrants on their fundamental civil rights.

 Additionally, the ILDC will integrate a Social Work and Case Management program into our removal defense program to advocate for the best interests of our clients inside and outside the immigration courtroom. We will provide wraparound clinical counseling and case management to address healthcare, mental health, economic hardship, food insecurity, housing, and educational needs, empowering our clients to pursue their educational and life goals.

We are a California public benefit nonprofit corporation with 501(c)(3) status.

To find out more about the ILDC and our services, please visit our website at: sbimmigrantdefense.org

OVERVIEW: We are seeking a Bilingual Immigration Staff Attorney to provide legal services to unaccompanied immigrant children facing removal proceedings and undocumented youth seeking affirmative immigration relief with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) agency through zealous direct representation. ILDC supports remote work to allow for work-life balance. However, client meetings need to be conducted at an ILDC office.

This position will be based in our Santa Barbara office location and reports directly to the ILDC’s executive director.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Represent non-detained individuals in removal proceedings before the Los Angeles immigration courts.
• Perform direct legal representation to ILDC clients. Ordinary function of legal counsel includes legal research and formulating the legal strategy for the case; conducting client interviews; appearing before the USCIS and EOIR in cases involving asylum, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS), Voluntary Departure, U Visa, and representation in California state courts to obtain orders necessary for SIJS; and drafting and filing court pleadings and applications for benefits.
• Contribute to overall office functioning, including actively participating in office meetings, ILDC coalition meetings related to unaccompanied immigrant children advocacy efforts, and assisting with office events.
• Ensure entry of timely, accurate, and detailed case data into ILDC’s case management systems.

QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS:

• JD and active bar admission (California state bar required).
• Driver’s License
• Advanced fluency in Spanish language required.
• At least one year of experience working with children, preferably immigrant and refugee children, and/or working with vulnerable populations, survivors of abuse, human trafficking, or other trauma.
• Possess some family law knowledge is a plus but not required.
• Experience working with law firm attorneys and/or other legal volunteers.
• Strong record of cultural competence and cross-cultural communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively and persuasively both orally and in writing.
• Capacity to work both collaboratively and independently.
• Ability to be flexible and adapt to frequently changing circumstances, policies, and conditions affecting this dynamic

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• Ability to work within an office environment, have regular interactions via telephone, video, and email with partners and stakeholders.
• Ability to travel long distances for hearings at the Los Angeles Immigration Courts and state court hearings in Santa Barbara County, Ventura County, and San Luis Obispo County.

WHAT WE OFFER:

A career at ILDC offers the opportunity to work with a team of professionals driven by our passion for defending immigrants’ rights to due process and empowering our clients to achieve their life goals. Our benefits include:

• $1,500 salary enhancement for additional qualifying languages beyond English and Spanish
• Generous PTO, plus 10 holidays and a one-week winter break
• Medical, vision, accidental death and dismemberment insurance, dental benefits, and retirement benefits.
• Generous Parental & Family Leave

The Immigrant Legal Defense Center (ILDC) is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage individuals from diverse backgrounds to apply.

To Apply:

• Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. Submit: 1) cover letter, 2) resume, and 3) a list of three professional references. Include “Bilingual Immigration Staff Attorney” in the subject line. Please email application materials directly to julissa@sbimmigrantdefense.org.