Miami, FL

Job Description

Bilingual (Spanish) Staff Attorney to provide services under the Legal Orientation Program for Custodians (LOPC) and direct services to unaccompanied minors in immigration proceedings, Full time, Miami, Florida.

Catholic Legal Services of Miami (CLS) seeks a Spanish-speaking bilingual attorney to provide Know Your Rights presentations to custodians of unaccompanied minors and direct representation to unaccompanied minors who are placed in removal proceedings in the Miami Immigration Court. Full consideration will be given to those who apply by November 3, 2014, but applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until filled. For more information see attached full listing.

Catholic Legal Services of Miami (CLS) is a non-profit organization that represents low-income immigrants without reference to their race, religion, gender, ethnic group, or other distinguishing characteristics. CLS seeks a bilingual attorney to provide legal services under the Legal Orientation Program for Custodians (LOPC) and represent children under a pilot project of the Office of Refugee Resettlement to provide representation to unaccompanied minors in removal proceedings before the Miami Immigration Court.

Location: Miami and Broward County

Duties

• Provide LOPC presentations in Spanish to custodians of unaccompanied minors who have been released in South Florida.
• Provide follow-up services to custodians who have attended LOPC presentations, including social service, legal and other referrals, and assistance with change of venue motions.
• Comply with monthly reporting to funders and regular data management.
• Participate in meetings, calls and email exchanges with stakeholders, including EOIR.
• Legal representation in immigration proceedings before EOIR Immigration Courts; appellate proceedings before the Board of Immigration Appeals; proceedings before the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), including, among others, applications for asylum, Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ) status, and/or T or U non-immigrant status; and state court proceedings seeking orders necessary to support SIJ applications;
• Conduct legal screenings of unaccompanied minors to determine eligibility for legal relief.
• Provide advice and counsel to unaccompanied minors, comply with reporting requirements and data entry, and assist in recruiting and training pro bono attorneys.
• Manage heavy caseloads dealing with complex immigration issues.
• Provide mentorship and trainings in order to recruit and train pro bono attorneys; and
• Engage in outreach and education in the area of immigrant rights.

Qualifications

• 2 years of experience working in a law firm or non-profit preferred (immigration experience is a plus).
• Membership of the Florida Bar required.
• Experience with immigration and/or child dependency.
• Experience working with children is a plus.
• Fully bilingual, including reading and writing, in English and Spanish required.
• Must have excellent research and writing skills, communication skills, organizational skills, self-motivation, and an ability to work collaboratively with others.
• Must be adept at interacting with a wide variety of people and comfortable working in a busy, open work environment.

Salary to commensurate with experience. Full benefits provided.

Learn More: http://www.miamiarch.org/

How to Apply

Send a cover letter, resume and two writing samples to Elizabeth Sanchez Kennedy at esanchezkennedy@cclsmiami.org.

CCLS is an EEOC/AA employer and encourages women and minorities to apply. Our office hires regardless of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or ethnicity.