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Immigration Staff Attorney

Employer
Make the Road New York
Location
Jackson Heights, New York
Closing date
May 6, 2021

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Focus Areas
Civil Rights / Advocacy
Job Function
Legal
Position Type
Full Time

Job Details

Make the Road New York (MRNY) builds the power of immigrant and working-class communities to achieve dignity and justice through organizing, policy innovation, transformative education, and survival services. Make the Road New York operates community centers in Bushwick, Brooklyn; Jackson Heights, Queens; Port Richmond, Staten Island; Brentwood, Long Island and White Plains, Westchester County. With a membership of over 24,000, MRNY tackles the critical issues facing our communities, including workplace justice, tenants’ rights, immigrant and civil rights, public education, health care access, policing, and TGNCIQ justice. (TGNCIQ = transgender, gender non-conforming, intersex and queer)

MRNY is a multi-service organization.  Our member-led organizing committees -- which work on the issues named above -- implement strategies to combat shared problems, and develop leadership and the capacity for civic participation. We also provide an array of high-quality bilingual services: English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), Spanish-language literacy, computer literacy, citizenship preparation, and in-school and after-school youth programs. Our health program offers facilitated enrollment into health insurance programs and SNAP benefits, a community health worker home visit program, nutrition education and emergency food pantries, health care navigation, and more. We have a robust legal program that offers direct representation across a spectrum of practice areas, including employment law, immigration law, housing and benefits, and TGNCIQ civil rights; we also take on impact litigation as a strategy for achieving broad change. 

Legal and Support Services at Make the Road New York:

The Department of Legal and Support Services at MRNY works to strengthen the organization’s organizing work by (1) helping to envision and implement strategies (including strategic litigation) that support our organizing campaigns; (2) providing technical legal support for policy work; and (3) providing legal and support services to meet the immediate needs of the community members who MRNY serves. The Department currently employs approximately 45 attorneys, advocates, and case managers. Our legal team is integrated into all aspects of the organization’s work. 

Current Opening:

We are hiring a Staff Attorney / Senior Staff Attorney to join our dynamic immigration team. The attorney will fully integrate into our team’s immigration practice and work on a broad range of cases. MRNY staff are currently working remotely until further notice from health officials, but the position will be based between our Queens and Brooklyn offices in Jackson Heights/Bushwick when our offices re-open.  

Job responsibilities will include:

  • Providing individualized assistance to clients currently in removal proceedings or eligible for immigration relief, in a broad range of categories including SIJ, Asylum, U/T Nonimmigrant Status, and Cancellation of Removal, including representing individuals in immigration, family and federal district court
  • Assisting in community education efforts, including through the creation of written materials, KYR presentations, and popular education workshops
  • Supporting MRNY members and organizing campaigns through strategic litigation, legislative advocacy, research, media work, and action support
  • Participating in team and department meetings and assisting with grant reporting
  • Continuous learning and application of movement lawyering principles as well as other critical concepts that underscore our organizational approach to building power, such as racialized capitalism 

Requirements:

  • At least 2 years of immigration legal practice experience, which may include clinic and/or legal internships. Any applicant who has been practicing in the field for at least five years post-Juris Doctor will be considered for the role of “Senior Staff Attorney”
  • Admission (or eligibility for admission) to practice law in New York State or the possibility of waiving into the state
  • Spanish language proficiency
  • Interpersonal and organizational skills of the highest caliber
  • Experience with populations that make up major portions of Make the Road’s membership – such as documented and undocumented immigrants, individuals facing domestic violence, members of TGNCIQ communities, those who have experienced the criminal legal system, and youth
  • Interest in supporting community organizing, campaigns, and policy and advocacy initiatives
  • Desire to work collaboratively   

Preferences: 

  • Relevant lived experience, including, but not limited to, having been a member of a low-income, immigrant community
  • Experience with community organizing 
  • Expertise in a specific area of value to our collaborative team, including, but not limited to, the Department of Homeland Security’s use of tech, the intersections between workers and immigration issues, and the intersections between education/youth and immigration issues   
  • Excellent writing skills  
  • Spanish language fluency
  • A sense of humor   

Salary and Benefits:

Starting salary is calculated on a step scale based on years of experience. Generous package of vacation, personal and sick days. Excellent health and dental coverage and family leave policies.

To Apply:

Please apply with a cover letter, resume, and writing sample in Make the Road New York's Career Center.

Current employees interested in applying will be directed to their ADP Account. Please login and navigate to Myself > Career Center to continue applying.    

Applications accepted until position is filled.   

MRNY is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse staff. Women, TGNCIQ people, people with disabilities, and BIPOC strongly encouraged to apply. All qualified applicants will be afforded equal employment opportunities without discrimination because of race, creed, color, national origin, sex, age, genetic information, disability or marital status.  

Company

Make the Road New York (MRNY) builds the power of immigrant and working-class communities to achieve dignity and justice through organizing, policy innovation, transformative education, and survival services. Make the Road New York operates community centers in Bushwick, Brooklyn; Jackson Heights, Queens; Port Richmond, Staten Island; Brentwood, Long Island and White Plains, Westchester County. With a membership of 23,000, MRNY tackles the critical issues facing our communities, including workplace justice, tenants’ rights, immigrant rights and civil rights, TGNCIQ justice, public education, health care access, and immigration reform. (TGNCIQ = transgender, gender non-conforming, intersex and queer)

MRNY is a multi-service organization.  Our member-led organizing committees -- which work on the issues named above -- implement strategies to combat shared problems, and develop leadership and the capacity for civic participation. We also provide an array of high-quality bilingual services: We offer English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), Spanish-language literacy, computer literacy, citizenship preparation, and in-school and after-school youth programs. We have a robust legal program that offers direct representation across a spectrum of practice areas, including employment law, immigration law, housing and benefits, and TGNCIQ civil rights; we also take on impact litigation as a strategy for achieving broad change. Our health program offers facilitated enrollment into health insurance programs and SNAP benefits, a community health worker home visit program, nutrition education and emergency food pantries, health care navigation, and more.

Company info
Website
Telephone
718-418-7690
Location
301 Grove Street
Brooklyn
NY
11237
US

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