Immigration Legal Services Staff Attorney

Position title: ILS Staff Attorney  

Reports to: Supervising Staff Attorney

Classification: Full-time, exempt

Supervises others: Yes

Salary: $72,756 - $88,924 annually

Location: 95825 - Sacramento, CA

Note:   Candidates awaiting bar results will be considered for the position of Law Clerk, and promoted to Staff Attorney once they are licensed.

About us: Opening Doors, Inc., envisions a world in which migrants and refugees lead lives of joy and belonging, embraced by welcoming communities. Our mission is to enrich communities by supporting immigrants, refugees, and survivors of trafficking on their path towards stability, self-sufficiency and belonging. 

Opening Doors is guided by our organizational values:

·       Rising Together: We are in this together and depend on each other.

·       Honoring Dignity: We recognize and honor everyone’s strength and inherent dignity.

·       Embracing Courage: We do the right thing, even when the path is uncertain.

·       Seeking Joy: We take time to be together, celebrating our diverse cultures and recognizing our victories.

Opening Doors began in 1993 as a small refugee resettlement agency and today serves over 3,000 clients per year across our 5 program areas: Refugee Programs, Survivors of Trafficking Programs, Immigration Legal Services, Health Programs and Economic Prosperity Programs. 

Ideal candidate: The ideal candidate will have a detailed understanding of immigration law and policy and a commitment to immigrant justice. They will have creative problem-solving skills and the ability to balance competing deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

In addition, this candidate will be organized, proactive, and have strong communication skills. They will have the ability to work effectively in multi-cultural work environments, showing respect and sensitivity for cultural differences, and will be passionate about Opening Doors’ mission.

Responsibilities: The essential duties and responsibilities of this position include the following:

·       Provide consultations to screen and counsel potential clients for various forms of immigration relief.

·       Prepare and monitor applications for immigration relief for eligible applicants, including but not limited to applications for Adjustment of Status, family-based petitions and waivers of inadmissibility, U visas, T visas, VAWA, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, DACA, Naturalization, and Asylum.

·       Represent clients in removal proceedings before the Sacramento and San Francisco EOIR in applications for Asylum/Withholding/CAT, Cancellation of Removal, waivers, and any other forms of relief for which a respondent in removal proceedings might be eligible.

·       Participate in pro-se asylum workshops for Afghan parolees

·       Maintain case files in accordance with existing office procedures; use online case management software and grant tracking databases.

Other duties may be assigned in the sole discretion of the Organization. The Organization may assign or shift duties and responsibilities to this position at any time due to reasonable accommodation or other reasons.

Required qualifications: The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills and/or abilities required.

·       J.D. and licensed to practice law in any state (if applying for law clerk position, must be awaiting bar results or sitting for next scheduled bar exam)

·       Demonstrated interest in immigration law, specifically in removal defense, asylum, VAWA, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, U- and T- visas, or related areas of immigration relief

·       Excellent coordination and organizational skills and the ability to complete tasks correctly and on time.

·       Strong written and oral communication skills

·       Dedication to providing client-centered, holistic, trauma-informed representation

Preferred qualifications: The requirements listed below are not required but are desired.

·       Demonstrated experience in immigration law, specifically in removal defense, asylum, VAWA, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, U- and T- visas, DACA, naturalization, or other related areas of immigration relief.

·       Licensed to practice law in California.

·       Effective communication skills in one or more of the following languages: Arabic, Farsi/Dari, Pashto, Russian, Spanish, or Ukrainian. Spanish strongly preferred.

Physical requirements and work environment: The following demands are representative of the physical requirements necessary for an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the Staff Attorney position. Reasonable accommodation can be made to enable people to perform the described essential functions.

While performing this job, the employee is required to sit often and use their hands and fingers, to handle or feel and to manipulate keys on a keyboard, the employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, reach with arms and hands, lift approximately 25 pounds on occasion, and to stoop, kneel, or squat, and drive on occasion. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet to moderate.

Please use the following link to apply: https://openingdoorsinc.easyapply.co

Applications submitted without a cover letter will not be considered.

Opening Doors provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees, applicants and any third parties, for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. In addition to federal law requirements, Opening Doors complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination laws.

All Opening Doors employees must be fully vaccinated against Covid-19. Accommodations may be requested due to medical or religious reasons. 

Opening Doors participates in E-Verify.