Staff Attorney/Clinical Supervisor -Immigration

The East Bay Community Law Center is a non-profit legal services organization, the community-based clinical program for U.C. Berkeley Law School, and one of the Bay Area’s largest and most effective systems disrupters. With a dual service and teaching mission, EBCLC is a racial justice organization committed to building a culturally diverse workplace, centered on an internal Equity and Inclusion Roadmap that outlines the organization’s equity priorities. EBCLC is also an organized workplace, having reached its first collective bargaining agreement this summer. With about 80 staff, 150 law students a year, and a nearly $10 million annual budget, EBCLC is the largest provider of free legal services in Alameda County, providing multimodal, collaborative, and holistic legal services to over 5,000 clients annually and engaging in legislative and policy advocacy at the state and local level. 

EBCLC seeks an experienced attorney to represent clients with a wide variety of immigration matters. The Staff Attorney/Clinical Supervisor is an excellent advocate with strong writing, interpersonal, and organizational skills who works well in a fast-paced collaborative environment, has experience providing immigration services to clients with limited resources, and is committed to furthering EBCLC’s mission for racial justice. The Staff Attorney/Clinical Supervisor must also bring a passion for teaching and training the next generation of social justice advocates. 

Primary Responsibilities

•        Represent low-income immigrants on a wide variety of immigration matters before the Immigration Court, USCIS, the Board of Immigration Appeals, and local superior courts for SIJS-related matters, including deportation defense, political asylum, U visas, VAWA, SIJS, DACA, adjustment of status, consular processing, waivers, immigration effects of criminal convictions, legal issues for detainees, and naturalization

•        Work on a holistic-oriented legal team providing direct representation and limited scope services to clients with limited resources in the East Bay and students at UC Berkeley, local community colleges, and La Clínica de la Raza’s school-based health centers

•        Work collaboratively with our social work team and other attorneys at EBCLC to provide holistic wrap-around services addressing the criminalization of immigrants and efforts to deny them access to critical supports and services

•        Teach, train, and supervise law students, including leading substantive law and skills training, facilitating individual and group case reviews, day-to-day monitoring of individual work, mentoring, and student recruitment

•        Complete administrative tasks, such as those related to grant management and reporting

•        Additional tasks as assigned by Supervisor

Minimum Qualifications

•        J.D. required, member of the California State Bar in good standing or a registered legal services attorney

•        Minimum two (2) years of experience providing immigration legal services

•        Ability to manage a demanding case-load; excellent time-management, priority-setting, and organizational skills

•        Experience with, or strong interest in, law student supervision and training

•        Excellent written and oral advocacy skills

•        Demonstrated commitment to racial justice

•        Ability to work effectively with a diverse range of groups, including people of color, homeless people, immigrants, non-English speakers, people with mental disabilities, domestic violence survivors, law students, service providers, government employees, community partners, elected officials, and law school faculty

•        Strong interpersonal skills, flexibility, and demonstrated ability to work well independently and as part of a team

•        Fluency in Spanish required

Salary and Benefits

Starting salary for this full-time exempt position is $72,000 - $90,000 based on the law school graduation date, as dictated by the EBCLC salary scale.

Benefits include fully paid health insurance (medical, dental, and vision) for employees and their dependents, life and disability insurance, and generous paid leave (vacation, sick, and holidays); EBCLC also offers flexible spending accounts for qualified health, dependent care, and commute expenditures.

Workplace Expectations

Due to COVID-19, most EBCLC employees are primarily working remotely. Please note that the Immigration Staff Attorney/Clinical Supervisor will be expected to attend in-person court proceedings and USCIS interviews, teach in person, as well as meet with clients in person at our office as necessary to  complete work. EBCLC will provide the necessary equipment to fulfill the job responsibilities of working from home. 

Working at EBCLC

EBCLC is a unionized workplace and members of the bargaining unit are represented by the Engineers and Scientists of California Local 20, IFPTE. This position is part of the bargaining unit.

EBCLC is strongly committed to advancing justice through education and advocacy, and the need to transform legal services and legal education. Please take time to review EBCLC’s mission, vision, programs, and website, and ensure that your cover letter reflects how your background, experience, and expertise have prepared you to be successful in performing the responsibilities of the position.

Additionally, EBCLC is committed to building a culturally diverse workplace centered on equity and providing an inclusive, welcoming, and culturally responsive environment for all members of our staff, volunteers, subcontractors, vendors, and clients.

To achieve this goal, EBCLC works actively to improve our office climate, systems and structures, communications, and community engagement to create an inclusive and respectful workplace where differences are acknowledged and valued. In your cover letter, please address how your personal background and experiences, professional or otherwise, have prepared you to contribute to our commitment to cultural responsiveness and diversity amongst our staff.