ProBAR - Senior Staff Attorney TX

$79,730 - $95,516/Yr

American Bar Association - Harlingen, TX

Full-time - Mid Level

Hybrid - Harlingen, TX

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

About the position

The Senior Staff Attorney at ProBAR is responsible for providing legal services to detained immigrants in immigration removal proceedings, particularly in the South Texas region. This role involves mentoring and leading staff attorneys, legal support staff, and interns, while also developing legal strategies in the evolving landscape of immigration law. The position requires regular interaction with individuals facing significant challenges and aims to enhance access to legal representation for immigrants.

Responsibilities

• Mentors Staff Attorneys providing advice and direction on their cases.
• Assists in the training and mentoring of pro bono attorneys, legal support staff, and other legal volunteers.
• Develops and maintains legal competency relating to immigration detention work, specifically as applied to unaccompanied minors.
• Builds and maintains relations with local stakeholders.
• Observes ethical practices relating to client confidentiality and all other applicable legal ethics standards.
• Maintains case files, documentation, and data integrity using the division's case management system.
• Regularly appears in immigration court.
• Represents clients seeking immigration relief such as asylum, T visas, U visas, cancellation of removal, and other relief as appropriate.
• Provides group and individual legal orientations to detained immigrants in immigration removal proceedings.
• Provides legal services including direct representation to detained or locally released immigrants.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Requirements

• Possession of a Juris Doctorate or Master of Law (LLM) from an ABA-accredited law school and be in good standing.
• One or more years' experience in representing clients preferably on immigration matters.
• Licensed to practice law in a U.S. state or territory.
• Fluent in English and Spanish in written and spoken forms.
• Intermediate proficiency with Adobe and Microsoft Office products (Word, Excel, OneDrive, Teams).
• Familiar with conducting virtual meetings, training, and observations on software such as Zoom, Teams, etc.
• Ability to pick up on client visual and verbal cues.
• Reliable internet and phone connection.
• Reliable transportation to travel between office and off-site work locations.

Nice-to-haves

• Licensed to practice law and member in the State Bar of Texas.
• Two years' experience in representing clients on immigration matters.
• Prior work experience with clients, particularly from Central America and including indigenous language speaking populations.
• Prior volunteer, community, or work experience regarding immigration or detention.
• Prior non-profit experience, particularly involving immigration detention.

Benefits

• Medical and prescription insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Voluntary life insurance
• Short- and long-term disability insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Prepaid Legal Plan
• 401 (k)
• Paid company holidays
• Personal time off
• Vacation time off
• Self-Care time off
• PSLF participant
• Sign on bonus offered
• Additional bonuses offered for continuous service at 2-year, 3-year, & 4-year service anniversaries
• Relocation Stipend offered for in state and out of state relocation