International Refugee Assistance Project
Opportunity
The US Legal Services – Staff Attorney role is focused on direct representation of refugees and other displaced people seeking admission or parole into the United States. The attorney is also responsible for aiding in mentoring pro bono attorneys and law students in representing refugees, Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) applicants, and other vulnerable individuals.
Responsibilities
- Provide advice and counsel and direct representation to a diverse caseload of clients, including refugees seeking resettlement or parole, U.S. wartime allies seeking Special Immigrant Status, family members of refugees seeking family reunification in the U.S., refugees seeking relief from removal, and asylum-seekers seeking asylum, withholding or CAT protection.
- Assist IRAP’s U.S. Legal Department with managing and mentoring IRAP law school chapters and law firm attorneys, including monitoring case progress, providing expert legal advice, reviewing legal submissions, and conducting trainings, to ensure high-quality representation by our pro bono teams.
- Collaborate with the IRAP Litigation Department on any current and future high impact litigation efforts.
- Collaborate with the IRAP Policy Department to reform and improve government systems and policies.
- Assist with the management of legal interns, intake volunteers, and fellows.
- Other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
- Must be admitted to practice law in good standing in any jurisdiction in the United States.
- Must have at least 2 years of experience as an attorney working in immigration and/or refugee law, preferably as an attorney providing direct legal services to immigrant and/or refugee communities.
- Ability to be flexible in a fast-paced and high-pressure work environment.
- Must be highly organized and motivated, able to multi-task, manage a high volume workload, and have excellent time management skills.
- Strong research, writing, and analytical skills.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with a preference for experience working in diverse and international work environments.
- Sensitivity to client empowerment and to working with clients of all backgrounds, including LGBTI clients, survivors of trauma, and other vulnerable populations.
- Excellent oral and written English skills. Excellent skills in a second language, particularly Arabic, Farsi, Pashto, Haitian Creole, or Spanish, is a plus but not required.
Location: The candidate will work in one of IRAP’s offices in New York City or Washington, DC but remote work candidates will be considered. A remote employee would be expected to work on Eastern Standard Time.
Compensation
The annual full-time equivalent salary range for this position is $78,041- $187,119 commensurate with experience. This position may be subject to a collective bargaining agreement.
Benefits
IRAP’s benefits vary across office locations, and IRAP seeks to offer equitable and generous benefits to all employees. IRAP’s U.S. benefits include:
Fully paid family health insurance
Retirement options
Extensive PTO (20 or more vacation days & 19 org-wide holidays)
Comprehensive leave time for sickness
Disability and parenting (4 months of parental leave)
Reimbursement for work from home equipment
Generous opportunities for professional development
How to apply
To Apply:
Click this link to apply
Please submit a cover letter, resume, and 3 references. A successful cover letter will include:
Your interest in working at IRAP specifically;
Specific references to the job description and why you will excel in this job;
Any languages you speak (if not clear from your resume);
Any US jurisdictions where you are licensed to practice law or awaiting admission after passing the bar (if not clear from your resume).
Applications submitted by November 8 will receive full consideration. After that date, additional applications may be considered on a rolling basis.