Immigration Staff Attorney

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 28,000, 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 newly unionized workplace.

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), 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."

Current Opening:

We are hiring a Staff Attorney to join our dynamic immigration team to provide legal representation and support to community members. As a member of our immigration practice, the Staff Attorney will work on a broad range of cases—including removal defense and other affirmative matters (such as, but not limited to, complex U/T visas and Special Immigrant Juvenile Status cases). MRNY staff are hybrid and required to be in-person at least 3 days per week in the office. The position is based in our White Plains, Westchester office.  

This position is included in a Union-represented collective bargaining unit, and specific employment terms and conditions are subject to collective bargaining.

Key Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following: 

• Providing individualized assistance and representation to clients in immigration proceedings or otherwise requiring legal assistance in such matters. The Staff Attorney is expected to provide such legal representation and assistance in cases involving, but not limited to, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, Asylum, U/T Nonimmigrant Status, and Cancellation of Removal, including representing individuals in immigration, family and federal district court.
• Contribute to the work of our general immigration practice through sharing knowledge and collaboration.
• 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; meetings with external partners; and assisting with tracking and highlighting cases as necessary for development and grant reporting.
• Continuous learning regarding movement lawyering (theory and application) as well as other critical concepts that underscore our organizational approach to building power, such as racialized capitalism.

Requirements:

• Eligible to work in the US 
• J.D. required
• At least 2 years of immigration legal practice experience. 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.  
• 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.

Job Competencies:

• Self-starter with strong organizational skills and strong attention to detail
• Be highly professional and team oriented 
• Ability to multi-task, prioritize, and complete assignments under strict deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to work under pressure
• Have a working knowledge of spreadsheets, Microsoft Office suite, and using a database (ideally Salesforce)
• Ability to work some evenings or weekends as required
• High level of accountability and initiative; eager to do team work to support the organization as a whole

Salary and Benefits:

MRNY offers an excellent benefit package including health insurance, 401K, and generous paid vacation, sick, personal days. The salary range for  this position is from $82,500.00 - $89,500.00

To Apply:

Please attach cover letter/resume and submit all documents to the Make the Road New States career center.

Make the Road believes that social change is best achieved through grassroots community-based organizing that flows directly from and engages the community demanding the change. As a membership-based organization, we are committed to providing equal employment opportunities regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, criminal history, or Veteran status. We strongly encourage those from historically excluded groups to apply.