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Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California

Removal Defense Attorney (3-Month Temporary Position)

Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States, 90079

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Removal Defense Attorney (3-Month Temporary Position) Join to apply for the

Removal Defense Attorney (3-Month Temporary Position)

role at

Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California .

We are looking for a

Removal Defense Attorney (3 month Temp Position)

to join our team in

Los Angeles .

Who We Are Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California (AJSOCAL) is the nation’s largest legal and civil rights organization that advocates for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs). Founded in 1983, AJSOCAL supports over 15,000 individuals and organizations annually. AJSOCAL offers free legal help, engages in impact litigation, and advocates for policy change. Our services are open to individuals of all races and ethnicities, without restriction. AJSOCAL strives to be a champion for the most vulnerable members of the AAPI communities, while advancing civil rights and social justice for everyone.

Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California offices are located in downtown Los Angeles and Orange County, with presence in Sacramento, ensuring accessibility for all. With our Advancing Justice affiliates in Atlanta, Chicago, and Washington, D.C., we enrich, enhance, and serve our communities all across the country.

We provide supportive services for individuals wanting to start the immigration process through Family-Based Immigration, Asylum, Temporary Protected Status, the Violence Against Women Act, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, T-Visa, and U-Visa. We also offer free citizenship workshops and resources to help you on your naturalization journey. Beyond immigration, we also lead community-centered initiatives such as the Asian Language Legal Intake Project (ALLIP), the Survivor and Family Empowerment (SAFE) Project, the Housing Preservation (HP) Program, and our Health Access Project (HAP). In addition, our Demographic Research Project (DRP) and Community Engagement (CE) teams drive data-informed strategies and grassroots partnerships that deepen our impact across Southern California. Our Impact Litigation Team looks to create systemic change for our communities, while our Policy Team continues to shape laws and local practices that impact millions of Asian American and immigrant families across California.

What We Bring

The special opportunity to join a mission driven team

Flexible, hybrid work schedules

Rich medical, dental and vision benefits

Retirement options through 403B and match

Who You Are You share our mission of advocacy for AAPIs. You enjoy the thrill of serving the public interest while championing civil rights and social justice. You take pride in your work enriching lives and communities in Los Angeles and across the country. You are looking for your next role in an organization that supports your career as much as you support the organization and its goals. You are looking for a job where you make a difference, and your impact is directly proportional to your contribution. You are a game changer. You are a leader. You are an advocate.

What You Bring

J.D. and active California State Bar License or licensure from another U.S. state

Minimum 1 year of removal defense experience

At least one year of experience working with vulnerable populations, survivors of abuse, human trafficking, or other trauma, and/or working with immigrant and refugee children

Ability to be flexible and adapt to frequently changing circumstances, policies, and conditions affecting this dynamic work

Passion for social justice for immigrants required

Access to reliable means of transportation and driver’s license required

About The Role Temporary Position (Non-CBU): This role is not covered under the CBA and is limited to a maximum duration of three months. Under the direction of the Program Director, this position will be responsible for providing high quality, client-centered representation to individuals facing removal proceedings through zealous direct representation. This position determines eligibility for immigration relief and advises clients, conducts legal research and writing, drafts motions and briefs, prepares court forms, prepares immigration applications, and performs other related legal duties. This position will work directly on complex removal defense cases and will be aiding a high-volume immigration services nonprofit that addresses a sizeable existing removal defense caseload.

This position will be expected to represent clients in removal proceedings, bond hearings, detention, appeals, writs of habeas corpus, as well as possible ancillary affirmative relief for survivors (VAWA, U & T Visas), Asylum (Affirmative & Defensive), Adjustment of Status, Family Based Petitions, TPS and DACA. This position may also represent clients before USCIS, ICE ISAP (Intensive Supervision Program) check-ins, and the Executive Office for Immigration Review. When necessary, this position will help staff evening and weekend removal defense workshops.

Your Day-to-day Responsibilities

Provide high quality direct representation for diverse clients with complex immigration cases before EOIR and USCIS

Represent clients in ICE custody, including travelling to detention centers and other custodial settings

Represent clients in custody redetermination hearings, master calendar hearings, individual merits hearings and in ancillary state court proceedings where applicable

Represent clients at asylum interviews, credible fear interviews, ICE check-ins and other immigration related appointments

Prepare briefs, motions, supporting evidence, immigration applications and other documents on behalf of clients

Work with country conditions experts, expert witnesses, psychologists, and medical professionals to develop supporting evidence for immigration relief applications

Provide technical assistance, legal review, and/or coordination support of Removal Defense workshops and clinics

Travel to offsite clinics, immigration courts, detention centers, and USCIS field offices to represent clients in immigration matters

Administrative and Supportive Tasks for Removal Defense Practice

Engage with Immigration Project in a team setting to discuss cases, case review, and strategy sessions

Review casefiles and Legal Server records for existing cases to upkeep case status, seek best evidences, and proactively strategize for hearings based on coming deadlines

Undertake administrative and logistical duties related to removal defense service assistance, including but not limited to contact courts, requesting court records and recordings, utilizing ECAS to file motions, evidence, and review records

Work with intake staff to review and approve appointments, provide immigration legal consultations, answer immigration related questions and review documents

Other duties as assigned

At AJSOCAL, we value a diverse, inclusive workforce and we provide equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees. All qualified applicants for employment will be considered without regard to an individual’s race, color, sex, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition, family care status, marital status, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local laws. AJSOCAL strictly prohibits and does not tolerate discrimination against employees, applicants, or other covered persons, including interns.

All positions are subject to funding, and non-collective bargaining unit positions are also at will.

Seniority level

Entry level

Employment type

Other

Job function

Legal

Industries

Civic and Social Organizations

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