CAIR-CA
Senior Immigrants’ Rights Attorney – Removal Defense & Detained Cases
Title: Senior Immigrants' Rights Attorney
Location: CAIR Santa Clara Office – hybrid schedule (three days in-person, two days remote)
Schedule Type: Full-time (Exempt). Occasional evenings and weekends required
Reporting Relationships: Reports to the Immigrants' Rights Managing Attorney
Work Authorization: Must be authorized to work in the United States. Ability to travel throughout the Bay Area is required (vehicle and driver's license necessary)
Duties & Responsibilities
- Carry a significant caseload with emphasis on detained and non-detained removal defense cases and provide high-quality, client-centered representation to individuals facing removal proceedings
- Represent clients before EOIR, BIA, USCIS, ICE, and CBP in asylum, withholding, CAT, cancellation, bond, and other immigration matters
- Conduct detailed client intakes, legal screenings, and case assessments
- Provide individualized client counseling on immigration options and risks
- Prepare and file applications, motions, and appeals for detained and non-detained cases
- Prepare and litigate bond motions to secure release for detained clients
- Conduct routine visits to detention centers, ensuring access to clients and monitoring conditions affecting representation
Impact & Strategic Litigation
- Take initiative in spotting and advancing impact or strategic litigation opportunities related to removal defense and detention cases, coordinating with colleagues at CAIR-SFBA and across CAIR-CA to align with broader organizational goals
- Support the development of creative legal arguments that advance immigrants' rights and address systemic challenges
Community Engagement
- Participate in Know Your Rights presentations, pro se support, and immigration legal clinics, with emphasis on detention-related issues
- Collaborate with local coalitions, visitation programs, and immigrant justice networks to expand support for detained immigrants
Legal Research & Writing
- Conduct case-specific research on statutes, regulations, and case law
- Draft motions, appeals, briefs, and other filings with strong attention to detail and client-centered advocacy
- Provide technical expertise to colleagues on detained removal defense when requested
Grant Compliance & Support
- Ensure timely and accurate case documentation for grant deliverables
- Contribute case narratives and data for grant reporting and fundraising purposes
General Organizational Support
- Provide limited supervision and mentorship to legal staff, such as other attorneys, caseworkers, law clerks, or interns, as assigned
- Partner with Communications staff to highlight the impact of detained removal defense
- Support organizational events and fundraising initiatives as needed
Required Qualifications
- J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school
- Licensed to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction; California strongly preferred
- Minimum three years of immigration law experience with at least two years focused on removal defense, including detained cases and bond hearings
- Demonstrated success handling detained dockets and related relief
- Strong client counseling, case preparation, and oral advocacy skills before EOIR and USCIS
- Excellent organizational skills and ability to independently manage a complex caseload
- Demonstrated commitment to defending low-income immigrants and other vulnerable populations
- Flexibility to travel to detention centers, courts, and community sites, including occasional early mornings or evenings
- Access to a reliable vehicle and ability to travel to detention centers and courts across the Bay Area
- Deep commitment to CAIR-SFBA's mission of defending civil rights and empowering immigrant communities
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience providing mentorship, training, or supervision to legal staff (attorneys, caseworkers, or interns)
- Experience with federal appeals or habeas petitions
- Experience working in nonprofit, community-based, or faith-based organizations
- Conversational proficiency in Arabic, Farsi, Dari, Pashto, or Urdu
Compensation
- Compensation in the range of $93,000-112,000 annually, commensurate with experience
- Fully paid Kaiser Health Insurance and Blue Cross PPO Dental Plan for employee and dependents
- 3% retirement matching contribution
- 12 paid holidays, 10 sick days, and 12 vacation days
To Apply
Please submit (1) a cover letter discussing your interest and relevant experience, especially with detained removal defense; (2) your resume; (3) a short legal writing sample; and (4) the names and contact information of three references.
CAIR-CA is an equal-opportunity employer and adheres to all federal, state, and local laws prohibiting employment discrimination.
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