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Job Description
SUMMARY:
Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP) seeks a full-time bilingual Staff Attorney to work in our Community Outreach Unit, based out of any of our current offices in Granger, Seattle, Tacoma or Wenatchee, WA. Applicants must be fluent in English and at least one other language, with Spanish preferred. The applicant must be able to start the position as soon as possible. A minimum two-year commitment to the position is expected.
As a staff attorney, you'll join NWIRP?s Community Outreach Unit and provide legal assistance through brief services to immigrant community members who have recently arrived in Washington State, many who are facing deportation proceedings. You will also offer direct representation, individual consultations, and community outreach and education to immigrant community members seeking immigration protections before U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and in immigration courts. Additionally, the staff attorney may be assigned to work on other immigration matters, including cases involving individuals in immigration detention.
ABOUT NORTHWEST IMMIGRANT RIGHTS PROJECT:
Founded in 1984, Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP) is a nationally-recognized legal services organization on the front lines of defending and advancing the rights of immigrants. With over 180 employees, NWIRP provides direct legal representation and assistance in immigration matters to thousands of people with low incomes who come from over 150 countries and speak over 60 different languages.
NWIRP challenges unjust policies through high-impact lawsuits and advocates for laws and policies that respect the rights of immigrants. NWIRP is also a trusted provider of immigration-related community education for immigrant communities and social service providers. NWIRP serves the community through four offices in Washington State (Granger, Seattle, Tacoma and Wenatchee), but the impact of our work is felt nationwide.
NWIRP?s Community Outreach Unit is an organization-wide unit that provides accessible resources, education, and training through outreach events geared towards community members, service providers, and community partners across Washington State. In addition to outreach, the Community Outreach Unit provides assistance through brief services, workshops, and legal clinics to immigrant community members who have recently arrived in Washington State and are facing deportation. NWIRP?s brief services include intakes and consultations, submitting applications for immigration protections before USCIS and immigration court, such as asylum, temporary protected status, employment authorization, change of venue, and change of address.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
All NWIRP staff attorneys are expected to :
- Provide direct representation to individuals in removal proceedings before the Immigration Court, on appeal to the Board of Immigration Appeals or before the federal courts, and before the Department of Homeland Security;
- Provide direct representation to persons submitting affirmative applications with USCIS and the Department of State;
- Conduct presentations, workshops, legal clinics, and intakes, by phone and in person;
- Conduct case analysis to determine eligibility for immigration protections/status under the immigration laws;
- Maintain a working knowledge of significant policies, laws, practices, and trends in immigration law, particularly as it impacts low-income immigrants and those impacted by the criminal justice system;
- Establish, organize, and maintain files up to date;
- Perform administrative tasks related to grant reporting such as timekeeping, submitting timesheets, tracking training, and other duties in a timely manner;
- Participate in NWIRP?s outreach, community education, and development efforts; and,
- Perform other tasks and responsibilities assigned by supervisory staff depending upon NWIRP?s needs.
Specific to this position :
- Provide legal intakes to community members referred to NWIRP through the Washington Migrant and Asylum-Seeker Services (WA MASS) Project Hub or who connect directly through NWIRP;
- Provide brief legal services (Pro se assistance);
- Provide referrals to other legal services organizations; and,
- Provide quarterly training on relevant immigration law topics to legal services providers that receive direct referrals from NWIRP to provide brief legal services;
- Create filing preparation checklists, and template filings to be referenced by other unit staff;
- Travel to other NWIRP offices, partner locations, and other offsite locations to provide consultations to community members.
SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS:
- Law degree;
- Admission to the bar of any state in the U.S. (We will accept candidates who are awaiting results from the July 2025 bar exam);
- Demonstrated commitment to immigrant rights and eagerness to support NWIRP?s mission, vision and values ;
- Excellent writing, communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills;
- Ability to provide trauma-informed and culturally-inclusive legal representation;
- Commitment to creating a welcoming, professional, and inclusive environment for staff and clients, and to working with a diverse community in a challenging environment;
- Fluency in English and at least one additional language, with Spanish preferred;
- Strong ability to work independently, as well as in a team environment;
- Proficiency in use of web-based software, Microsoft Office applications (including Word and Excel), and web peer-to-peer communication platforms; familiarity with G-suite tools (Google Docs, Google Sheets and Gmail);
- Prior immigration law and removal experience preferred;
- Prior experience working with survivors of domestic violence or sexual assault is preferred;
- Experience handling a high-volume caseload preferred;
- Sound judgment and decision-making skills;
- Strong organizational skills;
- Ability to take on a substantive caseload, and;
- The applicant must have a valid driver?s license as the position involves some travel.
Physical demands : While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand and walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; talk and hear; utilize a phone, computer, keyboard, pen, and paper. Occasional work on night and weekend hours. Travel may be required. Travel reimbursements apply.
Emotional demands : While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to discuss topics including, but not limited, to discrimination; child abuse, neglect, abandonment; domestic abuse; violence, and psychological trauma. Occasional work in a detention center environment.
The anticipated hours of work are Monday ? Friday, 9 am ? 5 pm, with a 30 ? 60 minute unpaid lunch, but occasional evening and weekend work hours may be required.
At the time of this posting, NWIRP staff is operating in a hybrid model, and some in-office work will be expected of this position (at least two full days per week).
BENEFITS AND COMPENSATION:
This is an exempt, salaried position, and the minimum annual salary for licensed candidates with no experience is $84,002.81. Salaries increase for staff attorneys with specific experience. For example, candidates with 10 years of relevant experience will earn $105,812.32 annually, and the current maximum salary, based on 40 years of experience, is $149,245.00 annually.
NWIRP is proud to be a unionized employer, and this full-time position is covered by NWIRP?s Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). NWIRP offers a generous benefits package, which currently includes:
- Fully paid health, vision and dental plans for employee-level coverage with employer-funded HRA and HSA options;
- FSA and Dependent Care accounts;
- Automatic, employer contribution of 3% to 403(b) retirement plan;
- Generous paid health-related leave (12 days per year);
- Generous paid vacation (16 days during your first year);
- 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 6 months of employment, plus the ability to extend with State-paid leave;
- 14 paid Holidays with the ability to float 5 holidays;
- Employer-paid disability, life, AD&D and long-term care insurance;
- 4 weeks of paid sabbatical after every five years of employment at NWIRP;
- Eligibility to earn compensatory time;
- Opportunities for paid professional development;
- New employees may be eligible for a relocation bonus, per the CBA; and,
- Subsidized transit pass is available for the Seattle and Tacoma offices.
- Free onsite parking for the Granger, Tacoma and Wenatchee offices.
Northwest Immigrant Rights Project is an equal opportunity employer committed to having a diverse staff, board, and volunteer base reflective of the communities we serve and that enhances our ability to create a vibrant environment where all members of the NWIRP community thrive.
NWIRP is committed to providing a work environment free from discrimination and harassment. NWIRP does not discriminate on the basis of class, race, color, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, political ideology, age, creed, religion, ancestry, national origin, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability. Excepting any undue hardship, NWIRP will provide reasonable accommodations upon request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process. Please contact HR@nwirp.org .
REPORTS TO:
Supervising Attorney
TO APPLY:
Please upload a single-file document through our Careers Page containing your cover letter, resume, and a list of three professional references.
In your cover letter, please address :
- How your personal or professional experiences qualify you for this role, and;
- What challenges do you recognize as barriers to providing legal advocacy to immigrant community members?
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
Practice Areas & Specialty
Immigration, Labor & Employment
Designation
Staff Attorney
Key Skills Required
Microsoft OfficeAccountsAdvocacyAnalysisAuthorizationBilingualCollective BargainingCommitmentCommunicationCommunity EducationCommunity OutreachCriminal JusticeDevelopmentFilingFluencyGoogle DocsHybrid ModelImmigrationImmigration LawInclusiveInsuranceLong-Term Care InsuranceOffice WorkOrganizational SkillsOrientationPeer-To-PeerProfessional DevelopmentReportingSecuritySelection ProcessService ProvidersSound JudgmentTemplateTimeKeepingTrainingWork IndependentlyWriting
Job Overview
Job Function: Legal Services / Legal
Job Type: Full Time
Workplace Type: Not Specified
Experience Level: Not Specified
Salary: $84,002 - $89,002 / Annual Salary
Experience: 10 - 0 yrs
Contact Information
Company Name: Northwest Immigrant Rights Project
Recruiting People: HR Department
Website: N/A
Location
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