Catholic Migration Services (“CMS”), an affiliated agency of Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens (“CCBQ”), provides high quality free legal services, community education, and advocacy for low-income immigrants residing in Brooklyn and Queens, regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, national origin, or immigration status. CMS assists individuals with their immigration, housing, and employment legal needs. CMS is committed to “welcoming the stranger in our midst” by serving and working alongside underserved immigrant communities to advance equality and social justice in an ever-changing landscape.

The Attorney will work out of our downtown Brooklyn and Sunnyside, Queens offices with our Pro Se Plus Project (PSPP), a collaborative of several non-profit legal service providers that was developed to respond to the needs of newly arrived migrants from the southern border. PSPP provides community legal orientations, trainings for advocates, legal screenings, and pro se assistance with various immigration applications, both on a rolling basis and through scalable clinics and workshops. The PSPP attorney will prioritize working with people referred by CCBQ and will be required to travel to locations in Brooklyn and Queens where CCBQ provides services to immigrants. This is a unique opportunity for someone passionate about immigrant rights, energized to empower immigrant communities, and eager to participate in the development of an innovative project.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Conduct screenings, intake, and information collection regarding eligibility for immigration benefits, including at CCBQ locations in Brooklyn and Queens and provide legal advice;

Provide pro se legal assistance, including preparation of a variety of immigration applications and motions (changes of venue, motions to rescind, appeals, applications for asylum, etc.) as well as preparation for hearings and interviews, ICE check-ins, evidence packets, declarations, etc.;
Provide legal advice on screenings conducted by PSPP paralegals and review and sign off on applications prepared by PSPP paralegals;
Train, onboard, and supervise PSPP volunteers to conduct screenings and provide pro se application assistance; review filings and services provided by these volunteers;
Participate in PSPP meetings with CCBQ and other members of the collaborative;
Participate in developing and implementing the PSPP initiative in collaboration with our partners, African Communities Together, Central American Legal Assistance, UnLocal, New York Legal Assistance Group, MASA, and Venezuelans and Immigrants Aid, Inc.;
Plan, develop, and conduct community legal orientations, volunteer trainings, and clinics;

Participate in on-site and virtual PSPP events, which will sometimes be held on evenings and weekends, such as legal clinics, educational events, or workshops; and
Maintain a small caseload, including:
- representation of clients in removal proceedings before the Executive Office for Immigration Review seeking all types of relief, including but not limited to: Asylum, Cancellation of Removal, 212(c), and Special Immigrant Juvenile Status;
- representation of clients on affirmative applications before the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, and in guardianship and custody hearings in New York State Family Court;
- representation of clients before federal appellate bodies and district courts with supervisor approval;
Maintain client files and regularly update case information in CMS’ case management database;
Provide required information for internal and external reporting;
Assume other duties as assigned, particularly in response to changing legal needs.

Catholic Migration Services

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STAFF ATTORNEY, PRO SE PLUS PROJECT