Make a difference! Become a Defender!

The Defender Association of Philadelphia is seeking an experienced, organized and dedicated immigration attorney to join our Community Defense Unit. This unit provides direct legal services in immigration law matters through the representation of clients in immigration court hearings, appeals before the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) and Federal Court, and filings with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the U.S. Department of State. The Community Defense Unit also provides immigration analysis and advice to our attorneys for cases involving noncitizen criminal defendants. In addition, the Community Defense Unit serves as an immigration resource for all members of our staff. The Immigration Attorney must have a demonstrated commitment to defending and promoting the rights of immigrants as well as strong research, writing, and courtroom advocacy skills.

What You’ll Do

Represent clients in removal proceedings before EOIR Immigration Courts, Board of Immigration Appeals, and Federal Court
Represent clients at interviews before USCIS, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
Conduct research and prepare legal memos and briefs for immigration clients, including affirmative filings with USCIS, CPT, ICE and U.S. Department of State
Conduct immigration interviews and consultations, including interviews of clients in custody
Collect and Maintain data related to direct representation of clients in immigration law matters

Funding Contingent Responsibilities:

Consult directly with Defender Association trial attorneys and staff representing immigration clients in criminal court
Conduct in-house trainings on immigration issues for Defender Association staff
Serve as an office resource for immigration-related questions

What You’ll Need

Juris Doctorate Degree required; Admission to PA Bar required.
Admission to practice in the Federal Courts required.
At least three (3) years of experience representing individuals in removal proceedings and before USCIS, preferred.
Fluency in Spanish, preferred.
Knowledge and familiarity with statutes, procedures, caselaw, and best practices related to immigration representation, required.
Excellent research, writing, and courtroom advocacy skills.
Strong communication and interpersonal skills, and a capacity and desire to work collaboratively within interdisciplinary teams
Strong organizational skills to manage a high-volume, fast-paced legal practice environment
Travel to local, state, and federal courtrooms and prisons, as needed

Salary

Entry-Level (Recent Graduate): $73,000 per year.
Experience Credit: We value your background. The base rate increases by $1,500 for each year of relevant post-bar experience (including legal aid, judicial clerkships, and immigration law).

Benefits & Perks

Generous and rich benefits plan including choice of affordable medical plans, and employer paid: dental, vision, life insurance, long term disability insurance and professional liability insurance
Substantial paid time off- close to 35 days off plus all federal holidays
Retirement Savings Employer Match
Paid eight weeks of parental leave
Free Septa Anywhere Key Card
Public Loan Forgiveness Eligible Employer
Impactful mission driven work
Wellness Benefits
Ongoing Training and Development of You

This position as an Immigration Attorney is funded by a sub-award contract with Nationalities Services Center and under its terms, the position’s scope of work is exclusively related to those duties specified in major responsibilities. The funding, and thus this position ends on June 30, 2027, unless the Defenders gets continued funding. While we hope that the funding continues beyond that date, we cannot guarantee employment past that date. If funding becomes available from other sources, the Defender further hopes to expand the responsibilities of the immigration attorney to include those specified in the funding contingent responsibility section to ensure a more complete and integrated unit.

Application:

Please submit an online application with detailed cover letter and writing sample (maximum 20 pages)

Who is the Defender Association?

The Defender Association of Philadelphia is more than just a law firm. We’re the community’s lawyers. The Defender team – more than 500 attorneys, social workers, investigators, administrators, and other staff – make sure that everyone, regardless of income, has access to high-quality defense when facing criminal charges. Our mission-driven, client-centered model focuses on outcomes that support a system that is fundamentally fair and creates safer, stronger communities. Our unique model and approach give our staff with the skills and support they need to get the best outcomes for our clients. Come join our team! For more information, go Defender’s website and follow us @PhillyDefenders (Twitter, IG, Tiktok) and on LinkedIn.

The Defender Association provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, The Defender Association complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

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Immigration Attorney