The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF), founded in 1974, is a New York-based national organization that protects and promotes the civil rights of Asian Americans. By combining litigation, advocacy, education, and organizing, AALDEF works with Asian American communities across the country to secure human rights for all.

AALDEF's Immigrant Rights Program supports underserved and marginalized Asian immigrant communities through a movement-lawyering model that centers the knowledge, priorities, and leadership of directly affected people and community-based organizations. Through its Southeast Asian Legal Defense Network, AALDEF partners with community organizations and legal advocates nationwide to defend Southeast Asian community members facing detention and deportation, including longtime refugees with final removal orders based on past convictions.

The Senior Staff Attorney will work across the Immigrant Rights Program, with a particular focus on the Network. The attorney will supervise removal-defense and related immigration matters, provide technical assistance and mentorship to Network attorneys, and represent clients in complex cases. As Program needs arise, the attorney may also support work with other Asian immigrant communities.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Supervise complex removal-defense matters, particularly those involving final removal orders or criminal convictions, and develop case strategies by reviewing records, assessing available relief, preparing motions to reopen, relief applications, waivers, appeals, and related filings, and coordinating with post-conviction counsel as appropriate;
Represent clients from Southeast Asian and other Asian immigrant communities in immigration court, before the Board of Immigration Appeals and federal courts, including in habeas proceedings involving immigration detention or redetention, and in matters before USCIS and ICE;
Mentor attorneys representing Southeast Asian clients through the Network and support Network partners more broadly through case screening and development, technical legal assistance, co-counsel support, and training on removal defense and federal habeas practice;
Strengthen the Network’s infrastructure by developing screening and referral protocols, case-tracking tools, model filings, practice advisories, research banks, and plain-language self-help resources;
Identify systemic issues through casework and community partnerships and contribute to impact litigation, policy advocacy, and community-led campaigns; and
Conduct legal clinics and know-your-rights trainings for community organizations and directly affected people.

QUALIFICATIONS

Commitment to movement lawyering, social justice, and partnership with directly affected people and community-based organizations;
At least seven years of immigration-law practice, including substantial removal-defense experience, preferably involving clients with criminal convictions or final removal orders;
Strong legal research, writing, factual investigation, and litigation skills, including the ability to analyze complex criminal-immigration and post-order issues;
Experience supervising or mentoring attorneys and providing technical legal assistance and training to community organizations and legal partners;
Sound judgment, clear communication skills, and the ability to manage multiple time-sensitive matters collaboratively;
J.D. and membership in good standing in the bar of New York or another U.S. jurisdiction, with willingness to seek admission in New York;
Willingness to work occasional evenings and weekends as needed; and
Experience working with Southeast Asian refugee communities or proficiency in a language spoken within those communities is a plus.

This is a hybrid position that includes a mix of in-person and remote work.

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Senior Staff Attorney - Immigrant Rights Program