Clinic Staff Attorney/Fellow

Western State College of Law at Westcliff University

Clinic Staff Attorney/Fellow Hiring Announcement

Western State College of Law at Westcliff University (WSCL) is located in the city of Irvine,

California – close to miles of famous beaches, parks, recreation facilities, and outdoor activities

as well as the many museums, music venues, and diverse cultural and social experiences of

greater Los Angeles.

Founded in 1966, WSCL is the oldest law school in Orange County, California, and is a fully

ABA-approved for-profit, private law school. Noted for small classes and personal attention

from an accessible faculty focused on student success, WSCL is proud that our student body is

among the most diverse in the nation, with a majority of our students from minority

backgrounds. In our 50+ year history, we have nearly 12,000 alumni and have had over 150

judges elevated to the bench.

Our alumni are well-represented across public and private sector legal practice areas.

WSCL is committed to providing workplaces and learning environments free from

discrimination on the basis of any protected classification including, but not limited to race, sex,

gender, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin,

disability, medical condition, marital status, veteran status, genetic marker or on any other basis

protected by law.

About the Immigration and Deportation Defense Clinic

The Immigration and Deportation Defense Clinic (Clinic) at WSCL is a clinical education

program with a dual mission: to advocate for immigrant populations vulnerable to deportation

and to develop law students’ potential to be skilled, compassionate, and ethical advocates

through the experience of providing clients with zealous representation.

The Clinic recognizes the importance of training future lawyers not only in technical aspects of

law but also in the art of empathy, trauma-informed communication, and understanding. The

Clinic aims to instill in law students a sense of responsibility towards their clients and the unique

challenges they face through their immigration cases. The Clinic teaches from a place of

assuming that racial discrimination and economic inequality are deeply problematic issues

worthy of Clinic’s time and attention. Our clinic operates on the principle that everyone deserves

access to legal services and representation, regardless of their economic status. To this end, we

strive to collaborate with community organizations, pro bono networks, and legal aid providers

to expand our reach and help those most in need.

Clinic Staff Overview

The Clinic team is growing and includes a faculty director, adjunct faculty, law students enrolled

in the clinic, and an administrative assistant. The Clinic operates on an academic calendar.

Students enrolled in the clinic, under faculty supervision, will represent clients in a range of

immigration matters. The staff attorney/fellow position will complement the Clinic’s work by

supporting pro se litigants and community organizations, developing a training and technical

assistance program, and coordinating law student involvement in these efforts.

The Clinic is seeking applicants for a staff attorney/fellow position within its Legal

Empowerment Project, an initiative dedicated to supporting self-represented immigrants and

families in removal proceedings, particularly in Orange County. The staff attorney/fellow will be

housed within the law school’s clinical program and will lead a training and technical assistance

initiative for self-represented immigrants and the community organizations that serve them.

Clinic Staff Attorney/Fellow Position

The staff attorney/fellow will report to the Clinic Director. The position’s responsibilities

include, but are not limited to:

- Provide limited-scope representation to pro se litigants in removal proceedings,

- Provide technical assistance to layperson legal advocates at community-based

organizations without access to an attorney,

- Design, coordinate, and implement a community training program, with Orange County

stakeholders, for pro se litigants and layperson legal advocates on how to navigate

removal proceedings,

- Attend stakeholder meetings, and,

- Coordinate and supervise the law students assigned to this project.

Required Qualifications:

- Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school,

- Admission to practice law in California (or, at least one U.S. jurisdiction),

- 1-5 years of experience practicing immigration law (recent law graduates are welcome to

apply),

- Fluency in a second language (e.g., Spanish or Vietnamese); and

- Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, evolving environment.

The ideal candidate will also demonstrate:

-Ability and willingness to work at a law school campus, directly with the Clinic team,

including law students enrolled in the clinic;

-Experience with, demonstrated commitment to, and cultural competency for working

within a diverse client and student community; and,

-A sense of humor, positive attitude, and self-awareness.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being

performed. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities,

duties, and skills required of personnel so classified.

Location

Western State College of Law, 16715 Von Karman Blvd, #100, Irvine CA 92606.

Job Salary, Type and Benefits

- Salary range: $68,000 to $78,000, commensurate with experience

-Full-time, one-year term (renewable, contingent on continued grant funding and

satisfactory performance), exempt position

-Benefits package includes medical, dental, and vision. A retirement plan with elective and employer contributions

How to Apply

Applications will be considered on a rolling basis but should be submitted electronically no later

than August 30, 2025, to Sabrina Rivera, at [email protected]. Applications should include a

letter describing relevant experience, a resume, a writing sample, and three references.