Immigration Staff Attorney, Affirmative Unit

About the Organization 

Canal Alliance exists to break the generational cycle of poverty for Latino immigrants and their families by lifting barriers to their success. 

Canal Alliance is a nonprofit champion of immigrants who are challenged by a lack of resources and an unfamiliar environment. Every day, we educate, empower, support, and partner with motivated immigrants to best meet all their unique needs—from putting food on the table, to becoming American citizens, to learning English, to graduating from college. 

Canal Alliance strives for a trauma-informed collaborative and inclusive culture. We invest in high quality services, professional development, and work-life balance. 

Position Summary

The Affirmative Unit Staff Attorney will represent ILS clients in a variety of humanitarian immigration matters, focusing on affirmative cases. They will maintain a caseload representing clients before the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), and the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR).

The Affirmative Unit Staff Attorney will work in a collaborative and trauma-informed environment delivering high quality service. This is a full-time, exempt position with a hybrid work model requiring three days a week in the office. Must be available to attend hearings and interviews in San Francisco as needed. The Staff Attorney reports to the Supervising Attorney of the Affirmative Unit. 

Responsibilities

• Conduct client intakes and consultations, provide eligibility assessment, develop case strategy, and represent individuals before USCIS in a variety of humanitarian applications 
• Cover hearings before EOIR as needed 
• Assure all cases are filed timely in accordance with departmental policies and grant deliverable timelines 
• Comply with ILS policies, procedures, and best practices, including entering data into our case management software (LawLogix), collecting fees, executing contracts with clients, and filing applications in a timely manner 
• Compile client data for reporting requirements 
• Participate in regular meetings, including one-on-one check-in meetings with supervisor, Affirmative Unit meetings, ILS department meetings, all staff meetings, and quarterly allstaff retreats 
• Attend immigration legal trainings and behavioral health trainings as needed 
• Participate in other team and agency meetings and projects 
• Assist Supervising Attorney in improving effective and efficient inter- and intra-agency referral systems

 Qualifications 

• J.D. and a member in good standing of any state bar 
• Bilingual in English and Spanish, with oral and written fluency - required 
• Prior experience in immigration law 
• Experience working with LawLogix or other legal case management software preferred 
• Able to sit for extended periods, with sufficient mobility to work in standard office/courtroom settings 
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and attention to detail 
• Strong legal research and analytical skills 
• Able to meet deadlines in a high-volume, fast-paced environment while consistently maintaining quality standards 
• Able to excel working both independently and collaboratively in remote and in-person settings 
• Commitment to serving immigrants and sensitivity to the needs of low-income, vulnerable clients 
• Canal Alliance requires all staff be COVID vaccinated except for those who have medical or religious beliefs exemptions 

Compensation This is a full-time, exempt position with benefits. We offer a competitive salary range from $80k-$85k with a benefits package that includes: 

• 3 weeks paid vacation per year 
• 12 days of sick leave per year 
• Paid Birthday each year 
• 13 paid holidays per year 
• 100% paid employee medical & dental insurance, life insurance, LTD, and EAP 
• 403(b)-retirement plan with employer match of up to 4% after 3 months of employment 
• Voluntary benefits include FSA, vision, life, and pet insurance, as well as coverage for dependents 
• Telehealth for physical and mental health

 We at Canal Alliance have a 4 Day Work Week, with typical hours Monday–Thursday, 9am-5pm. As a salaried position, our goal is for you to work as close to 8 hours per day as possible. However, certain seasons or work obligations may require days to be longer than 8 hours at times. 

Location 

This position is hybrid, requiring a minimum of 3 days onsite at our HQ at 711 Grand Ave., San Rafael, CA. Attendance at quarterly in-person staff retreats, and any other in-person trainings and meetings as needed, as well as occasional night and weekend events. 

Canal Alliance Equity and Inclusion Statement 

Canal Alliance actively promotes and recognizes principles of fairness, equity, and social justice in relation to, and across, intersections of race, age, color, national origin, ethnicity, citizenship, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, religion, disability, ancestry and all other identities represented among our diverse employees. 

Application Process 

Please email your resume and cover letter to [email protected] and answer the following questions in your cover letter or body of email: 1. Why do you want to work at Canal Alliance? 2. Please describe your immigration law experience. 3. How did you gain your Spanish fluency? Only electronic applications will be accepted.

(Keep it green!) Please indicate “Staff Attorney – YOUR NAME” in the subject line of your email. 

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