Staff Attorney - Immigration Interview Team (Southeast Region)

About the role

A crucial part of the immigration application process is often an interview with a USCIS officer. These interviews offer our clients a chance to tell their story and explain why their application should be approved. The staff attorney will prepare our clients for the interview process and help them tell their story in the most persuasive way possible and to also be ready for difficult questions. The staff attorney will also attend the interview with the client and be prepared to advocate for and defend our clients. While the ability to speak Spanish will be helpful, this position will work with a translator for client preparation and interviews.

No immigration experience is necessary, as we will be training this team on the relevant case types and strategies for preparing and attending USCIS interviews. The ideal candidate will be a creative advocate who likes to work with clients and be on their feet and is motivated to help our clients obtain documents and stay united with their families. The staff attorney will be part of a team that will help cover interviews within a region that has multiple USCIS offices, and although we are making an effort to hire in locations where the majority of interviews will occur, there will be regular travel. There is an opportunity for career growth and additional responsibilities with strong performance.

What you'll do

• Review client’s previously submitted immigration application to understand key facts and potential roadblocks. 
• Meet with clients before their USCIS interview to prepare them for the process and to understand how to best tell their story
• Attend interviews with clients to help defend and advocate for clients
• Keep clear notes of interview and document these notes in case file
• Communicate with additional teams if supplements or additional work is necessary after the interview.
• Be a member of a team that covers interviews in a region with multiple USCIS offices and ability to travel regularly.

Qualifications

• The candidate should have a J.D. degree from an ABA-approved law school and be an active member in good standing of a state bar 
• Strong passionate advocate; background in mock trial, moot court, depositions, and/or litigation will be helpful
• Ability to work with clients to talk through difficult experiences and keep client focused on key facts
• Ability to follow processes and work efficiently
• Ability to follow detailed directions 
• Experience using a case management software system preferred 
• Interest in immigration law preferred 
• Bilingual in English and Spanish helpful, but not required as translators will be provided
• Support mission of helping people currently living in America obtain their documents and stay together with their family 
• Computer skills (Typing - MS Word and MS Excel, Document Management - 
• DropBox, Email - MS Outlook)