(Fresno or Sacramento)
About Community Justice Alliance:
Community Justice Alliance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit legal services organization that views immigrant rights work as a central part of the racial justice movement. We are a team of pro bono attorneys, healers, and mentors looking to link legal services to social services in California’s Central Valley. Our offices are located in Sacramento and Fresno, and we encourage a mindful work-life integration that permits hybrid or remote work where feasible. We are a supportive, growth-mindset team focused on creating the best quality wraparound services for our clients.
Our attorneys provide high-quality, full-scope legal services, including, but not limited to: state court representation to obtain Special Immigrant Juvenile Status predicate orders for youth clients, advocacy with ICE relating to custody determinations, and relief before USCIS and/or EOIR. As an interdisciplinary team, we invest in developing innovative systems of support with an emphasis on youth mentorship and power-building with our clients.
We care deeply in cultivating a new kind of representation that centers on the client’s vision of success, wellness, and belonging.
Position Summary:
CJA seeks a Staff Attorney to support an innovative program connecting unaccompanied undocumented minors with in-house wraparound legal and social services. The ideal candidate has at least three to five years of immigration law experience, an ability to adapt and remain innovative, strong organizational skills, and an ability to work across broad and diverse thought teams. This attorney will serve a caseload of approximately 30-35 unaccompanied youth released from Office of Refugee Resettlement shelters before state courts, Executive Office of Immigration Review (EOIR/ “Immigration Court”), USCIS, ICE, and occasionally other immigration agencies.
Essential Functions:
- Provide direct legal representation to clients in removal proceedings before immigration agencies and the immigration court.
- Participate in weekly legal team meetings and regular trainings.
- Participate in local stakeholder meetings to strategize regional support of our clients.
- Provide data and contribute to reports, ensuring quality control and data through regular case audits.
Qualifications and Requirements:
- Advanced fluency in Spanish language strongly preferred
- J.D., post-bar and preferably admitted to CA state bar
- At least 3-5 years of experience practicing immigration law, preferably including representation of clients in humanitarian immigration claims such as asylum, Special
- Immigrant Juvenile Status, U visas, and T visas experience working with children, preferably immigrant and refugee children, and/or working with survivors of abuse, human trafficking, or other trauma.
- Demonstrated experience managing a team, encouraging a growth mindset and with the ability to work with a range of personalities.
- Strong record of cultural sensitivity and cross-cultural communication skills.
- Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively and persuasively both orally and in writing.
- Willing and able to travel as needed for client meetings and court appearances.
Salary will be based on experience (see posted range).
Benefits:
- Generous PTO and flexible work hours
- Medical, dental, and vision plans
- 401(k) retirement account with employer match
- Eligible for public service loan forgiveness
This position may be eligible for a hybrid schedule, but the ideal candidate will meet with supervisor in person, attend weekly case rounds, and attend immigration appointments and court appearances as needed.
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To apply, send a cover letter and résumé to admin at cjaca dot org. Interviews will be scheduled and held on a rolling basis. We look forward to meeting you!
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $75,000.00 - $85,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Flexible schedule
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Schedule:
License/Certification:
Work Location: Hybrid (live within 25 miles of our Sacramento or Fresno offices)
