Firm Mission Statement
Our mission is to change as many lives as possible by offering immigration solutions even in the most difficult cases. We look at all possible options to keep our clients in the United States with their families where they belong. We stand ready to fight even when success seems unsure because we understand how much better life can be with the dignity and peace of mind that comes with having documents.
Position Purpose
The Associate Attorney will be responsible for working on various types of immigration applications and will help supervise and serve as a legal resource to our Intake Team and other teams within the firm. The ideal candidate will have experience working with non-legal staff. Experience in family and humanitarian immigration law is a plus, but training will be provided; more important is having a passion to help as many immigrants without documentation legalize their status as possible. They will be legal professionals who advise and represent clients in relation to their legal rights in immigration services. Although we practice only federal immigration law, this position would be responsible for managing and completing any legal services involving North Carolina law that might arise.
Essential Job Functions & Responsibilities
- Creatively identify what types of immigration relief for which clients might be eligible
- Strategize on how to advocate for clients and resolve challenging immigration questions
- Prepare clients for, and attend, interviews with USCIS
- Provide leadership, support, and training to the paralegal team and other non-lawyer staff
- Provide training on, monitor, and enforce ethical obligations for non-lawyer team members
- Answer legal questions from legal support teams
- Review and edit USCIS applications and supporting materials
- Stay informed about legislative, regulatory, administrative, and case law changes
- Provide strategic insight on case processing and establish and look for ways to improve legal processes
Essential Skills, Knowledge & Abilities
- 5+ years of experience as an attorney
- Experience working with, training, and supervising non-lawyer staff
- A plus would be previous experience in an immigration law firm handling humanitarian and family-based visas applications (e.g. VAWA, T-Visa, U-Visa, Asylum, Medical DA, I-601, DS-260, DS-160, I-130, N-400)
- A plus if Bilingual in English and Spanish
- Advocacy-focused approach to representation of clients
- Continued improvement mindset, with an innovative approach to analyzing and improving operations and processes
- Excitement for change and growth
- Leadership skills and strong work ethic
Minimum Qualifications
- The candidate should have a J.D. degree from an ABA-approved law school and be an active member in good standing of the North Carolina state bar