STAFF ATTORNEY
Job Description
RESPONSIBILITIES
Justice for Our Neighbors El Paso (“JFON El Paso”) seeks a committed, self-motivated immigration law attorney to work in our site in El Paso, which seeks to serve the West Texas and Southern New Mexico community.
Reporting to the Executive Director (ED), the Staff Attorney is responsible for provision of immigration legal services that JFON El Paso offers the Borderland community. The Staff Attorney is a regular, full time, exempt employee for JFON El Paso.
Position will be based in El Paso, TX, with expectation to travel to various sites, including detention centers and possible clinic sites in West Texas and Southern New Mexico.
DUTIES
- Represent clients in a wide range of immigration matters, including cases involving asylum, citizenship, deportation defense, family petitions, refugee adjustment of status, special immigrant juvenile status, VAWA, and DACA;
- Coordinate and supervise immigration legal clinics held throughout West Texas and Southern New Mexico;
- Provide training and guidance to volunteers on clinic management and educational presentations;
- Conduct educational presentations about immigration laws and policies to the general public and immigrant community;
- Collaborate with other advocates, meet with representatives of other agencies, and engage in similar activities; and
- Manage active caseload and maintain case management system with support and guidance from national staff and network (of Immigration Law and Justice Network, formerly National Justice for Our Neighbors).
QUALIFICATIONS
- Member in good standing of any State Bar;
- Strong commitment to serving immigrant communities and defending rights of non-citizens;
- Willingness to travel and work some weekend hours;
- Able to work with people of varying cultural and linguistic backgrounds;
- Strong administrative and computer skills;
- Willingness to work with and supervise volunteers; and
- Fluency in Spanish required.
WORKING CONDITIONS
This job primarily involves office, non-manual administrative work, including the following functional tasks:
- Sitting at desk and/or working at computer up to 8 hours per day and occasional standing;
- Working in a fast-paced environment subject to numerous schedule and priority changes and short notice activity;
- Being available by phone and email for clients and Executive Director;
- Several hours per day may occasionally be spent operating a motor vehicle traveling to and from off-site meetings; and
- Appearance at all times must be professional and promote a positive image of JFON El Paso.
ADDITIONAL DUTIES
This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed. The Staff Attorney will be expected to perform other duties as requested by the Executive Director, such as attending coalition meetings and summarizing work in a written format for reporting.
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
- Salary is 60k-70k per year, commensurate with experience
- Relocation reimbursement is available for candidates outside of the El Paso/ Las Cruces area
- Health Insurance $5,000 per year towards premium
- Pre-tax Simple IRA retirement plan with employer matching funds
- Employee Assistance Program, including free counseling sessions and personal legal consultations
- Mileage reimbursement for travel
- Paid time off starts at 10 vacation days in the first year
- 10 designated holidays and 3 additional floating holidays per year
- 12 paid sick days per year
MENTORING AND LEGAL SUPPORT
- Consulting Attorney within ILJ Network
- Connection to attorneys at 19 other sites within the ILJ Network for case consultation
- Malpractice insurance coverage
- Memberships to AILA, Practicing Law Institute, CLINIC, and ASISTA, which includes research database subscriptions
NON-DISCRIMINATION STATEMENT
JFON El Paso does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, citizenship status, national origin, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender (including gender identity and gender expression), age, religion, creed, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.
JFON El Paso provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with physical or mental disabilities, unless the accommodation(s) would impose an undue hardship for the organization or pose a direct threat of harm to the health or safety of the applicant, employee, or others.
JFON El Paso participates in E-Verify.
TO APPLY
To apply, please send a cover letter, resume, and a list of three references to [email protected] Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Job Description
Justice for Our Neighbors El Paso (JFON) is a faith-based ministry providing pro bono, high-quality immigration legal services and advocating for immigrants’ rights in West Texas and Southern New Mexico. Immigration Law and Justice Network (ILJ Network f/k/a National JFON) serves as a resource to and backbone of the JFON network to ensure quality programming, promote sustainability, manage growth, and facilitate communication for the JFON sites throughout the United States.
Responsibilities of the Position
The Executive Director is responsible for advancing the mission of Justice for Our Neighbors El Paso. The director serves as the primary leader, internal manager, and external champion of JFON El Paso and is accountable to the JFON El Paso Board of Directors.
Strategic Plan
- Ensure the organization’s strategic plan is implemented and goals are measured;
- Work with the Board of Directors to refine the strategic direction of the organization and to develop specific action plans to achieve agreed-upon objectives; and
- Identify new opportunities to more effectively carry out the mission.
Board
- Communicate regularly with Board of Directors about organizational opportunities, threats, and updates; and
- Plan board meetings and collaborate with board chair to develop agenda and materials.
Fundraising and Financial Health
- Oversee the fundraising efforts of the organization to ensure that adequate resources are developed to carry out the organization’s goals;
- Ensure that all funds are used in a manner that upholds the highest level of stewardship and integrity;
- Provide financial updates to the board, including notification of any budgetary concerns; and
- Monitor budget and recommend modifications to board that ensure fiscal responsibility and enhance missional opportunities.
Supervise Staff and Oversee Consultants
- Provide ongoing, regular, consistent feedback and supervision of any staff members, especially the Staff Attorney, to ensure their work is carried out effectively;
- Manage any volunteers appropriately; and
- Oversee the work of any consultant contracted with JFON El Paso.
Relationship with ILJ Network
- Develop and sustaining positive, supportive relationships with the ILJ Network;
- Ensure that JFON El Paso is in compliance with the Memorandum of Understanding to ensure high-quality, sustainable work that upholds the ILJ Network brand; and
- Participate in advocacy efforts and educational opportunities through the ILJ Network.
External Champion of Organization
- Ensure that JFON El Paso and its mission, programs, and services are consistently presented in a strong, positive manner to stakeholders; and
- Maintain and develop partnerships within and beyond the United Methodist Church to increase the visibility of the organization and foster its growth.
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
- Salary is 60k per year
- Relocation reimbursement is available for candidates outside of the El Paso/ Las Cruces area
- Health Insurance $5,000 per year towards premium
- Pre-tax Simple IRA retirement plan with employer matching funds
- Employee Assistance Program, including free counseling sessions and personal legal consultations
- Mileage reimbursement for travel
- Paid time off starts at 10 vacation days in the first year
- 10 designated holidays and 3 additional floating holidays per year
- 12 paid sick days per year
NON-DISCRIMINATION STATEMENT
JFON El Paso does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, citizenship status, national origin, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender (including gender identity and gender expression), age, religion, creed, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.
JFON El Paso provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with physical or mental disabilities, unless the accommodation(s) would impose an undue hardship for the organization or pose a direct threat of harm to the health or safety of the applicant, employee, or others.
JFON El Paso participates in E-Verify.
TO APPLY
To apply, please send a cover letter, resume, and a list of three references to [email protected]
