The North Carolina Justice Center is a progressive advocacy organization dedicated to expanding opportunity and protecting the rights of low-income individuals in North Carolina. For over 25 years, the Justice Center has been on the front lines in the courts, at the legislature, in the media, and in communities advocating for positive changes for poor and working North Carolinians. The Justice Center has played a primary role in most of the state’s major policy debates and successfully litigated hundreds of individual cases and class actions.

The Staff Attorney for the Immigrant & Refugee Rights Project works closely with community members, local, state, and national-level partners and other NCJC advocates to advance systemic change in immigrants’ and refugees’ rights in North Carolina through a combination of individual representation, impact litigation, community outreach, and policy advocacy. This position will maintain a practice that primarily involves immigration issues, including representing individuals in Immigration Court as well as before the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, but could incorporate cross-program work as needed. The attorney will serve as a resource for advocates and partners across the state, including private attorneys, nonprofits, and government agencies. The Staff Attorney will set goals for their work with input from the Project Director, Director for Litigation, and other members of the team.

Job Duties:

• Conducts regular community education and presentations on immigration law and immigrants’ rights issues, and conduct legal clinics and other community-based events.
• Analyzes immigrant related legal developments at the state and federal level and participate in advocacy efforts to defend the rights of immigrant and refugee communities. Collaborate with other Justice Center staff to address systemic issues facing immigrants and refugees.
• Works collaboratively with other Justice Center attorneys to provide legal assistance and direct representation to immigrants in all relevant forums, including state and federal courts, and administrative agencies. This will include immigration legal matters before the Department of Homeland Security, immigration courts, and the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA). The attorney may also participate in impact litigation under supervision of other attorneys.
• Maintains regular case log of all client related work in case management database system.
• Other duties as may be assigned to meet the Justice Center needs.

Qualifications

• J.D. and admitted to the North Carolina Bar or eligible for admission
• Fluency in written and spoken Spanish and English is required.
• Prior experience working with immigrant or refugee communities is strongly preferred.
• Strong writing, legal research, and oral advocacy skills.
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, ability to work independently, ability to meet deadlines and work under pressure.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office.
• Demonstrated commitment to social justice, ability to recognize the barriers facing immigrant communities, and experience working with low-income individuals.
• Demonstrated commitment to racial equity.
• Able to be in the office a minimum of two days per week.
• Some travel, evening, and weekend work is required.

The Justice Center offers skilled and committed co-workers, a competitive salary (minimum $65,000/annually DOE) and superior benefits to enhance staff quality of life including but not limited to: six weeks paid time off, paid maternity/paternity leave, thirteen holidays, retirement plan contribution and match, FSA, medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance coverage. This position is in the Justice Center’s bargaining unit, represented by the National Organization of Legal Service Workers, UAW Local 2320.

The Justice Center is an equal opportunity employer. People of color and individuals from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply for available positions. NCJC does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnic background, citizenship status, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, or disability. Furthermore, the NCJC is a second chance employer and encourage all qualified individuals to apply for our roles.