ABOUT PUBLIC COUNSEL

Public Counsel is a nonprofit public interest law firm dedicated to advancing civil rights and racial and economic justice, as well as to amplifying the power of our clients through comprehensive legal advocacy. Founded on and strengthened by a pro bono legal service model, our staff and volunteers seek justice through direct legal services, promote healthy and resilient communities through education and outreach, and support community-led efforts to transform unjust systems through litigation and policy advocacy in and beyond Los Angeles.

Public Counsel organizes its work through seven legal teams: Child, Youth & Family Advocacy, Community Development, Consumer Rights & Economic Justice, Homelessness Prevention, Immigrants’ Rights, Education Equity, and our impact litigation team, Opportunity Under Law. 

Public Counsel has a full-time staff of approximately 160. We are committed to building a diverse staff and encourage applications from people of color, people with disabilities, and people of all gender identities, gender expressions, and sexualities. We recognize the essential role of staff in achieving our goals, and we have set a long-term intention to provide competitive compensation, benefits, training, mentorship, and overall workplace wellness, making Public Counsel a leader among nonprofit law firms.

ABOUT IMMIGRANTS’ RIGHTS 

Public Counsel’s Immigrants’ Rights team envisions a world where all (im)migrants live with dignity, power, and opportunity. Staffed by approximately 30 attorneys, administrative staff, and social workers, the team provides direct legal representation to detained immigrants as well as non-citizens seeking asylum, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS), VAWA, T and U visas, and other relief in immigration court. In addition to direct representation, the Immigrants’ Rights team engages in advocacy at the local and national levels, recruits, trains, and mentors hundreds of pro bono attorneys each year, handles appeals before the Board of Immigration Appeals, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and the California Court of Appeal, and conducts impact litigation. For 35 years, the team has been at the forefront of protecting the rights of immigrants in Los Angeles. 

JOB SUMMARY

Reporting to the Supervising Attorney, the Staff Attorney will provide direct legal representation to clients in a range of matters, including removal proceedings, detention, bond proceedings, habeas petitions, appeals, and affirmative applications for immigration relief, with a focus on affirmative applications for immigrant survivors, including U visa, T visa and relief under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). 

The Staff Attorney will:

• Work closely with the Supervising Attorney, Staff Attorney, and Program Manager 
• Expand the capacity of Immigrants’ Rights and the Survivor Team to respond to increased community need for legal representation in removal proceedings, immigrant detention, and applications for immigration relief for immigrant survivors
• Provide zealous, client-centered, and trauma-informed direct representation to immigrant survivors of crime in removal proceedings 
• Represent clients who have been placed in expedited removal proceedings, were paroled into the U.S., or are party to an appeal before the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) and 9th Circuit Court of Appeals 
• Represent immigrants in detention, including bond proceedings, habeas petitions, and parole requests
• Provide representation in asylum or withholding only proceedings
• File Motions to Reopen/Reconsider with the immigration court, USCIS or Administrative Appeals Office
• File affirmative applications for immigration relief based on being the victim of crime
• Work collaboratively with team members to provide client-centered, holistic, trauma-informed, and interdisciplinary services for clients
• Collect case data and contribute to grant reports
• Perform administrative tasks in support of this work, including opening and closing matters, printing and scanning documents, maintaining files, etc.
• Maintain a caseload of 25-35 active matters (note - one client can have multiple matters)
• Perform other duties as assigned

ESSENTIAL JOB SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• 2-8 years of experience in legal advocacy
• Juris Doctor degree and a member in good standing of any state bar is required, California Bar preferred
• Ability to read, write, and speak fluently in Spanish is strongly preferred
• Experience in immigration removal defense
• Experience in survivor based affirmative applications (U/T/VAWA) or experience working with survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking or other serious crimes preferred
• Strong legal research and writing skills, and attention to detail
• Ability to prioritize and manage a large caseload independently
• Comfort and experience working with clients from diverse racial and socioeconomic backgrounds, including those with complex trauma and those who have been criminalized
• Understanding of trauma and its effects on both the clients and the advocates
• Willingness and ability to travel to/from the asylum office, detention centers, superior and federal courts, and immigration courts in the Southern California region
• Ability to think strategically and creatively, and problem-solve effectively
• Ability to effectively and respectfully communicate with other team members. 
• Desire to learn and grow as an advocate, and openness to feedback
• Commitment to immigrants’ rights and the mission of Public Counsel
• Commitment to economic and racial justice, including participating in and advancing the equity and inclusion work at Public Counsel 
• High levels of emotional intelligence, maturity and cultural competency, including being curious, self-aware, cognizant of bias, empathetic, patient, and willing to listen, and having a growth and open mindset
• Exempt employees are expected to work a minimum of 37.5 hours per week and must work all additional time necessary to accomplish job duties in a timely and professional manner. They must be flexible in work hours so as to provide superior quality and timely service to clients consistent with the position and professional responsibility obligations.  

JOB TYPE AND BENEFITS

• Full-time/exempt
• Salary range for an attorney with 2–8 years of experience is $78,000-$93,500, depending upon years of experience.
• Bargaining
• Probationary period: 9 months
• Fixed-duration position funded until June 30, 2027 (pending execution of the grant agreement). This position is created with designated funds through June 30, 2027. Continued employment past this date is contingent on additional funding for the position. 

Public Counsel offers a competitive benefits package including:

• Medical coverage with an option for 100% employer-paid employee and dependent child(ren)’s premiums; buy up options are available for other HMO and PPO coverage 
• Dental and vision coverage 
• Option to enroll in a  Flexible Spending Account
• Employer-paid life insurance and disability plans

Generous paid time off (per year):

• 15 accrued vacation days that increase to 20 days after 3 years of employment
• 12 accrued sick days that may be used for physical and mental health needs
• 2 personal observance days 
• 11 paid holidays plus 2 one-week office closures (during the summer and winter)
• Up to 60 hours of compensatory time per calendar year (for exempt staff only)

Additional benefits:

• 403(b) retirement plan with an elective employee contribution, and after a year of employment a discretionary employer contribution 
• Free on-site parking or public transportation reimbursement 
• $45 per pay period for employees who use non-English language skills to perform work duties
• Up to 6 months of parental leave 
• Organizational and team wellness activities to build team cohesion and camaraderie
• Professional development support and opportunities
• Annual payment of dues for required licenses or certifications (state bar dues for attorneys) and for a mutually agreed-upon professional organization 
• Centrally located headquarters in the heart of Koreatown, a vibrant neighborhood with easy access to public transportation, diverse dining options, and cultural attractions

HOW TO APPLY

We value lived experiences and experiences working with clients  across a range of settings. Please consider discussing such experiences in your cover letter, especially if they are not reflected in your resume. 

PUBLIC COUNSEL VACCINATION POLICY AND COVID-19 PROTOCOLS

Public Counsel requires vaccination against COVID-19 for all employees, including new hires. Pursuant to federal and state laws, Public Counsel will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified employees with disabilities or sincerely held religious beliefs, unless doing so would pose an undue hardship.

Public Counsel is generally office-based, but remote work was launched during the pandemic. All employees with Public Counsel are now required to work in the office at least one day per week, at the discretion of the head of department. Some positions require additional in-office days. This policy is subject to redesign by leadership. Public Counsel will work in a manner consistent with public health and local and state emergency orders. 

PUBLIC COUNSEL EEO POLICY

Public Counsel is an Equal Opportunity Employer that does not discriminate against employees or prospective employees on the basis of union membership or activity, race, religious creed, religious observance, ethnicity, color, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information or predisposition, military service, military and veteran status, pregnancy, child birth and related medical conditions, marital and family status, national origin, ancestry, age, medical conditions as defined by state or federal law, or disability, or any other basis prohibited by law.

All qualified applicants with criminal histories will be considered in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring.

Our leadership team is dedicated to this policy with respect to recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, transfer, training, compensation, benefits, employee activities discipline, discharge and general treatment during employment.