We are looking for a Staff Attorney to join our team in Orange County!


WHO WE ARE

Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California (AJSOCAL) is the nation’s largest legal and civil rights organization that advocates for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs). Founded in 1983, AJSOCAL supports over 15,000 individuals and organizations annually. AJSOCAL offers free legal help, engages in impact litigation, and advocates for policy change. Our services are open to individuals of all races and ethnicities, without restriction. AJSOCAL strives to be a champion for the most vulnerable members of the AAPI communities, while advancing civil rights and social justice for everyone. 

Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California offices are located in downtown Los Angeles and Orange County, with presence in Sacramento, ensuring accessibility for all. With our Advancing Justice affiliates in Atlanta, Chicago, and Washington, D.C., we enrich, enhance, and serve our communities all across the country. 

We provide supportive services for individuals wanting to start the immigration process through Family-Based Immigration, Asylum, Temporary Protected Status, the Violence Against Women Act, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, T-Visa, and U-Visa. We also offer free citizenship workshops and resources to help you on your naturalization journey. Beyond immigration, we also lead community-centered initiatives such as the Asian Language Legal Intake Project (ALLIP), the Survivor and Family Empowerment (SAFE) Project, the Housing Preservation (HP) Program, and our Health Access Project (HAP). In addition, our Demographic Research Project (DRP) and Community Engagement (CE) teams drive data-informed strategies and grassroots partnerships that deepen our impact across Southern California. Our Impact Litigation Team looks to create systemic change for our communities, while our Policy Team continues to shape laws and local practices that impact millions of Asian American and immigrant families across California. 

WHAT WE BRING

• The special opportunity to join a mission driven team
• Flexible, hybrid work schedules
• Rich medical, dental and vision benefits
• Retirement options through 403B and match

WHO YOU ARE

You share our mission of advocacy for Asian Pacific Americans. You enjoy the thrill of serving the public interest while championing civil rights and social justice. You take pride in your work enriching lives and communities in Los Angeles and across the country. You are looking for your next role in an organization that supports your career as much as you support the organization and its goals. You are looking for a job where you make a difference, and your impact is directly proportional to your contribution. You are a game changer. You are a leader. You are an advocate.

WHAT YOU BRING

• J.D. and active membership in any State Bar
• Minimum 1-3 years of immigration experience, including immigration court experience, with experience working with victims of crimes and removal proceedings
• Experience assisting immigrant, limited English speaking and/or low-income clients
• Experience appearing in immigration court preferred
• Experience or familiarity with AANHPI community preferred
• Excellent legal writing, speaking, and organizational skills
• Ability to communicate effectively with clients
• Must be able to work in a team setting
• Bilingual fluency in an AANHPI language strongly preferred
• Must be self-motivated with the ability to work independently
• Availability and willingness to regularly travel within the county and state
• Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends
• Access to reliable means of transportation required

Qualifications

ABOUT THE ROLE

Under the direction of the Program Director, the Staff Attorney is responsible for performing client counseling and legal representation duties. The Staff Attorney meets with and advises clients of immigrant legal rights and issues, conducts legal research and writing, prepares court forms, prepares immigration applications, and performs other legal duties. The Staff Attorney works directly on a variety of immigration cases, including relief for survivors (VAWA, U & T Visas), and Asylum (Affirmative & Defensive), Adjustment of Status, Family Based petitions, DACA, Naturalization, and Removal Defense. The Staff Attorney represents clients before USCIS, the Executive Office of Immigration Review, and Board of Immigration Appeals. The Staff Attorney provides technical support and capacity building to other nonprofit organizations on immigration and may be required to staff evening and weekend workshops and events. In addition, the Staff Attorney conducts immigration trainings, community outreach and education to local organizations and other partners. This is a fixed term position and IS covered under the Collective Bargaining Unit.

Duties and Responsibilities

75% Provide direct application assistance with immigration cases

• Undertake administrative and logistical duties related to direct application assistance;
• Conduct legal review of immigration cases;
• Provide legal representation for diverse clients with immigration cases before USCIS, Immigration Court, and BIA;
• Maintain an active caseload to meet project deliverables
• Travel to USCIS Field Offices, detention centers, and immigration court to represent clients in immigration matters

15% Provide Technical Assistance and Support

• Organize and implement various immigration trainings to staff and community partners
• Work with intake staff to review and approve appointments, provide immigration legal consulta-tions, answer immigration related questions and review documents;
• Provide technical assistance, legal review, and/or coordination support of workshops and clinics

10% Community Outreach and Education

• Help develop and execute community outreach strategies for the Immigration Services Program, in-cluding how to inform appropriate responses to community needs and requests
• Conduct outreach engagements with local community-based organizations and partners to present information sessions on Immigration, Naturalization, and Immigrant Rights
• Other duties as assigned

At AJSOCAL, we value a diverse, inclusive workforce and we provide equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees. All qualified applicants for employment will be considered without regard to an individual’s race, color, sex, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition, family care status, marital status, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local laws. AJSOCAL strictly prohibits and does not tolerate discrimination against employees, applicants, or other covered persons, including interns.

All positions are subject to funding, and non-collective bargaining unit positions are also at will.