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About the Role

This position is a unique opportunity for an attorney to join a passionate team made up of social workers, attorneys, and administrative staff, to engage in interdisciplinary written and oral best interests advocacy on behalf of children in immigration removal proceedings. The Staff Attorney will help recruit, train, and supervise bilingual and bicultural volunteer Child Advocates. The Staff Attorney will apply their legal knowledge and skills to identify issues impacting children’s rights and best interests.

Responsibilities

Advocate for children’s best interests before government or other interested parties
Supervise volunteers appointed as Child Advocate for unaccompanied and separated children in federal custody in or near New York and across the United States as needed
Serve as Child Advocate to a limited number of cases or as needed
Visit children as needed and communicate with caregivers, family members, and stakeholders
Provide internal case consultation and case support involving the state, federal, and international best interests legal principles and immigration law for the New York office
Support the local and national efforts to recruit, train, support, and retain volunteer Child Advocates
Participate in internal and external working groups
Meet regularly with local stakeholders (government field staff, facility staff, immigration judges, ICE officers, and legal service providers); collaborate on presentations to local stakeholders; attend case staffings or other stakeholder meetings; and speak about the Child Advocate Program at local, regional, and national events
Develop and maintain relationships with stakeholders or organizations in the community
Assist the team in meeting case goals and other deliverables for the government contract and private grants
Capture accurate and timely data management to inform reports to the government, other funders, and internal Young Center departments regarding children served, case outcomes, program metrics, and current trends
Participate in a supportive, collaborative work culture that allows for creative, thoughtful, high-quality, and effective interdisciplinary advocacy
In collaboration with the site Managing Social Worker and/or Deputy Program Director (Social Worker), consult with social worker colleagues to develop child-centered advocacy through a trauma-informed lens that identifies and advocates for the best interests of unaccompanied and separated children
Under the supervision of the Managing Attorney and with input from the Deputy Program Directors (Attorney and Social Worker), draft and submit best interests determinations to immigration judges, asylum officers, attorneys, and federal agencies, applying state, federal, and international law and incorporating social science research and social work best practices, including, but not limited to trauma-informed and culturally sensitive approaches
Actively engage with colleagues and supervisors in developing and editing interdisciplinary best interests determinations
Accompany children to court hearings and interviews related to their immigration case
Under the supervision of the Deputy Program Director (Social Worker), assess which children may need additional supportive and/or mental health services and accompany them to appointments as needed
Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

J.D. and license to practice law or ability to acquire license within the first year of employment
3+ years of experience working with children and/or youth, trauma survivors, or migrant/refugees/unaccompanied children to demonstrate an understanding of the population we serve. This may be first-hand experience or demonstrated interest in the field (coursework, internships, volunteer opportunities, etc.).
Legal analysis, negotiation, and mediation skills
Effective communication skills, including ability to liaise with various stakeholders, colleagues, and volunteers
Excellent case management skills
High-level organizational skills
Ability to work independently, take initiative, and proactively address case needs
Demonstrated ability to work effectively and creatively as part of an interdisciplinary team
Ability to work in a flexible, evolving environment, adapt to situations, and manage change effectively
Commitment to a comprehensive culture of feedback, including seeking and providing positive and constructive feedback and engaging in productive conversations
Commitment to learn, both as an individual and as part of an organization, and apply diversity, equity, inclusion, and/or anti-racism principles
Ability to effectively engage across different culture, identities, and ethnicities
Strong writing skills
Aptitude and thoughtfulness in working with children and promoting child-centered advocacy
Proficiency with Microsoft Office products, Zoom, Adobe Acrobat, and willingness to learn new technology and/or platforms
Bilingual ability (oral and written) in English/Spanish or English/ other languages spoken by the population we serve
Valid driver’s license and access to a car
Experience—lived, volunteer, or professional—with immigration matters
Physical demands include regular attendance, keyboarding, sitting for long periods (at least 5 hours a day), driving.
Ability to use computer, telephone, and copy machine.
Ability to travel by plane, car, and other conveyances within U.S.
Occasional lifting for event setup/preparation.
A criminal background check will be conducted.

Skills

Legal analysis
Negotiation
Mediation
Communication
Case management
Organizational skills
Independent work
Teamwork
Adaptability
Feedback
Learning
Diversity, equity, inclusion, and/or anti-racism principles
Cross-cultural engagement
Writing
Child-centered advocacy
Microsoft Office
Zoom
Adobe Acrobat
Bilingual (English/Spanish or other relevant languages)

Location

New York, New York

Work Type

Full-time

Experience Level

3+ years of experience working with children and/or youth, trauma survivors, or migrant/refugees/unaccompanied children

Education Level

J.D. and license to practice law or ability to acquire license within the first year of employment

Salary/Compensations

$86,882.45 - $99,485.73

Benefits

Health/dental/vision insurance (employee & dependents) at no cost to the employee
Paid vacation
Sick time
401(k) plan with employer match

About the Company

The Young Center for Immigrant Children's Rights is a national organization dedicated to protecting and advancing the rights and best interests, safety, and well-being of immigrant children in the United States.
We center children's voices, celebrate their strengths, and recognize their fundamental need to be family and in community, not detention.
For more than 20 years, the Young Center has accompanied and advocated for over 10,000 children from more than 70 countries worldwide.
We are the only organization that takes an integrated approach to protecting and advancing the rights of children, in accordance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child and state and federal law, through direct services, stakeholder support across child welfare systems, systems and narrative change, and litigation.
We fight tirelessly to bring greater equity to the child welfare system, demanding accountability from systems and people in positions of power, so children in immigrant families who face court cases remain safe, free, and with families in communities where they are supported.
The Young Center has offices in Houston, San Antonio, and Harlingen, Texas; Chicago, Illinois; New York, New York; Washington, D.C.; Phoenix, Arizona; Los Angeles, California; and Grand Rapids, Michigan.
We also serve children through our programs in New Jersey.
To learn more about the Young Center, visit www.theyoungcenter.org.

Equal Opportunity

The Young Center is an "at-will" and equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate in and affirmatively factors diversity into its hiring practices.
Young Center encourages applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, creed, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, ancestry, marital or parental status, pregnancy, citizenship, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, genetic information, or veterans’ status.
Reasonable accommodation will be made so that qualified disabled applicants may participate in the application process; no applicant will be penalized for requesting an accommodation.
Please advise in writing of special needs at the time of application.