Removal Defense Attorney – Focus on Immigrant Youth

CARECEN SF is a non-profit organization established in 1986. CARECEN SF empowers and responds to the needs, rights, and aspirations of Latino, people who migrate and under-resourced families in the San Francisco Bay Area – building leadership to pursue self-determination and justice. Rooted in its cultural strengths and born out of the Central American justice struggles, CARECEN SF envisions our diverse migrant community as thriving, where families prosper, build effective community institutions and participate confidently in civic life.

CARECEN SF provides the following programs to the community: Immigration Legal Program, Health Promotions Program, Family Wellness Program, Second Chance Youth Program, and Tattoo Removal Clinic.  For detailed information about our programs, please visit our website: www.carecensf.org.

Our attorneys and paralegal team are committed to providing high quality, pro-bono and low-cost immigration legal services to low-income people who migrate and their families. Our goal is to empower the immigrant community to counter xenophobic attacks and discrimination through education about local, state, and federal laws designed to protect individuals and families regardless of their immigration status.

• Maintain caseload involving direct representation of individuals before the Executive Office of Immigration Review (detained and non-detained)
• Volunteer at the San Francisco Immigration Court Attorney of the Day program
• Attend Family, Dependency, Delinquency, and Probate Court to obtain SIJS predicate orders for eligible minors       
• Conduct initial client intake/consultations and evaluate eligibility for immigration benefits
• Maintain accurate, complete, and confidential case files
• Participate in immigration trainings
• Actively engage with the California Department of Social Services, Immigration Services Bureau (Youth Legal Service removal defense grants) to ensure timely grant reporting, and compliance
• Participate in administrative team meetings, agency meetings, collaborative/coalition meetings, AILA liaison meetings, community activities and trainings, as deemed appropriate
• Participate in CARECEN’s immigration advocacy efforts as time permits

• J.D. and a member in good standing of any state bar (*California strongly preferred)
• Minimum of two to three years of experience working as an immigration attorney
• Strong bi-lingual (English and Spanish) language competency, including the ability to write basic correspondence in Spanish (*bi-cultural preferred)
• Physical requirements: able to sit and work at a desk for up to 7.5 hours, lift up to 20 lbs, sufficient mobility to work in standard office/courtroom settings

• Experience working with low income immigrant communities
• Experience working with immigrant youth
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills
• Experience handling asylum, SIJS, and U Visa in addition to having a broad knowledge of current immigration laws to effectively issue spot in consultations
• Excellent organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills 
• Experience in working with clients in removal proceedings
• Ability to work effectively and collaboratively- strong team player
• Ability to manage and prioritize workflow with minimal supervision 
• Ability to address ever changing community legal needs within a limited resources context
• Commitment to work with immigrants and to advance immigrant rights movement, particularly among the Latino immigrant community
• Knowledge and understanding of the political and historical context of immigrant communities and civil rights issues in this country. Ability to effectively work and communicate with diverse groups of individuals, including representatives of government, foundations, and grassroots organizations
• Knowledge in basic PC applications (i.e. Word, Immigration Pro., Lawlogix)

Competitive salary based on experience. CARECEN SF offers health insurance, dental and vision insurance, 401(k) + matching, long term disability, and life insurance. CARECEN SF offers professional development benefits, which include trainings and educational opportunities.

CARECEN SF is an equal opportunity employer and makes employment decisions based on merit, qualifications and competence. First Peoples, Afro-Latino, BIPOC, and LGBTQIA identified community members are encouraged to apply. Qualified applicants will receive full consideration without regard to age, race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation or national origin.

This is an immediate opening. Applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

Please submit a thoughtful cover letter, resume, short writing sample and 3 reference by email to Laura Sanchez – laura@carecensf.org or by mail at the following address:

Attention: Laura Sanchez
CARECEN
3101 Mission Street, Suite 101,
San Francisco, CA 94110