Staff Attorney
South Dakota Voices for Peace (SDVFP) seeks an Unaccompanied Children’s Project (UCP) Staff Attorney to carry out direct legal services to children in immigration court, living in South Dakota, including state civil court proceedings as it relates to representation of children in immigration court. The UCP Staff Attorney will work on a team with other attorneys, paralegals, Community Health Workers, interns, interpreters and will be supervised by the CEO, an immigration attorney. The UCP Staff Attorney must be a self-motivated advocate with a passion for justice and equity and experienced in working with multilingual, vulnerable clients. The UCP Staff Attorney will represent children and families through the immigration process, including immigration court work. Immigration Court is in Fort Snelling, MN. This position is based in Sioux Falls, SD.
Primary Responsibilities:
Qualifications:
To Apply:
This is a full-time position funded through Acacia Center for Justice Justice grant. Competitive salary starting at $55,000 and commensurate with experience. Health benefits; generous paid holidays; generous PTO; quarterly wellness days; optional flexible schedule; student loan repayment; professional membership dues, malpractice insurance, and SD Bar dues included. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.
Email the following in one PDF file named yourinitialsUCPAttny to CEO, Taneeza Islam taneeza@sdvfpeace.org :
Primary Responsibilities:
- Conduct intakes, legal research, fact development, work with multilingual clients, work with children, draft and file immigration filings, affidavits, briefs, prepare clients for interviews and court proceedings.
- Attend Continuing Legal Education (CLE) opportunities as it pertains to children in immigration court and family law issues.
- Explain family law, immigration law, and procedures to children and their families.
- Represent clients through immigration court proceedings and understand EOIR practices and procedures.
- Represent clients through administrative agency proceedings including but not limited to USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services.)
- Represent guardians and custodians in SD state court as it relates to a child’s immigration law proceedings.
- Stay abreast of all federal and state immigration policies and rule changes in immigration law and state laws related to guardianships, conservatorships, and custody.
- Represent SDVFP at regional roundtables and committees pertaining to immigration law and our practice area.
- Work with legal team to develop sound strategies in case management and track data for grant requirements.
- Work with SDVFP team to develop public education materials, Know Your Rights materials, and communication strategies.
- Work with SD Voices for Justice lobbyists to advance the goals of SD Voices for Peace and coalition partners on legislation impacting undocumented, immigrant and refugee populations. Support legislative advocacy with legal and policy analysis.
- Demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace using a personal approach that values all individuals and respects differences in race, ethnicity, age, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, religion, ability, and socio-economic circumstance.
- Commit to work collaboratively and respectfully toward resolving obstacles and/or conflicts.
- Travel as required.
Qualifications:
- Demonstrated commitment to the mission and goals of SD Voices for Peace and SD Voices for Justice.
- J.D. degree from an A.B.A accredited law school and 1-3 year experience in the legal field.
- Licensed to practice law in any U.S. jurisdiction with the ability to join the South Dakota Bar (willing to take the next bar examination or waive in) or eligible to take the next SD Bar Examination.
- Passionate commitment to and familiarity with immigrants’ rights, racial and social justice, and state issues impacting immigrant communities.
- Demonstrated ability to work with vulnerable clients.
- Demonstrated ability to work with multilingual clients and interpreters.
- Demonstrated ability to work with multicultural team.
- Fluency in Spanish (written and spoken) preferred but not necessary.
- Proven ability to work independently as well as within a team.
- Excellent interpersonal, conflict resolution, and verbal communication skills.
To Apply:
This is a full-time position funded through Acacia Center for Justice Justice grant. Competitive salary starting at $55,000 and commensurate with experience. Health benefits; generous paid holidays; generous PTO; quarterly wellness days; optional flexible schedule; student loan repayment; professional membership dues, malpractice insurance, and SD Bar dues included. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.
Email the following in one PDF file named yourinitialsUCPAttny to CEO, Taneeza Islam taneeza@sdvfpeace.org :
- A one-page cover letter with salary requirements;
- Resume (2 pages only);
- One writing sample (1000 word max); and
- 3 references including Name, Title, phone # and email.