Job Description

About NIJC

The National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC) advances human rights and due process for immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers through direct legal services, impact litigation, advocacy, and public education . Headquartered in Chicago with offices in Washington, DC, Indiana, and San Diego, NIJC's team of 100 attorneys, paralegals, and professionals, along with 2,000 pro bono attorneys, is at the forefront of immigration reform.

Job Summary :

Our senior litigation attorney is a full -time position focused on federal-court litigation. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in litigation, including federal litigation, and demonstrate a commitment to immigrant and civil rights. This role offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to innovative litigation and policy advocacy within the federal courts, including both district courts and courts of appeal.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities :

• Conduct legal research and analysis to support litigation efforts.
• Draft pleadings, briefs, motions, and other legal documents.
• Manage discovery processes, motion practice, and trial preparation.
• Represent clients in trials and appeals in both state and federal courts.
• Develop and implement effective advocacy strategies in identified areas of focus.
• Provide immigration-court level representation in relevant litigation matters, such as representing a named plaintiff in a district court action tied to their immigration case.
• Collaborate with the organization's direct service, policy, and communications teams to ensure integrated advocacy efforts.
• Work with pro bono attorneys to further the organization's mission and goals.

Qualifications :

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily . The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required .

• Education and/or Experience : A law degree (JD), license to practice law and at least 5 years' experience in the legal field, preferably in the field of immigration law , with a focus on removal defense . Applicants with significantly more experience are encouraged to apply, and total years of relevant experience will be considered as part of the final salary determination.

• Language Skills:  Excellent oral and written communication skills. Demonstrated competency in public speaking and strong interpersonal skills required . Additional non-English language skills are preferred.

• Computer Skills : Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Windows operating systems.

• Reasoning Ability: Solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists . Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form .

Physical Abilities Statement

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of thos e an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Must be able to remain in a stationary position 50% of the time .

• The person in this position occasionally needs to move about the inside of the office to access filing cabinets, office machinery, etc.

• Constantly operat es a computer and other office productivity machinery, such as a copy machine.

It is the policy of NIJC not to discriminate against any applicant for employment, or any employee because of age, color, sex, disability, national origin, race, religion, or veteran status.

By submitting your application, you acknowledge and consent to undergo a comprehensive background check as part of the employment process. This background check will be conducted in compliance with applicable state and federal laws.

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