Staff Attorney/Senior Staff Attorney
Date Posted:
The American Immigration Council (the Council) works to strengthen America by shaping how America thinks about and acts towards immigrants and immigration and by working toward a more fair and just immigration system that opens its doors to those in need of protection and unleashes the energy and skills that immigrants bring. The Council brings together individuals adept at solving problems and employs four coordinated approaches to advance change—litigation, research, legislative and administrative advocacy, and communications.
Position Summary. . .
The American Immigration Council seeks an experienced, highly motivated, impact-driven, committed, and thorough Senior/Staff Attorney to support the work of the Council to promote government accountability through transparency in the immigration realm using litigation and advocacy. The attorney will use the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), state open access laws, the Administrative Procedure Act, and other federal statutes to compel agency transparency on a variety of immigration issues, with a focus on enforcement and due process issues.
The attorney will help lead the Council’s FOIA coordination efforts through collaborative work with Council staff, litigators, advocates, and open-government organizations. The attorney will assist with drafting and litigating FOIA and other open access requests; draft practices advisories, fact sheets, and other resources; provide advice and training to other attorneys; and work with other members of the Council’s team to promote the work of the Council. The attorney also will work in collaboration with the Council’s partner, the American Immigration Lawyers Association, and will ensure effective coordination in our FOIA efforts.
The attorney in this role is a thought partner with the department leader. You will be involved with the execution of legal initiatives and engage in developing legal strategy. This position may be performed remotely, but some travel may be required.
Essential Job Functions . . .
- Help identify and develop areas warranting FOIA and/or open access requests.
- Conduct legal research and analysis related to FOIA or other open access laws.
- Pursue affirmative impact litigation to ensure greater transparency in the immigration arena.
- Draft legal pleadings for filing with the federal courts and/or immigration agencies.
- Develop practice materials and litigation resources for immigration practitioners.
- Speak on panels and provide technical assistance.
- Collaborate with other Council staff members on the analysis and publication of, and responses to, government policies and data.
- Coordinate collaborative efforts among organizations engaged in government transparency work focused on immigration agencies.
- Work with other members of the Council staff to ensure the execution of communications, marketing, and development strategies stemming from the work described above.
- Write communication in support of litigation to include blogs, fact sheets, website text, and other non-legal documents.
- J.D. Degree required.
- Admission to any State Bar.
- A minimum of 3 years of legal experience to be considered for the role of Staff Attorney. Applicants with 7+ years of legal experience and 3 years of experience with federal court litigation, including FOIA litigation will qualify for the title of Senior Staff Attorney.
- Familiarity with FOIA, federal court procedures, and immigration law.
- Strong legal research, analytical, and writing skills.
- Strong written and oral communication skills.
- A high level of attention to detail, accuracy, and thoroughness.
- Ability to prioritize and manage competing demands/multiple assignments through effective time management.
- Ability to think creatively about solutions to legal problems.
- Strong organizational skills.
For consideration, qualified applicants are to submit a resume and cover letter. The cover letter should include a summary of how your background, knowledge, and skills relate to the responsibilities and requirements of the position.
| Apply for the position |
NOTE: Applications without cover letters and desired salary may not be considered.
Our Workplace . . . We are a fully remote workplace. We offer an extremely generous total compensation package (salary and benefits). Benefits include – medical, dental, vision, 401k with employer match, flexible work schedules, 3+ weeks’ vacation, 11 Federal holidays, and many more exciting benefit programs.
Your Colleagues. . .
- Dedicated, dynamic, collaborative, and compassionate.
- A community of individuals passionate about their work.
The American Immigration Council is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to treating all applicants and employees without regard to unlawful considerations of race, religious creed, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (cancer or genetic characteristics), genetic information, military and veterans status, citizenship and immigration status, or any other classification protected by applicable local, state, or federal laws. This equal employment opportunity commitment applies to all aspects of employment, including but not limited to, advertising, recruiting, hiring, job assignment, compensation, promotion, demotion, benefits, training, discipline, and termination. The Council believes that diversity is a strength. The Council is committed to being a safe, respectful, and inclusive space, where a broad range of viewpoints and experiences are encouraged and every member of its staff and board is given the opportunity to thrive.