Job DescriptionJob Description
Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights invites applications for the full-time position of Staff Attorney to be based in Houston, Texas.
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. Young Center is appointed as independent Child Advocate for unaccompanied and separated immigrant children and advocates for their best interests with respect to their custody, placement, conditions of release, reunification with caregivers, repatriation, and their immigration proceedings. Young Center does not directly represent children in immigration matters but works closely with the legal service providers who may represent the children’s legal interests. The Staff Attorney will help recruit, train, and supervise bilingual and bicultural volunteer Child Advocates—teachers, law students, social workers, community members—who will work one-on-one with children. The Staff Attorney will apply their legal knowledge and skills to identify issues impacting children’s rights and best interests. Young Center team is a passionate and collegial group of professionals committed to ensuring that children receive the full protection of federal immigration law, domestic child welfare law and international human rights law. This position is funded primarily through a federal contract and is contingent on on-going renewals.
ABOUT THE YOUNG CENTER
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 with 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. Further, 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.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Advocate for children’s best interests before government or other interested partiesSupervise volunteers appointed as Child Advocate for unaccompanied and separated children in federal custody in or near
Houston and across the United States as neededServe as Child Advocate to a limited number of cases or as neededVisit children as needed and communicate with caregivers, family members and stakeholdersProvide internal case consultation and case support involving the state, federal, and international best interests legal principles and immigration law for the
Houston officeSupport the local and national efforts to recruit, train, support, and retain volunteer Child AdvocatesParticipate in internal and external working groupsMeet 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 eventsDevelop 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 grantsCapture 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 advocacyIn 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 childrenUnder 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 determinationsAccompany children to court hearings and interviews related to their immigration caseUnder 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 neededOther duties as assignedMINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:J.D. and license to practice law or ability to acquire license within the first year of employmentGenerally, has prior 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 skillsEffective communication skills, including ability to liaise with various stakeholders, colleagues, and volunteerExcellent case management skillsHigh-level organizational skillsAbility to work independently, take initiative, and proactively address case needsDemonstrated ability to work effectively and creatively as part of an interdisciplinary teamAbility to work in a flexible, evolving environment, adapt to situations, and manage change effectivelyCommitment to a comprehensive culture of feedback, including seeking and providing positive and constructive feedback and engaging in productive conversationsCommitment to learn, both as an individual and as part of an organization, and apply diversity, equity, inclusion, and/or anti-racism principlesAbility to effectively engage across different culture, identities, and ethnicitiesStrong writing skillsAptitude and thoughtfulness in working with children and promoting child-centered advocacyProficiency with Microsoft Office products, Zoom, Adobe Acrobat, and willingness to learn new technology and/or platformsBilingual ability (oral and written) in English/Spanish or English/ other languages spoken by the population we serveValid driver’s license and access to a car
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:Experience—lived, volunteer, or professional—with immigration matters
PHYSICAL DEMANDS: 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.
APPLICATION DETAILS: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.
$74,180 - $84,401 is the standard new hire range for this position. Actual salaries will vary depending on factors including but not limited to location and experience. The Young Center does not ask for prior pay history from our candidates and our offer-making process is negotiation-free for salaries and benefits. We offer our best possible salary based on relevant experience. The range listed is just one component of the Young Center’s total compensation package for employees. The Young Center provides excellent benefits, including health/dental/vision insurance (employee & dependents) at no cost to the employee, paid vacation, sick time, and a 401(k) plan with employer match.
A criminal background check will be conducted.
Review of candidates will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Please apply on the Young Center website with a cover letter, resume and three references and writing sample. Only complete applications will be considered.
To learn more about the Young Center’s work, please visit www.TheYoungCenter.org.
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