THE ORGANIZATION
The
Florence Project was founded in 1989 to respond to a representation crisis for indigent non-citizens detained at the rural Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Detention Center in Florence, Arizona. Through our programs today, we provide services to the more than 10,000 men, women, and children that are detained in Arizona on any given day. The Florence Project is nationally known for its legal service delivery systems which ensure that detained people are empowered and have access to justice. The Florence Project provides high quality legal services and supports initiatives for national changes in immigration law and policy.
The Florence Project’s Detained Immigrant and Refugee Children’s Initiative educates, empowers, and provides legal assistance to unaccompanied immigrant children in removal proceedings in Phoenix, Arizona. All of the children served are held in shelters, group homes, or long term foster care overseen by the Office of Refugee Resettlement while awaiting deportation hearings. The Children’s Initiative is part of the national Legal Access for Unaccompanied Children network overseen by the Vera Institute of Justice.
POSITION DESCRIPTION: SENIOR STAFF ATTORNEY
The Florence Project has an opening for a senior staff attorney, serving unaccompanied immigrant children in the Phoenix, Arizona area. The senior staff attorney will work within the Children’s Program to provide unaccompanied children “Know Your Rights” presentations at shelters; individual intakes; pre-court counseling sessions; and direct representation to unaccompanied children in front of the Immigration Court, Family Court, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The senior staff attorney will also serve as a trainer and mentor to staff attorneys and legal assistants on this team. This includes co-chairing representation with staff attorneys before the Immigration Court and the Board of Immigration Appeals. The senior staff attorney will work with the managing attorney to develop systems associated with intakes, case distribution, and allocation of resources to cases. The senior staff attorney may also mentor law student interns and other volunteers, and participate in related advocacy and outreach projects.
The position includes extensive contact with youth, including indigenous youth and youth who have suffered abuse, abandonment, neglect or other emotional and physical trauma. The position requires significant time in state court and in immigration court.
QUALIFICATIONS
Fluency or advanced proficiency in Spanish is required. The applicant must be licensed to practice law in Arizona (or willing to take the Arizona bar exam), or eligible to waive into practice in Arizona (have two years of good standing in another state bar or have received a score of 273 or greater on the Universal Bar Exam). Preferred 2-3 years of experience in immigration law, preferably asylum and Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJS) cases. We seek applicants who have a demonstrated commitment to immigration issues and public interest law, who enjoy working in a collaborative, high volume, and energetic work environment, and who are flexible team players. Prior advocacy work in immigrant rights, human rights, LGBTQ rights, criminal justice, mental health advocacy, or experience working with trauma survivors is a plus. Travel is required for this position, therefore candidates must have access to reliable transportation. Candidates must be able to clear a basic background check, and obtain security clearance to enter detention facilities.
SALARY AND BENEFITS
This is a full-time, salaried-exempt position. Salary is based on experience. Florence Project strives to create and uphold a positive, supportive, and inclusive work environment for staff. We offer excellent benefits, including medical, dental, vision, and life insurance, with full premiums paid by the Florence Project. We also provide mileage reimbursement for travel between offices and places of work. After one year of employment, staff members are eligible for the employer matching retirement plan. Paid time off includes one personal day each month in addition to fifteen days of vacation and twelve days of sick/medical leave annually, six weeks parental leave (up to twelve weeks total, with option to use personal, vacation, and sick paid time off for unpaid portion), and bereavement leave. The Florence Project observes all federal holidays. After three consecutive years of employment with the Florence project, staff members are eligible for an eight week paid sabbatical.
APPLICATION PROCESS
This is an immediate opening. Apply soon to join our exciting team! We will accept applications on a rolling basis. To apply, please complete the application below; upload a cover letter detailing your interest in the position, resume, with three professional references, and writing sample. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis, and applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. Applicants selected for an interview will be contacted. The Florence Project values diversity in the workplace and strongly encourages applications from people of color, LGBTQ individuals, individuals with disabilities, and members of underrepresented communities.
This job announcement is for informational purposes only, and is subject to change and modification without notice. This job announcement includes a non-exhaustive list of responsibilities, qualifications and requirements of the position, but does not include the essential job functions of the position.