Liberty Defense Project (LDP) Attorney

Overview: The mission of Neighbors Link is to strengthen the whole community by actively enhancing the healthy integration of immigrants. We are an Office of New Americans Opportunity Center and Community Navigator. Across Neighbors Link we serve over four thousand individuals every year. This includes over 1400 parents and children who participate in family services, over 800 learners in our ESL programming and over 600 workers who utilize our worker center. We also have a broad basis of support in the community, as nearly 400 volunteers help make our programming possible.

Neighbors Link Community Law Practice, the law department of Neighbors Link, is a leader in the provision of immigration legal services in Westchester County and throughout the Hudson Valley. Our dynamic team is led by two experienced attorneys, with the support of two paralegals and a dedicated team of volunteer attorneys. We provide comprehensive and holistic services in legal matters ranging from rapid response, removal defense, federal appeals and complex affirmative filings. We are a community based legal services practice on the front lines.

This position will involve close collaboration with Neighbors Link's Kingston-based partner, Worker Justice Center of New York (WJCNY). The staff attorney will receive intake and case referrals from WJCNY staff, partner with WJCNY outreach staff to conduct know-your-rights presentations in the community, and utilize WJCNY office space for program purposes.

Job Summary: We seek an attorney to join our team, to provide immigration legal services funded by the Liberty Defense Project. The LDP attorney will handle all types of immigration cases, from legal intake and screening to direct representation throughout the lower Hudson Valley, with a focus on Rockland, Putnam, and Westchester Counties. This exempt, full-time position reports directly to the Neighbors Link Legal Director/ LDP Supervising Attorney, and will work closely with the Neighbors Link Managing Attorney and LDP Paralegal Administrator and coordinate with the Client Support Services Coordinator.

Responsibilities:

• Provide intake, screening and direct representation to individuals in a full range of immigration matters, including both affirmative applications and removal defense, detained and non-detained cases
• Provide direct legal services to a full docket (at least 30) immigration cases at any time
• Provide rapid response program services to individuals at risk of ICE enforcement
• Provide emergency legal services including but not limited to legal screenings, intakes and direct representation when required
• Provide legal services as needed to ICE detainees at the Orange County Correctional Facility
• Provide Know Your Rights trainings or other trainings, workshops and presentations to community members

Qualifications:

• Must be a member in good standing of the bar of the highest court of any state in the country or U.S. territory
• Must have excellent time management and organizational skills
• Must work well in a team setting
• Must be able to travel to various locations throughout the Hudson Valley, including but not limited to sites in Westchester, Rockland and Putnam County
• Must be able to work evenings and weekends as necessary
• Prior immigration law experience is preferred
• Prior community-based lawyering experience is preferred
• Fluent English-Spanish bilingual is preferred

Contact: Please send resume and cover letter to jobs@neighborslink.org. Please, no phone calls.