STAFF ATTORNEY – INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF THE EAST BAY

Oakland, California

AGENCY DESCRIPTION:

The International Institute of the East Bay is 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in

Oakland, CA that has served the East Bay’s immigrant and refugee community since 1919. The Institute provides legal assistance, community education, computer and

language training, job development assistance, and policy and media advocacy. IIEB is located in downtown Oakland, and serves the immigrant communities in the East

Bay, as well as many from throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. The

Institute has a pan-ethnic focus serving immigrants and refugees from Latin America, Africa, Asia, and eastern Europe. See www.iieb.org for more information.

The Legal Department specializes in immigration legal assistance and representation in a range of cases including family petitions, TPS/NACARA, naturalization, and deportation defense. Assistance to immigrant survivors of domestic violence include VAWA Self-Petitions, U-visas, and I-751 waivers. A limited number of gender asylum and domestic violence applications are represented in deportation proceedings

In March, 2005 the Institute It launched a Deportation Education & Defense Project in and in conjunction with a newly created emphasis The Legal Department also educates immigrants and refugees on their rights through community presentations and provides technical assistance and training to nonprofit organizations, grassroots groups, and government agencies.

SUMMARY OF POSITION

The Institute is seeking a full time Staff Attorney whose core responsibilities will be in two of the following three areas:

a) develop the Institute’s new Deportation Defense Project;

b) develop and expand an Advocacy project to advance humane reform of immigration laws;

c) train and supervise paralegals and/or law students or other volunteer on immigration cases for survivors of domestic violence and other crimes, including intake, preparation and monitoring of cases.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Deportation Education & Defense Program

§ Coordination of Deportation Defense Clinic, which provides free consultations to low-income immigrants facing deportation.

§ Building a pro bono and/or low cost panel for deportation cases in the Bay Area, by coordinating recruitment and training of volunteer attorneys and interpreters, recruitment and coordination of experienced mentor attorneys, coordination of intake and distribution of cases, and monitoring, provision of technical assistance, and trouble shooting for cases as necessary. The ultimate scale of the project will be determined by the availability of resources.

§ Representation of limited deportation cases as time allows. The Staff Attorney is expected to exercise leadership in determining the Project’s focus.

§ Supervision of student interns or volunteer attorneys as necessary to assist in cases, the Deportation Clinic, and other areas of work

§ Assist in raising funds to expand the program

Development of Institute Advocacy Program

§ Development of a media strategy and plan for the organization, and coordination of its implementation

§ Production and distribution of the Institute’s newsletter for low-income immigrants (Immigrant News) and Action Alerts

§ Act as a representative of the Institute to the media

§ Develop the Institute’s Immigrant Speakers Bureau – a project to allow immigrants to tell their stories to the press, policy makers, and the public, by creating a databank of stories to be made available on the web and other means

§ Assist the Executive Director in fundraising to expand the program

Intern Supervision

· Supervise paralegals and/or law students or other volunteers on VAWA, U-visas, I-751 waivers, adjustment of status, and limited gender asylum and VAWA cancellation of removal cases, including intake, preparation and monitoring.

· Supervision of paralegal and volunteers in other cases as time allows.

· Training and supervising volunteers and interns generally

Related responsibilities

• Maintain excellent records on cases and complete reports for grant reporting
• Maintain files and manage own administrative tasks as necessary
• Keep abreast of relevant legal developments in the field in order to train paralegals and volunteers
• Occasionally conduct community education trainings on areas of expertise
• Assist in developing fundraising proposals as required
• Assist Managing Attorney in setting procedures and systems for the legal department

REQUIREMENTS

• J.D. or equivalent, and admission to a state bar. California bar admission is preferred, but will consider candidates that are relocating and planning to take the California bar within the next year.
• Minimum three years experience in immigration law.
• Strongly prefer experience in Immigration Court, especially in deportation defense.
• Team player who can work as part of a small department.
• Creative, dynamic candidate with ability to develop and implement programs.
• Prefer knowledge and experience in other areas of immigration law, including VAWA petitions and U-visas, family petitions and adjustment of status.
• At least one year experience in policy analysis and advocacy, including media work, community education, working within coalitions, grassroots mobilizing
• Prefer Spanish language proficiency
• Other languages strongly valued
• At least one year experience training, supervising, and motivating volunteers, law students or pro bono attorneys.
• Ability to work with clients, volunteers, and community members with sensitivity and graciousness
• Sense of humor and flexibility are huge pluses

TERMS

• 37.5 hours per week
• Salary $39,000
• Health benefits

START DATE

• Flexible, between October and December 2005. Please send your preferences for start date.

HOW TO APPLY

Please send (1) a cover letter stating your interest, your preferred start date, and summary of qualifications, and (2) resume, to: nonaga@iieb.org