Make the Road New York (MRNY) builds the power of immigrant and working-class communities to achieve dignity and justice through organizing, policy innovation, transformative education, and survival services. Make the Road New York operates community centers in Bushwick, Brooklyn; Jackson Heights, Queens; Port Richmond, Staten Island; Brentwood, Long Island and White Plains, Westchester County. With a membership of over 25,000, MRNY tackles the critical issues facing our communities, including workplace justice, tenants’ rights, immigrant and civil rights, public education, health care access, policing, and TGNCIQ justice. (TGNCIQ = transgender, gender non-conforming, intersex and queer).

 

The Legal Department at MRNY works to strengthen the organization’s organizing work by (1) helping to envision and implement strategies (including strategic litigation) that support our organizing campaigns; (2) providing technical legal support for policy work; and (3) providing legal and support services to meet the immediate needs of the community members who MRNY serves. The Department currently employs approximately 45 attorneys, advocates, and case managers. Our legal team is integrated into all aspects of the organization’s work.

 

Position:

We are hiring a Staff Attorney to join our dynamic immigration team. The attorney will fully integrate into our team’s immigration practice and work on a broad range of cases. MRNY staff are currently working both remotely and in-person,  but this position will be based from our Westchester office in White Plains full-time when our offices fully reopen later this year.

 

Responsibilities:

• Providing individualized assistance to clients currently in removal proceedings or eligible for immigration relief, in a broad range of categories including SIJ, Asylum, U/T Nonimmigrant Status, and Cancellation of Removal, including representing individuals in immigration, family and federal district court
• Assisting in community education efforts, including through the creation of written materials, KYR presentations, and popular education workshops
• Supporting MRNY members and organizing campaigns through strategic litigation, legislative advocacy, research, media work, and action support
• Participating in team and department meetings and assisting with grant reporting
• Continuous learning and application of movement lawyering principles as well as other critical concepts that underscore our organizational approach to building power, such as racialized capitalism

 

Qualifications:

• Eligible to work in the U.S
• Required to be fully vaccinated with an FDA approved COVID-19 vaccine prior to first date of employment
• At least 2 years of immigration legal practice experience, which may include clinic and/or legal internships.
• Admission (or eligibility for admission) to practice law in New York State or the possibility of waiving into the state
• Spanish language proficiency
• Interpersonal and organizational skills of the highest caliber
• Experience with populations that make up major portions of Make the Road’s membership – such as documented and undocumented immigrants, individuals facing domestic violence, members of TGNCIQ communities, those who have experienced the criminal legal system, and youth
• Interest in supporting community organizing, campaigns, and policy and advocacy initiatives
• Desire to work collaboratively

 

How to Apply:

Please apply with a cover letter, resume, and writing sample in Make the Road New York's Career Center.

For external applicants, please click here.