Heartland Alliance's National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC) is dedicated to ensuring human rights protections and access to justice for all immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers. With offices in Chicago, Indiana, San Diego, and Washington, D.C., NIJC provides direct legal services to and advocates for these populations through policy reform, impact litigation, and public education. Since its founding three decades ago, NIJC has been unique in blending individual client advocacy with broad-based systemic change.

 

Position:

NIJC seeks an attorney with litigation experience, including federal litigation, for a full-time federal-court litigation position. Applications from attorneys who have a demonstrated commitment to immigrant and civil rights, and who would be interested in, and capable of, contributing to innovative litigation and policy advocacy in the federal courts, both at the district court and in the courts of appeal are welcome. Litigation tasks include legal research, drafting of pleadings and briefs, discovery, motion practice, and trials and appeals in both state and federal courts. The litigation attorney will work to develop and implement advocacy strategies in identified areas. The litigation attorney may also be called upon to provide immigration-court level representation for clients in litigation matters (e.g. representing a named-plaintiff in a district court action in his related immigration case). The litigator will collaborate with the NIJC direct service, policy and communications teams. The litigator will work with pro bono attorneys.

 

Responsibilities:

• Identify litigation issues and collaborate with NIJC’s communication, policy, and litigation teams
• Develop legal strategies
• Provide legal representation and/or lead or participate in litigation efforts through all phases of litigation, including motions practice, discovery, trial, brief writing, and oral argument (as appropriate)
• Conduct legal research and draft pleadings and briefs
• Collaborate with community-based organizations to identify cases/plaintiffs
• Work with pro bono partners
• Communicate via the media regarding legal advocacy and policy efforts
• Identify trends and emerging issues

Qualifications:

• Juris Doctorate Degree required; at least two years practicing law is required, four years is preferred with experience in immigration and/or human rights law
• Candidates with at least two years of litigation experience preferred
• Spanish fluency strongly preferred. However, speakers of other languages are encouraged to apply
• Self-motivated and committed to civil liberties advocacy
• Excellent writing and analytical skills
• Ability to work cooperatively on a variety of projects with lawyers, other staff members, and diverse community organizations and coalitions
• Ability to communicate effectively in legal and non-legal settings with a wide range of individuals and organizations
• Ability to represent individuals in complex cases and to formulate and implement sophisticated legal strategies

How to Apply:

Applicants can submit their materials to the job board