Staff Attorney (NYC) - Safe Passage Project

About Safe Passage Project 

Safe Passage Project (SPP) is a highly-focused nonprofit immigration legal services organization that provides free lawyers to immigrant children facing deportation. Founded in 2013, SPP has grown to include 50+ employees, two offices, and an annual budget of over $5 million. It manages over 1,300 open cases a year.

To date, SPP has supported more than 3,000 young people in NYC and Long Island. The New York Immigration Courts, some of the busiest immigration courts in the US, have more than 15,000 juveniles on their dockets, many of whom are fleeing trauma in their countries of origin such as gang violence and recruitment, abuse, and sexual assault. Immigrant children are not afforded free legal representation by the government, regardless of their age. As a result, more than half of immigrant children in immigration proceedings must go to court without the aid of a lawyer. Among unaccompanied children with legal representation, immigration court data shows that 73% are allowed to remain in the United States, whereas only 15% of unrepresented children are allowed to stay. This is where Safe Passage Project steps in, both through providing immigrant youth with direct representation by staff attorneys and through a robust network of pro bono attorneys who SPP attorneys train, mentor, and supervise.

About the Role 

The Staff Attorney will be joining a group of exceptional public interest attorneys to directly impact the lives of immigrant children looking for safety and security. The Staff Attorney will directly represent children in immigration and other related proceedings, including cases involving asylum, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, and other forms of immigration relief. The Staff Attorney will also guide pro bono attorneys through Family Court and Immigration Court proceedings, and through representation at the Asylum Office. This position will be primarily based in New York City with less than a quarter of the caseload based on Long Island. 

Responsibilities: 

• Provide direct representation to Safe Passage Project clients. 
• Supervise and mentor pro bono attorneys with the Safe Passage Project. 
• Screen immigrant children and assist in the organization of the Safe Passage Project's legal screenings.
• Provide detailed reporting statistics on each case mentored and represented directly.

Qualifications: 

The strongest candidates for this position will have most, though likely not all, of the following qualifications and characteristics: 

• J.D. degree and admission to the New York State Bar; 
• Two (2) years of family law or immigration law experience; 
• Excellent written, analytical, oral, organizational, and time management skills; 
• Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively on an interdisciplinary team in a fast-paced, high-intensity environment; 
• Fluency in Spanish is required; 
• Experience working with diverse communities and/or with children; 
• A commitment to the work of Safe Passage Project and readiness to grow and learn with the Safe Passage Project team. 

Compensation and Benefits 

Safe Passage Project offers a competitive salary in the range of $74,279 - $93,824 annually and offers the following benefits:

• In a hybrid work environment, staff currently work from our office 1 day a week.
• Open Paid Time Off
• Medical plans (which includes 1 plan that has 100% premium coverage).
• Dental plans, Vision plans, and telehealth services.
• An employer-sponsored retirement savings plan- we provide up to 6% employer match of your 401(k) contributions
• 12 weeks of Paid Family Leave along with Unpaid Leave of Absence
• Short-term disability (STD) & Long-term disability (LTD) Coverage
• Flexible spending accounts (FSA) and Health savings accounts (HSA)
• Commuter benefits (Transit & Parking)
• Voluntary Life Insurance plans
• Yearly Professional Development Stipend
• Time off from December 24th to January 1st
• Home Office Stipend
• Paid Holidays
• Flexible work schedule

How to Apply 

Please submit a resume and thoughtful cover letter outlining how your skills and experience meet the qualifications of the position.

Safe Passage Project is an equal opportunity employer. Women, people of color, LGBTQ people, veterans, and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply. For more information on Safe Passage Project, please visit www.safepassageproject.org.