Senior Attorney- Know Your Rights (KYR) & Direct Representation, Detained Adult Program

# **Description**

## **Who We Are**

The Capital Area Immigrants’ Rights (CAIR) Coalition is now **Amica Center for Immigrant Rights** (“Amica Center” for short). Since our founding in 1999, we have grown significantly and added new services to support immigrants in detention. Recently, Amica Center has outgrown our name, expanding beyond our initial services and geographic boundaries.

“Amica” is the Latin word for “friend,” and that echoes the way we approach what we do. Just as friends stand with one another, Amica Center stands with our clients to achieve the safety, stability, and opportunity we all deserve.

We are the only non-profit organization in the Washington, D.C. area exclusively focused on providing legal assistance to adult and child immigrants detained by the government in the Capital Region and beyond.

## **Our Work Environment**

The Detained Adult Program (DAP) works with hundreds of adults detained by ICE each year, providing information, support, and legal representation. We provide trauma‑sensitive, person‑centered services and deeply value the autonomy of the people we work with in detention as they navigate the fundamentally inhumane immigration system.

Amica Center’s Detained Adult Program is a highly collaborative work environment. Each team lead works directly with a focused team, but all colleagues are interconnected through case workshops, staff‑run committees, and other collaborative structures.

DAP staff serve as a source of expertise in the highly complex and ever‑changing immigration system. They have persisted through administration changes, policy shifts, and attacks on the rights and freedoms of immigrants through project‑focused cohorts that arise to address challenges or to brainstorm and implement affirmative strategies.

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# **Position Summary**

## **General Duties and Responsibilities**

### **Detention Facility Services**
– Plan and lead visits to government detention facilities throughout Virginia (approximately 2–4 full days per month, including 2‑day overnight visits), including oversight and supervision of staff and volunteers during visits and assistance in preparation and breakdown from visits.
– Perform Know‑Your‑Rights presentations and pro se workshops in Spanish, English, and (with interpretation) other languages to help detained individuals navigate the immigration court system. Coordinate efforts to ensure every newly arrived person at the detention center has the opportunity to attend presentations. Assist in adapting presentations and workshops to respond to changes in the law and legal needs of the people we work with in detention.
– Liaise with external partners at law schools, non‑profit organizations, and firms in coordination with the pro bono coordinating attorney to secure and further access to legal services for detained individuals.
– Identify and track trends and emerging issues faced by the people we work with in detention affecting their immigration cases. Coordinate with others in the organization to help detained people respond to and access better information on issues. Make appropriate referrals and provide necessary insight to in‑house and external teams working on emergent issues.

### **Representation**
– Manage a caseload of direct legal representation of detained clients in removal proceedings primarily before the Annandale, Hyattsville, and Elizabeth Immigration Courts and other courts as needed. This includes representation in cases such as Asylum, Withholding of Removal, Protection under the Convention Against Torture, Board of Immigration Appeals, and Cancellation of Removal.
– Provide expert mentoring to outside pro bono attorneys representing detained immigrants.
– Prepare Post Release Plans and social service plans in coordination with social services staff.
– Research, engage, and prepare experts on health, behavioral health, and country conditions.
– Supervise and coordinate with paralegal staff on case support.
– As needed, provide direct supervision to staff attorneys on direct representation cases, including assistance with case strategy, trial preparation, and caseload management.

### **Organizational Services**
– Actively engage in Amica Center’s training and advocacy efforts as needed.
– Participate in stakeholder relationship activities, including meetings with community groups, governmental bodies and representatives (including ICE, jail and court officials), and other legal service providers.
– Coordinate with all internal Amica Center programs (e.g., Impact Lab, Representation Programs) to ensure all programs are kept abreast of detention developments, clients, and referrals.
– Undertake administrative functions, including preparation of filings and ensuring timely and accurate data entry into shared databases.
– Assist other program staff during high‑work/low‑bandwidth periods.

*This list is illustrative and not intended to be a complete classification of all job functions or tasks.*

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# **Additional Role‑Specific Details**

### **Position Type**
Full‑time, exempt position

### **Reports To**
Managing Attorney

### **Supervisory Responsibility**
Senior attorneys may be assigned direct supervision of staff attorneys and paralegals based on program needs.

### **Hiring Timeline**
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

### **Salary**
$67,800 – $85,600
*Amica Center uses a transparent compensation framework based on position and years of relevant experience to ensure internal equity and reduce the risk of bias.*

### **Location and Travel Requirements**
This position is based at the Washington, D.C. office. Due to business‑related travel expectations, candidates are recommended to live within 30 miles of their assigned primary office.

### **Telework**
Amica Center operates a hybrid work environment. Staff are required to work at least one day per week in‑office, though some roles require more on‑site attendance or travel.

### **COVID‑19 Vaccination**
All employees must be fully vaccinated and boosted against COVID‑19, following CDC guidelines.

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# **Benefits**

Amica Center’s benefits package includes:

### **Health & Wellness**
– Free gym access (Washington, D.C. location)
– Subsidized health, dental, and vision insurance
– Life insurance valued at $50,000
– Long‑ and short‑term disability
– Flexible Spending Account option
– High Deductible Health Plan with a one‑time $350 employer HSA contribution

### **Retirement**
– 403(b) savings account option
– Employer match available annually after one year of continuous employment

### **Work‑Life Balance**
– 23 Personal Days per year
– Up to 20 Sick Days per year
– 7 hours of Volunteer Time Off per year
– Federal holidays
– Paid winter break closure
– 12 weeks of parental leave
– Flexible working hours (after training and with supervisor approval)
– Pre‑tax commuter benefits for DMV residents

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# **EEO Statement**

Amica Center for Immigrants’ Rights is an equal opportunity employer. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type and provide equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

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# **Our Anti‑Racism Statement**
`https://amicacenter.org/becoming-anti-racist

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# **Requirements**

## **Competencies Required**

### **Legal Proficiency**
The Senior Attorney demonstrates a solid understanding of legal concepts, provides services with limited supervision, and supports junior staff. They employ the law skillfully in written and oral presentations, have handled multiple hearings or interviews, and demonstrate cultural competency and trauma‑informed practices.

### **Client and Programmatic Proficiency**
The Senior Attorney manages programmatic obligations, supervises junior staff, mentors pro bono attorneys, and exercises sound judgment in escalating issues to management.

### **Administrative**
The Senior Attorney ensures all administrative aspects of their role and their supervisees’ roles are completed without managerial intervention, including timekeeping, file upkeep, and database accuracy.

## **Qualifications Required**
– JD/LLM or Full DOJ Accreditation and 3–5 years of relevant immigration law experience
– Active bar license (if JD)
– Written and oral Spanish proficiency required; fluency preferred
– 1–2 years of supervision experience preferred
– Ability to manage a docket of detained removal defense cases
– Strong trial advocacy skills preferred
– Valid driver’s license and comfort operating a vehicle
– Ability to travel for work; reasonable accommodations available under the ADA

Amica Center values diverse backgrounds and encourages candidates from underrepresented groups to apply. Candidates with disabilities may request accommodations at [email protected].

Apply here