Children's Attorney

The Children’s Attorney will conduct legal relief eligibility determinations, meet with and advise child clients, and provide direct legal representation to unaccompanied children in the care of an Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) short term shelter and long term foster care facility, and those released to sponsors located in the DFW area. Relief will include filing for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, Asylum, U and T Visas, requiring the attorney to appear in Texas family court, immigration court, and at the Houston Asylum office.Working closely with IRC Dallas leadership and immigration staff, as well as IRC’s HQ Immigration Technical Unit and a host of external partners, the Children’s Attorney will develop this new program area for IRC in Dallas. The attorney will bring not only relevant legal experience and a passion for this area of work, but also the creativity and flexibility needed to lead the process of implementing a new program area. This position will report to the Staff Attorney and will supervise a Legal Assistant, social worker and interns.

Major Responsibilities:

Know Your Rights Presentations, Eligibility Determinations and Direct Legal Representation:

•Oversee staff conducting Know Your Rights group presentations.

•Conduct intakes, identify legal relief and draft good faith letters of eligibility for children in ORR custody.

•Provide immediate, temporary direct representation to children requesting voluntary departure.

•Handle moderate caseload providing on-going direct legal representation to locally released unaccompanied children and limited number of long term foster care unaccompanied minors before the immigration court and US Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS).

•Oversee referrals to children relocated outside the DWF jurisdiction.

Program Management:

•Coordinate closely within IRC’s multidisciplinary teams to identify need for services and facilitate referrals to in-house programs and through partnerships with external providers.

•Provide daily supervision to the Legal Assistant, social worker and interns;

•Ensure timely and accurate compliance to all reporting requirements.

•Work closely with the HQ Immigration Technical Unit team and other field offices as part of the IRC immigration network.

Job Requirements:

•Law degree and admission to the Texas state bar;

•Bilingual in Spanish/English;

•Experience with Texas family law and filing suits Affecting the Parent Child Relationship (SAPCR);

•Strong communication and interpersonal skills; written and verbal English fluency;

•Deep commitment to working with humanitarian immigrants;

•Trauma-informed and sensitive listening and communication skills;

•Must have a valid driver’s license, reliable vehicle, active insurance policy and ability to travel frequently in and around the service area to engage with clients and community partners.

•Experience providing direct representation in immigration court and/or before USCIS to children and/or asylum seekers (preferred);

•Experience working with children (preferred)

Working Environment:

•Standard office environment combined with local travel within the service delivery area.Occasional travel to Houston.

•Work from home option available.

•Occasional evening and weekend hours required.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

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