SUMMARY
STCL Houston seeks a public interest attorney with experience in Immigration Law. Client base is drawn from Harris County and contiguous counties—indigent and economically disadvantaged persons. Provides high quality immigration legal representation and community service to Clinics’ client base, utilizing student intern involvement designed to enhance student education experience by performing the follow duties.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Performs, attends, and participates in immigration legal services through the Clinics, both onsite and offsite such as case/file development and follow-up, factual investigations, immigration court appearances, or hearings and interviews before the Department of Homeland Security (DHS);
Observes and monitors student interns in the performance of their duties and skills development/enhancement in such functions as client interviewing and counseling, factual investigation, document drafting, case/hearing preparation and development, timeliness, court/administrative appearances, post-hearing follow-up, and providing timely and appropriate feedback;
Provides access to legal services for clients at various community outreach programs such Boat People SOS, Catholic Charities, YMCA International Services, and similar organizations by providing education of rights and procedures to clients;
Practices and promotes ethical and professional approach to the practice of law to enhance and ensure high quality student education experience, client representation, and community service;
Develops legal education programs by exploring and assessing current, new and expanded subject matter for potential representation; provides in-service and continuing legal education to clinic staff; and educates the community at public speaking engagements;
Assists with client intake, screening, and document gathering;
Sets appointments, organizes and tracks cases, and communicates with clients;
Travels occasionally to off-site locations as needed to accomplish the above tasks;
Collaborates with Clinics’ faculty, coordinators, and public interest attorneys in assisting student interns with client interactions, including intake, interviews, and correspondence;
Works with Clinics team to provide legal representation to eligible applicants in immigration law;
Attends partnership or collaborative meetings as a representative of the Clinics;
Conducts information sessions or presentations at outreach events, occasionally in the evenings or on weekends;
Observes and monitors student/graduate interns, as needed, in the performance of their duties and skills development/enhancement in such functions as client interviewing and counseling, factual investigation, document drafting, case/hearing preparation and development, timeliness, court/administrative appearances, post-hearing follow-up, and provides timely and appropriate feedback. This includes clinical settings, pro bono projects, and post graduate internships or fellowships;
Practices and promotes ethical and professional approach to the practice of law to enhance and ensure high quality student education experience, client representation, and community service;
Utilizes case management and data aggregation software(s) to:
· maintain program reports, surveys, and data entry of statistics
· assist with client intake, screening, and document gathering
· set appointments, organize and track cases, and communicate with clients; and
Performs other duties as assigned.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY
When needed, monitor and supervise the work of student/graduate interns, pro bono attorneys, and paralegals as directed by the Senior Director, Legal Services.
QUALIFICATIONS
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Required
· Licensed to practice law in any state or territory of the United States;
· Two (2) years legal experience or more;
· Bilingual fluency in English and Spanish;
· Experience with Immigration and Nationality Law;
· Strong interpersonal skills and ability to communicate with all levels of constituencies;
· High level of business and professional ethics;
· Flexible and adaptive in meeting the needs of the Clinics’ client base, student interns, faculty, and staff;
· Excellent verbal and written communication skills;
· Reliable transportation;
· Minimum computer and technology skills required: Microsoft Windows and Office, telephone, fax, and copying/scanning.
Preferred
· Licensed to practice law in Texas;
· Prior public interest or volunteer experience serving low-income persons;
· Other language proficiency in addition to English and Spanish;
· Prior experience with veterans legal or social services;
· Prior experience in teaching, training, or mentoring others;
· Experience with case management software is a plus.
EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE
Graduate of an ABA accredited law school with a Doctor of Jurisprudence.
REASONING ABILITY
Ability to define routine problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions to solve routine problems and/or deal with a variety of variables in situations, especially when department head may be out of office or unavailable. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS
Licensed to practice law in any state or territory of the United States;
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and talk or hear. The employee is regularly required to stand and walk. Occasional light to moderate lifting from floor level, at waist, and above shoulders required. Infrequent bending and stooping necessary. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision in order to accurately input data and proofread; distance vison in order to recognize and assist visitors to the department.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Fast paced, multitasking, non-smoking work environment. Must be able to work the general business schedule of the College ranging from a start time of 9:00 to 5:30 depending on scheduling needs, plus occasional evenings and weekends as necessary.
Application Instructions
Applications must contain a CV or resume and a cover letter describing the applicant’s interest in public interest law and clinical legal education.
Competitive Benefits Package for full-time staff
· All Health/Dental/Vision Insurance Coverage Effective on your date of hire
· CIGNA Plus Medical & Prescription Coverage (Employee Only Semi-Monthly $71.92)
· CIGNA Dental & Vision (Employee Only Semi-Monthly $3.56)
· HSA/FSA Medical Savings Accounts
· Pet Insurance.
· Life Insurance covered by the law school at two times your basic annual salary.
· Optional Life Insurance for employee and spouse
· Short & Long Term Disability coverage no cost to employee
· 403(b) employee only contribution; auto-enrolled at 2%
· 401(a) Employer contributes 8% of your salary after 1 year and worked 1,000 hours.
· Paid Leave Time, New Employees earn 1 day (7.5 hours) per month
· Sick Leave Time, New Employees Sick leave will be prorated based on the hire date at 9.375 hours per month for the first partial year of employment. On January 1st, staff employees are eligible for 15 days sick leave at full pay.
· 18 Paid Holidays 2024
· Employee and Dependent Tuition Remission options
· FREE Downtown Employee Parking
· Discount Tickets to STCLH Sporting Events for Employee and Family
· On Campus Cafe
