The American Bar Association (ABA) was founded on a commitment to advance the rule of law in the United States and beyond by providing practical resources for legal professionals, conducting law school accreditation, developing model ethics codes and more. Today, the ABA remains a member-based organization that works to ensure access to justice for all, a fair legal process, and respect for the rule of law at home and across the globe.

The ABA is committed to service and refining the standards that guide the legal profession. ABA staff are provided multiple types of continuing education and career development opportunities. Your work will help eliminate bias, enhance diversity, and advance the rule of law throughout the US and around the world.

The ABA recognizes the value staff contribute to our success through a generous benefits package that protects their health and their financial security. The ABA's wide array of benefit offerings include 401(k), medical, dental, vision, flexible spending accounts, health spending accounts, supplemental life and disability insurance, prepaid legal programs, and a complimentary membership to the American Bar Association, which offers additional benefits.

Flexible/hybrid work arrangements may be available for residents of CA, DC, IL, IN, IA, MD, MI, MN, TX, VA, and WI. Residency requirements may apply. ABA employees are eligible to apply for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF).

Job Summary

• Accountable for providing legal services to unaccompanied children in immigration removal proceedings, in the border region. This position will require regular involvement with individuals' living in difficult circumstances and who may have experienced trauma.

Essential Job Functions and Responsibilities

• Primarily provides legal services including direct representation to locally released children in immigration removal proceedings.
• Reviews legal screenings conducted by non-attorney staff. Reviews and assigns follow-up services, including additional interviewing, referrals to other legal services providers and advocates, or in- house representation.
• Regularly appears in immigration court to represent children in removal proceedings and to act as Friend of Court for other youth as appropriate. May also appear in California state court as related to a child's immigration case.
• Develops and maintains legal competency relating to immigration detention work, specifically as applied to unaccompanied minors. Builds and maintains relations with local stakeholders. Observes ethical practices relating to client confidentiality using division's case management system.
• Builds and maintains relationships with local stakeholders.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Required Education, Qualifications, Experience

• Juris Doctorate or Master of Law (LLM) from an ABA-accredited law school and be in good standing.
• Licensed to practice law and member in the State Bar of California.
• Written and spoken fluency in a secondary language may be required based upon the location and client base served.
• Intermediate proficiency with online research and Microsoft Office products (Word, Excel, OneDrive, Teams)
• Must be familiar with conducting virtual meetings, training, and observations on software such as Zoom, Teams, etc.
• Must be able to pick up on client verbal and non-verbal cues.
• Have reliable transportation to travel to off-site work locations.
• In accordance with the federal regulation, background check will be required for this position.

Preferred Education, Qualifications, Experience

• One year experience and prior work experience with children, particularly from Spanish-speaking countries.
• Prior volunteer, community, or work experience regarding immigration or detention, and non-profit experience, particularly involving immigration detention.

Physical Requirements

• Typical office setting with frequent visits at immigration detention facilities and/or immigration court, requiring an ability to move about the facility grounds, with documentation materials weighing up to 15 pounds, for up to 15 minutes or more in temperatures that may exceed 90 degrees.

Extent of Travel Required in the Job

• As a normal course of business, this job will typically require travel of less than 15% of the time.

• ABA IJP, 2727 Camino Del Rio, San Diego, California, United States of America