Staff Attorney, Shelter Services - Lowell, MA

The mission of the International Institute of New England (IINE) is to create opportunities for refugees and immigrants to succeed through resettlement, education, career advancement and pathways to citizenship. One of the oldest and largest human services organizations for New Americans in the region, IINE serves more than 4,000 people each year in Boston and Lowell, Massachusetts, and Manchester, New Hampshire. Our programs include case management, youth and family services, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), employment and skills training, and immigration legal services.

A dynamic, forward-looking, and rapidly growing non-profit organization, we seek well-qualified, solutions-focused candidates who are experts in their respective fields. Successful candidates will join a committed team of professional staff and volunteers who are devoted to welcoming and serving new Americans.

Overview

The International Institute of New England has a rapidly growing division which provides resettlement and limited legal assistance to families who have recently arrived in the United States experiencing homelessness in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. We are searching for an energetic and committed Staff Attorney to serving individuals sheltered within the Emergency Assistance (EA) Family Shelter System. The Staff Attorney will join a mobile team of passionate professionals dedicated to providing culturally competent legal services in a fast-paced, high volume environment.

This role requires the Staff Attorney, Shelter Services to maintain a high-volume caseload, including screening clients for available grounds of immigration relief, advising clients of their legal rights and obligations, gathering and examining documentation, drafting and submitting applications to USCIS and EOIR, and preparing clients for immigration court hearings and USCIS interviews, as applicable. The position will require frequent travel to and working from one or more EA Family Shelters located within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Fluency in English required; fluency in Spanish, French, Portuguese, and/or Haitian Creole is a plus. This is an excellent opportunity for newly-licensed or experienced immigration attorneys looking to respond to the call for support for newly-arrived families following Governor Healey�s August 2023 state of emergency declaration. This is a one-year position with the possibility for renewal.

Position: Staff Attorney

• Department: Shelter Services


• Reports to: Managing Attorney, Shelter Services


• Supervises: N/A


• Status: Exempt, Full-Time


• Location: Lowell, MA


• Position Format: Hybrid


• Pay: $79,233-$92,439/year

Benefits:

Full-time employees will be eligible for all benefits including Personal Time Off (PTO), sick days, and twelve paid holidays. You may participate in all benefit programs that IINE establishes and makes available to eligible employees, under (and subject to all provisions of) the plan documents that govern those programs. Currently, IINE offers medical, dental and vision. Company-paid life insurance, company-paid short-term disability (STD), long term disability (LTD), accidental death and dismemberment and disability coverage, Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), other benefits including 403(b) with company match plan(s) pursuant to the terms and conditions of company policy and the 403(b)-plan document. Other perks such as discounts through our vision plan, fitness reimbursement and more.

Responsibilities

Client Services

• Perform client intake, gathering sufficient facts and information to assess eligibility for immigration relief with a specific focus on pathways to Employer Authorization Documents (EADs) and Permanent Residency in the United States, including asylum and other humanitarian protections.


• Provide high-quality legal and document assistance services throughout Eastern Massachusetts, traveling between a central office and EA Family Shelter sites as needed.


• Follow the policies, procedures, and best practices for providing immigration legal services as established by the Shelter Services Resettlement and Legal Services team.


• Monitor and maintain an organized caseload, including maintaining proper client files and documentary evidence required to prove eligibility for immigration relief.


• Conduct legal research as necessary.


• Work closely with IINE programmatic staff and partner community-based organizations to ensure that clients receive holistic service addressing their many needs beyond legal representation in a culturally competent manner.


• Remain current in best practices in immigration legal services, participating in continuing legal education (CLEs) programs as appropriate.


• Maintain and update immigration case management software database records with detailed client case and contact information.


• Review the work-product of the Shelter Services Resettlement and Legal Services team support staff.


• Keep accurate records and report outcomes to the Massachusetts Office of Refugees and Immigrants as required by contract.


• Achieve weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual project completion goals and metrics.


• All other duties assigned by supervisor/manager.

Administrative

• Responsible for updating legal case management systems with case notes, maintaining client files (physical and digital), and engaging in reconciliation activities with the finance department as needed.


• Participate in provider meetings as required.


• Identify processes and procedures that can improve the quality, efficiency, and effectiveness of the Resettlement and Legal Services team at IINE and with other Resettlement Agencies.

Required Education & Experience

• J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school or its international equivalent


• Currently eligible to practice law in, and is a member in good standing of the bar of, the highest court of any State, possession, territory, or Commonwealth of the United States, or of the District of Columbia, and is not under any order suspending, enjoining, restraining, disbarring, or otherwise restricting him or her in the practice of law (Massachusetts preferred; may consider July 2024 bar examinees awaiting results subject to admission within 6-months of beginning employment)


• Minimum of two-years of relevant experience with immigration law, with at least one-year of experience working with asylum-seekers, which could include a combination of legal assistance experience, internship experiences at private law firms with a significant immigration practice, legislative or administrative law experience, and/or experience in policy advocacy for state and/or federal administrative agencies.

Required Skills/Abilities

• Strong writing skills (writing sample required).


• High degree of intellectual curiosity; willingness to learn as much as possible about immigration law and to contribute to the smooth operation of the immigration legal programs at IINE.


• A strong sense of professionalism, discretion, and confidentiality.


• Demonstrated attention to detail


• Excellent organizational and time management skills � demonstrated ability to meet deadlines.


• Effective communicator; should be comfortable working as part of a team and expressing innovative or critical ideas.


• Highly proficient with Microsoft and Adobe office software, including Word, Excel, Sharepoint, Teams, Outlook, and Acrobat professional.


• Experience with using a legal case management system (e.g., Cerenade E-Immigration, Docketwise, INSZoom, Clio, Filevine, etc.) or other database software for client management, and a demonstrated ability to learn new systems quickly.


• Ability to contribute to a cooperative, friendly, and positive work environment.


• Dedication to exceptional client service ? Ability to act independently and in team settings.


• Professional and/or volunteer experience working directly with marginalized populations.


• Fluency in Spanish, French, Portuguese, and/or Haitian Creole is a plus.

Work Environment Conditions

• Frequent interruptions from coworkers, partners, and clients � the right candidate must have ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment with multiple competing demands and requirements.


• Must have access to a vehicle and auto insurance. Position requires travel to assigned EA Family Shelters within a reasonable driving distance from either of our offices in the Commonwealth (Boston and Lowell). (NOTE: IINE reimburses travel in accordance with applicable IRS regulations for mileage).

Physical Demands

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.


• Must be able to lift up-to 15 pounds on occasion.

Covid-19 Policy

IINE does not require applicants for most positions to show proof of Covid-19. Some federal contracts, however, require IINE staff to show proof of Covid-19 vaccination, and some immigration status adjustments, such as a Green Card, require proof of Covid-19 vaccination as well. Consequently, for some positions, IINE staff may be required to show proof of vaccination, and in others, IINE staff will be supporting clients who are required by law to have proof of vaccination in order to adjust their status in the United States.

US Work Eligibility Notice

This position requires lawful authorization to work in the United States, and IINE is unable to provide visa sponsorship in connection with this