Staff Attorney - Buffalo

This position will primarily operate out of Buffalo, NY.

Agency Description:

Journey’s End is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit refugee resettlement agency in Buffalo, New York. We are a community-based organization with the mission of providing refugees and immigrants with the resources and support they need to become successful, active and contributing members of our shared community. The Immigration Legal Services (ILS) Program offers immigration legal services to immigrant New Yorkers in need, including representation on matters before U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) and the Buffalo Immigration Court.

Job Description: Reporting to the Supervising Attorney, the Staff Attorney (Buffalo Office) will assist in the development of the Immigration and Legal Services Program that offers full-scale holistic immigration representation to low-income refugees, asylees and other vulnerable immigrant populations. They will provide outreach, direct immigration legal services, pro se assistance, community information sessions, Understanding Your Constitutional Protections presentations, and referrals to the refugee and immigrant populations of the region. This position will operate out of the Buffalo office.

The Staff Attorney must exemplify Journey’s End’s core values in their work. These values include intercultural responsiveness, integrity, person-centered, empowerment, and exemplary service.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Provide direct affirmative and defensive immigration legal representation to the immigrant populations of Western New York, including but not limited to asylum, removal defense, adjustment of status, complex naturalization, family reunification, family-based immigration, Temporary Protected Status, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS), Special Immigrant Visas (SIV), Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), employment authorization (work permits), humanitarian parole, and appeals.
• Provide Understanding Your Constitutional Protections trainings, legal clinics, and other workshops throughout Western New York or the Southern Tier on relevant immigration topics determined by the immigrant community.
• Develop, sustain, and grow meaningful partnerships with local community groups to organize, host, and conduct outreach for trainings and other workshops.
• Provide referrals to appropriate internal agency programs or partner agencies to meet law related and other needs of refugee and immigrant clients.
• Conduct widespread community outreach, coordinate with partner agencies, and participate in all mandatory trainings.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

Applicants must:

• Be admitted and remain in good standing of the bar of the highest court of any state in the country or U.S. territory
• Be able and willing to travel to all counties throughout Western New York or the Southern Tier

• Be able and willing to travel to the Buffalo Federal Detention Facility in Batavia, NY, when necessary as part of client representation
• Possess ability to be part of a dedicated team of talented individuals
• Possess strong communication (written and oral) and advocacy skills

This is a full time and salaried position. Benefits and retirement package are included. Candidates that have three or more years of experience as an attorney, two or more years of immigration law experience, and the ability to work with multilingual clients are preferred.

Journey's End Refugee Services, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer and seeks to employ the best qualified personnel without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, age, gender, gender identity, marital status, or any other reason prohibited by law.

To Apply
Please end resume, cover letter, and contact information for three references to [email protected] . Please include job title in subject of email.

***Incomplete applications will not be considered. ***

Full-time Benefits include:

• 10% employer retirement contribution
• Health, vision, dental, & life insurance
• Hybrid work schedule
• Generous paid time off (up to 4 weeks within first year)
• 12 paid holidays
• $750 employer HSA contribution