Litigation Staff Attorney

Summary

Join IRAP's U.S. Litigation Department as an Attorney or Senior Staff Attorney, contributing to innovative legal challenges supporting refugees and asylum seekers. The role involves managing all aspects of litigation, collaborating with other departments, and representing IRAP externally. A law degree, U.S. bar license, and 4+ years of federal court litigation experience are required. Preferred qualifications include experience with marginalized communities and additional languages. IRAP offers competitive benefits, including fully paid family health insurance, retirement options, extensive PTO, and professional development opportunities. The position is preferably based in NYC but offers remote work options within the U.S. with specific location requirements. The salary range is $87,888 - $105,009 annually, depending on experience.

Requirements

• Possess a law degree and license to practice law in the U.S. state from which the candidate will perform work for the position
• If a candidate is moving to New York for the position and is not already licensed to practice in New York, be willing to apply for the New York bar as soon as practicable
• Have four or more years of relevant legal experience after law school, including substantial federal court litigation experience, that prepare the candidate to counsel clients, manage litigation-related projects, draft complex briefs, initiate and lead litigation (with appropriate support based on experience level), and develop additional complex litigation skills
• Demonstrate commitment to teamwork
• Exhibit the ability to work collaboratively and communicate clearly and respectfully with people of different backgrounds, including IRAP staff across the organization, other advocates, and pro bono firms
• Show eagerness to support team members as needed
• Demonstrate commitment to centering displaced people and equity principles in our work
• Show openness to accepting and providing constructive feedback
• Possess the ability to manage competing deadlines and work on fast turnarounds when needed; write coherently and incorporate feedback, with an interest in developing writing skills and producing good writing; identify, analyze, and research complex issues; problem-solve creatively and adopt creative approaches to case development and advocacy; communicate with clients in a culturally sensitive and ethical manner
• Possess excellent oral and written English communication skills

Responsibilities

• Manage, supervise, lead, and engage in all aspects of litigation and litigation-related advocacy as appropriate for level of experience, including case development and filing, legal and factual research, client counseling and interviews, motions practice, discovery, resource creation, policy advocacy, and media advocacy
• Collaborate with IRAP staff members in other program departments to ensure that litigation is supporting and leveraging the work of other departments, including policy, legal services, and communications
• Represent IRAP in external relationships, including with other advocates, pro bono firms, media, and donors
• Participate in tasks that support the organization, including by joining hiring committees, participating in cross-departmental task forces, and providing feedback on organization-wide issues

Preferred Qualifications

• Have prior experience working with marginalized and/or displaced communities and using interpreters for client communications
• Possess additional languages, particularly Arabic, Dari, Farsi, Haitian Creole, Pashto, Somali and/or Spanish
• Have familiarity with the Immigration and Nationality Act, refugee processing, and/or a practical understanding of immigration law

Benefits

• Fully paid family health insurance
• Retirement options
• Extensive PTO (20 or more vacation days & 19 org-wide holidays)
• Comprehensive leave time for sickness
• Disability and parenting (5 months of parental leave)
• Reimbursement for work from home equipment
• Generous opportunities for professional development