Pro Bono Immigration Counsel

Join MoFo as a Pro Bono Immigration Counsel on our Attorney Talent team!

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At a glance

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The Pro Bono Immigration Counsel, under the direction of the Pro Bono Committee Chair and Vice Chair and Senior Pro Bono Counsel, will promote and facilitate attorney engagement in pro bono immigration representation. The Pro Bono Immigration Counsel is an integral member of the pro bono team, with primary responsibility for managing and expanding the firm's pro bono immigration practice. The Pro Bono Immigration Counsel works collaboratively with the full pro bono team to carry out the Firm’s commitment to a robust pro bono program.

Key Responsibilities

Program Development 

• Lead all aspects of the pro bono immigration program in the firm’s U.S. offices and occasional projects in offices outside of the U.S.
• Take lead in developing procedures for the firm’s pro bono immigration practice to ensure efficient and effective use of Firm resources.
• Identify and assess new opportunities to enlarge the pro bono immigration practice and increase attorney participation.
• Work closely with the pro bono team to develop and coordinate limited-scope immigration projects and clinics, including to facilitate partnerships with corporate clients.
• Develop creative approaches to serving immigrant communities in need in concert with legal services organizations and other private law firms.

Administration

• Review requests to open pro bono immigration matters to ensure clients have been adequately screened, staffing is appropriate, mentorship is in place, the team has sufficient information to estimate the time commitment, and attorneys understand the scope of the commitment.
• Work with the pro bono team and Pro Bono Committee to ensure immigration opportunities are distributed broadly and, once opened, properly supervised.
• Resolve complex issues relating to the firm’s pro bono immigration program, consulting with, as necessary, other pro bono counsel, the Pro Bono Committee, and the firm’s office of General Counsel.
• Refine risk management protocols to ensure adequate representation of pro bono immigration clients, especially when lawyers handling their matters leave the firm.
• Act as liaison with the firm’s language vendor for provision of matter-specific interpretation and translation services.  In addition, develop and keep up-to-date resources for local language-assistance providers.

Attorney Training and Resources

• Help attorneys locate and obtain immigration projects in their areas of interest by working with legal service organizations and other referral sources.
• Arrange for trainings in various types of immigration matters and promote relevant trainings offered by external providers.
• Monitor changes in immigration laws and policies, providing attorney teams with relevant, targeted legal information, e.g., sample filings, documents, and instructions.
• Organize internal and external exemplars, practice guides, and similar resources.
• Integrate immigration training materials and resources into MoFo Learn system.

 Case Mentorship and Support

• Participate in kick-off meetings with teams taking on substantive full-scope matters, ensuring involvement of the supervising partner and team awareness of and access to relevant resources.
• In cooperation with mentoring organizations, provide substantive guidance to immigration legal teams firmwide, answering questions and offering sample materials, instructions, and research information.
• Review draft filings, such as application packages and court submissions, providing timely feedback.
• Help teams prepare for USCIS interviews and immigration hearings and trials, including coordinating or conducting mock interviews and hearings/trials.
• Conduct regularly scheduled check-ins with teams about pending matters.

Case Continuity

• Take over as attorney of record during attorney leaves or departures, when needed. 
• Maintain client contact during dormant periods in cases.
• Orient new teams to case history and current posture when cases reactivate.
• Develop system to ensure complete case records are available when cases reactivate. 

Community and Bar Development

• Develop and maintain relationships with immigration service providers in communities where firm has offices as well as national immigrant advocacy organizations to stay informed about immigrants’ legal needs and available services.
• Represent the firm in activities of local and state bar associations, legal service providers, nonprofit organizations, and community groups in regions where firm has offices.
• Facilitate introductions for attorneys who wish to establish relationships with organizations that provide immigration legal assistance.

The Successful Candidate

Education and Experience

• Juris Doctor (JD) degree.
• Bar membership in good standing in the jurisdiction of residence.
• At least 5 years of work as an attorney in an immigration practice

Required Skills and Competencies

• Expertise in a broad range of humanitarian immigration law, including asylum, removal defense, naturalization, adjustment of status, temporary protected status, humanitarian parole, SIJS, VAWA, and T and U visas.
• Commitment to protecting immigrants' rights and advocating for social justice.
• Experience supervising and guiding other attorneys; strong leadership skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication and advocacy skills; ability to explain and teach immigration law.
• Excellent problem-solving skills, sharp attention to detail, and ability to work independently.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in complex systems with a diverse group of people.
• Ability to work under tight deadlines.
• Flexibility to travel as needed.
• Flexibility to adjust hours and work the hours necessary to meet operating and business needs.

Preferred Skills

• Familiarity with working at, or with, large private law firms.
• Fluency in Spanish.

Professional Memberships

• Expected to join the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and Association of Pro Bono Counsel (APBCO).

Apply now