ProBAR is an organization dedicated to empowering immigrants on the frontlines of immigration policies and detention. Senior Staff Attorneys for ProBAR’s Children’s Team lead and mentor passionate advocates who serve some of the highest numbers of detained unaccompanied children nationally. The team’s legal advocacy and representation are complemented by ProBAR’s holistic approach that integrates connections to services for children released from detention.

Job Summary/ General Purpose of Job 

Provides legal services to detained unaccompanied children in immigration removal proceedings in the South Texas border region. Serves as mentor and leader to staff attorneys, legal interns, legal support staff and volunteers, including by maintaining current materials and trainings on legal services.

Essential Job Functions and Responsibilities (listed in order of importance and/or time spent)

• Mentors Staff Attorneys by providing advice and direction on their cases. Assists in the training and mentoring of attorneys, legal support staff and other legal volunteers.  Champions a collaborative office culture by example and fosters opportunities for learning and teamwork. 

• Reviews legal screenings and assigns follow-up services, including additional interviewing of children, referrals to other legal service providers and advocates, and direct representation. 

• Develops and maintains legal competency relating to immigration detention work, specifically as applied to unaccompanied minors. Responds to project requests from leadership by completing assigned duties, delegating, and ensuring the delivery of outcomes.  Observes ethical practices relating to client confidentiality and all other applicable legal ethics standards. Maintains case files, documentation and data integrity using division’s case management system.

• Regularly appears in immigration court to represent children in removal proceedings and to act as Friend of Court for other detained youth as appropriate. 

• Serves as a facilitator between the shelter, shelter services team, and legal department. Builds and maintains relationships with local stakeholders.  Serves as a facilitator among teams and groups within the legal department. 

• Must be familiar with conducting virtual meetings, trainings, and observations on videoconferencing software such as Zoom, Teams, etc.

• Performs other related duties as required.
 

Required Education, Qualifications, Experience

• Possession of a Juris Doctorate degree from an ABA-accredited law school. 

• One or more years of experience representing clients, preferably in immigration matters. 

• Licensed and in good standing to practice law in a U.S. state or territory. 

• Fluent in English and Spanish in both written and spoken forms. 

• Intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Office products.

• Must be able to pick up on client verbal and non-verbal cues. 

• Must have reliable internet and phone connection.

• Must have reliable transportation to travel to off-site work locations. 

• Must be insurable and have an acceptable driving record. 

• This position requires the ability to travel to and enter care provider facilities funded by the Office of Refugee Resettlement, Administration for Children and Families, United States Department of Health and Human Services which provide housing and services to unaccompanied children. This position will require the provision of legal services to unaccompanied children in such care provider facilities. In accordance with the federal regulation, background check will be required for this position.

Preferred Education, Qualifications, Experience

• Two or more years of experience with at least one year in immigration matters. 

• Prior work experience with children, particularly from Central America, including Mayan language-speaking populations. 

• Prior volunteer, community, or work experience regarding immigration, refugees, or detention. 

• Prior non-profit experience, particularly involving immigration detention.