ProBAR- ICH Staff Attorney

Staff Attorneys for ProBAR's Adult Team advocate for and serve adults and families who are in removal proceedings in the Rio Grande Valley, or are in removal proceedings under the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) at the Brownsville hearing location. Our Adult Team Staff Attorneys provide a combination of legal orientations, direct representation, and pro se assistance to adults from around the world who seek humanitarian immigration relief. Through our Immigration Court Helpdesk Program (ICH), a national program funded and overseen by the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), ProBAR provides legal orientation services for pro se respondents with pending removal proceedings in the Rio Grande Valley. This includes individuals with cases before the Harlingen Immigration Court, as well as individuals enrolled in the MPP program. The ICH Staff Attorneys will provide legal orientation services to pro se respondents through the ICH program. The team's legal services are complemented by ProBAR's holistic approach that integrates connections to services. 

The Organization: 

ProBAR empowers immigrants through high-quality legal education, representation, and connections to services. ProBAR serves immigrants in the Rio Grande Valley border region with a particular focus on the legal needs of adults and unaccompanied children in federal custody. Founded in 1989 as a project of the American Bar Association, ProBAR’s office is located in Harlingen, TX. For more information about ProBAR, please visit our website: https://ambar.org/probar 

Job Summary/ General Purpose of Job 

Accountable for providing legal orientation services to non-detained immigrants in the South Texas Region, as well as immigrants who have been returned to Mexico under the MPP program. This position will require regular involvement with individuals' living in difficult circumstances and who may have experienced trauma. 

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

• Provides group and individual legal orientations to non-detained immigrants in immigration removal proceedings before the Harlingen Immigration Court. 
• Provides group and individual legal orientations to individuals enrolled in the MPP program. 
• Provides individual assistance to pro se respondents with court filings; appears as Friend of Court in removal proceedings as appropriate. 
• May provide some direct representation to individuals in removal proceedings in immigration court, as allowed by other grants. 
• Mentors pro bono attorneys and non-attorneys staff and volunteers as needed. 
• Develops and maintains legal competency relating to immigration detention work. Builds and maintains relationships with local stakeholders. Observes ethical practices relating to confidentiality and all other applicable legal ethics standards. Maintains case files, documentation and data integrity using division’s case management system. 
• Performs other related duties as required. 

Required Education, Qualifications, Experience 

• Possession of a Juris Doctorate or Master of Law (LLM) from an ABA-accredited law school and be in good standing. 
• Licensed to practice law in a U.S. state or territory. 
• Fluent in English and Spanish in written and spoken forms. 
• Intermediate proficiency with online research and Microsoft Office products (Word, Excel, OneDrive, teams) 
• Must be familiar with conducting virtual meetings, training, and observations on software such as Zoom, Teams, etc. 
• Must be able to pick up on client verbal and non-verbal cues. 
• Have reliable transportation to travel to off-site work locations. 
• This position requires the ability to travel to and enter the soft-sided hearing facility located at the Port of Entry in Brownsville, Texas, as well as the Harlingen Immigration Court. It may also require the ability to travel to and enter DHS detention centers. 

Preferred Education, Qualifications, Experience 

• Licensed to practice law and member in the State Bar of Texas, and one year experience. 
• Prior work experience with clients from Central America and including indigenous language- speaking populations. 
• Prior volunteer, community, or work experience regarding immigration or detention.  
• Prior non-profit experience, particularly involving immigration detention. 

Physical Requirements 

Typical office setting with frequent visits at immigration detention facilities and immigration court. Continuously operates a computer and other office machinery, such as telephone, copy machine, and computer printer. 

Travel 

As a normal course of business, this job will typically require travel of less than 15% of the time. 

The Location: 

ProBAR is located in the Rio Grande Valley, a thriving region that boasts a rich culture, affordable cost of living, subtropical climate, and beautiful natural areas to enjoy. Recent growth has brought the RGV unprecedented investments in higher education and scientific research. Three local airports connect RGV residents to destinations around the country while Mexico is only a short drive away. The region's delicious food, world-class nature parks, and the beaches of South Padre Island provide ample opportunities to relax and recharge! 

COVID-19 Response: 

ProBAR leadership has responded proactively to support the health and wellbeing of our staff and the individuals we serve. We are currently providing the majority of our legal services remotely while telecommuting. During this period of remote work, we continue to accept applications and interview for open positions.