Senior Attorney- Know Your Rights (KYR) & Direct Representation, Detained Adult Program

Who We Are

The Capital Area Immigrants Rights (CAIR) Coalition is now Amica Center for Immigrant Rights (Amica Center for short). Click here to learn more about our new name. Since our founding in 1999 we have grown significantly and added new services to support immigrants in detention. Recently Amica Center has outgrown our name expanding beyond our initial services and geographic boundaries.

Amica is the Latin word for friend and that echoes the way we approach what we do. Just as friends stand with one another Amica Center stands with our clients to achieve the safety stability and opportunity we all deserve.

We are the only non-profit organization in the Washington D.C. area that is exclusively focused on providing legal assistance to adult and child immigrants detained by the government in the Capital Region and beyond.

Our Work Environment

The Detained Adult Program (DAP) works with hundreds of adults who are detained by ICE each year providing information support and legal representation. We provide trauma-sensitive person-centered services and deeply value the autonomy of the people we work with in detention as they navigate the fundamentally inhumane immigration system.

Amica Centers Detained Adult Program is a highly collaborative work environment. Each team lead works directly with a focused team but all colleagues are interconnected through for example case workshops or staff-run committees.

DAP staff is a source of expertise in the highly complex and ever-changing immigration system. They have persisted through administration changes policy shifts and attacks on the rights and freedoms of immigrants through project-focused cohorts that arise to address challenges or to brainstorm and

implement affirmative strategies.

Position Summary

General Duties and Responsibilities 1

Detention Facility Services:

• Plan and lead visits to government detention facilities throughout Virginia (approximately 2-4 full days per month including 2-day overnight visits) including oversight and supervision of staff and volunteers during visits and assistance in preparation and breakdown from visits.
• Perform Know-Your-Rights presentations and pro se workshops in Spanish English and (with interpretation) other languages to help detained individuals navigate the immigration court system. Coordinate efforts to ensure every newly arrived person at the detention center has the opportunity to attend presentations. Assist in adapting presentations and workshops to respond to changes in the law and legal needs of the people we work with in detention.
• Liaise with external partners at law schools non-profit organizations and firms in coordination with pro bono coordinating attorney for the purpose of securing and furthering access to legal services for detained individuals.
• Identify and track trends and emerging issues faced by the people we work with in detention affecting their immigration cases. Coordinate with others in the organization to help detained people respond to and access better information on issues. Make appropriate referrals and provide necessary insight to in-house and external teams working on responding to the emergent issues identified.

Representation:

• Manages caseload of direct legal representation of detained clients in removal proceedings primarily before the Annandale Hyattsville and Elizabeth Immigration Courts and other courts as needed. This includes representation in cases such as Asylum Withholding of Removal Protection under the Convention against Torture Board of Immigration Appeals and Cancellation of Removal.
• Provide expert mentoring to outside pro bono attorneys representing detained immigrants on a pro bono basis.
• Prepare Post Release Plans and social service plans in coordination with social services staff.
• Research engage and prepare experts on health behavioral health and country conditions.
• Supervise and coordinate with paralegal staff on case support.
• As needed provide direct supervision to staff attorneys on direct representation cases including supervision and assistance of (i) case strategy (ii) trial preparation and (iii) case load management.

Organizational Services:

• Actively engage in Amica Centers training and advocacy efforts as needed.
• Take part in stakeholder relationship activities as needed including in-person and telephonic meetings with community groups governmental bodies and representatives (including ICE jail and court officials) and other legal service providers.
• Coordinate with all internal Amica Center Programs (e.g. Impact Lab Representation Programs) to ensure all programs are kept abreast of detention developments clients and referrals.
• Undertake own administrative functions including for case and follow up work (e.g. preparation of all aspects of filings) and ensuring the inputting and accuracy of data and case information into shared databases in a timely fashion.
• Assist other program staff in completion of their workload during high-work/low-bandwidth periods.

1 This list is illustrative and not intended to be a complete classification of all job functions or tasks.

Additional Role-Specific Details:

Position Type

Full-time exempt position

Reports To

Managing Attorney

Supervisory Responsibility

Senior attorneys may be assigned direct supervision of staff attorneys and paralegals based on program needs.

Hiring Timeline

Application deadline: January 18 2026

Salary 2

$67800 - $85600

2 In 2018 Amica Center implemented a compensation framework to be more straightforward transparent and provide assurance of internal equity. The compensation model we use is based on an individuals position and years of relevant work experience to avoid salary discrepancies and to reduce

the risk of racial gender or other forms of bias affecting a candidates salary.

Location and/or Travel Requirements

This position will be based at the Washington D.C. office. Due to business related travel expectations it is recommended candidates live within 30-miles of their assigned primary office.

Telework

Amica Center operates a hybrid work environment where staff are required to work at least one day per week in-office but some roles require more office/on-site attendance or travel.

COVID-19 Vaccination:

All employees are required to be fully vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19. To be fully vaccinated means having completed the full dosages required for the type of vaccine obtained as designated by the CDC. If boosters are subsequently recommended by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) then employees will be required to receive the booster within thirty (30) days of their eligibility to access the boosters.

Benefits

Amica Centers benefits package includes:

• Free gym access located in Washington D.C (dependent on employees primary office)
• Flexible working hours after successful completion of trainings and with approval of supervisor
• Pre-tax commuter benefits for those living in the DMV
• Subsidized health dental insurance and vision insurance (Amica Center pays a very high rate of the insurance package for which we can provide additional information)
• Life Insurance valued at $50000 as well as long- and short-term disability
• The option to set up a Flexible Spending Account
• High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) with a one-time employer contribution of $350 to the Health Savings Account (HSA)
• The option to set up a 403(b) savings account (the equivalent of a 401(k) account for non-profit organizations) which the organization has the option for all employees on an annual basis to match at a certain percentage after one year of continuous employment

Paid time off includes:

• 23 Personal Days per calendar year
• Up to 20 days of Sick Time per calendar year
• 7 hours of Volunteer Time Off per calendar year
• Federal holidays
• Paid winter break closure around the end of each year
• 12 weeks of parental leave

EEO Statement

Amica Center for Immigrants Rights is an equal opportunity accordance with antidiscrimination law this policys purpose is to effectuate these principles and mandates. Amica Center prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type and affords equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to race color religion sex sexual orientation gender identity or expression pregnancy age national origin disability status genetic information protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law. Amica Center conforms to the spirit as well as to the letter of all applicable laws and regulations.

Our Anti-Racism Statement:

Required

Legal Proficiency

The Senior Attorney demonstrates a solid understanding of legal concepts at a level that allows them to provide services to clients with limited supervision. The Senior Attorney clearly and skillfully employs the law in written and oral presentations and assists junior staff in doing the same. The Senior Attorney has taken on multiple hearings or interviews for clients with limited supervision. The Senior Attorney is able to competently supervise Staff Attorneys on client interaction matters and legal strategy research and writing. The Senior Attorney demonstrates cultural competency and trauma-informed practices.

Client and Programmatic Proficiency

The Senior Attorney competently handles and supervises all required programmatic obligations (staff supervision program reporting requirements intake follow-up relief eligibility memos for pro bono placement etc.). The Senior Attorney manages their supervision responsibilities and in-house and pro bono mentoring caseload to allow for proper prioritization and thoughtful use of time and resources. The Senior Attorney supervises junior staff to ensure programmatic efficiency and efficacy. The Senior Attorney exercises sound judgment and decision-making skills and identifies when issues must be elevated to management.

Administrative

The Senior Attorney ensures that all administrative aspects of their position (and of their supervisees) attendant to the provision of services to clients are carried out without managerial intervention including timekeeping file upkeep database upkeep etc.).

Qualifications Required:

• JD/LLM or Full DOJ Accreditation and 3-5 years of relevant experience in immigration law.
• If JD active bar license required
• Written and oral Spanish proficiency required fluency preferred.
• At least 1-2 years of supervision experience preferred.
• Ability to manage a docket of detained removal defense cases.
• Strong trial advocacy skills preferred.
• It is expected that the candidate will need to travel for work-related business. As a result the candidate must possess a valid drivers license and be comfortable operating a vehicle upon hiring. This role requires travel but qualified individuals with disabilities may be accommodated in a reasonable manner under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

At Amica Center we embrace the fact that talented individuals come from diverse backgrounds and life experiences. We believe that diversity in all dimensions of the organization supports and bolsters the innovative thinking essential to our success. Amica Center values your unique perspectives skills and potential and we are committed to providing equal opportunities for growth and development. If you are passionate about Amica Centers mission and are excited to contribute your talents to our team we encourage you to submit your application. Candidates from traditionally underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply. If you are a candidate with a disability and require accommodations to apply for this position please contact us at