Immigration Hub - Defending our Immigrant Neighbor Attorney Fellow

Immigration Hub - Defending our Immigrant Neighbor Attorney Fellow

Position Type: Temporary Full-Time, Exempt

Location: Willmar, MN 56201

Introduction

MMLA is seeking a dedicated individual to be part of our dynamic team. If you're ready to contribute your legal skills, cultural competency, and compassion to meaningful work, we invite you to explore this exciting opportunity.

The successful candidate will work fully in the office during the training period to ensure comprehensive onboarding and integration into our processes. Upon completion of training, a hybrid work model will be offered, allowing for a mix of in-office and remote work.

This fellowship offers a unique opportunity for attorneys interested in immigration law and public interest advocacy to gain hands-on experience representing individuals and families in life-changing immigration matters. Attorneys in this role will work directly with immigrant communities facing complex legal challenges and will receive mentorship from experienced immigration practitioners.

What's in it for you?

• We believe in work-life harmony. This role offers the flexibility to blend remote work with in-office collaboration.

• On Fridays, the office closes at noon and employees enjoy a half-day of paid flex time.

• MMLA provides on-the-job training and mentorship, with opportunities for growth within the organization.

• This position is a two-year fellowship designed to provide attorneys with intensive immigration law training, litigation experience, and client advocacy opportunities. Two positions will be filled through this posting.

Why MMLA?

• We're not just ticking boxes. We're genuinely committed to diversity. Bring your unique identity, experiences, and perspectives. We want them all.

• Our mission is equal justice for all. In your cover letter, tell us how your background can amplify this cause.

• Discrimination and harassment have no place here. We're building a respectful, supportive workplace where everyone thrives.

• Diversity, equity, and inclusion are core values for Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid, and it is critical that we incorporate these values into all aspects of our work. We recognize the particular and highly detrimental impact of racism and Minnesota's racial disparities on MMLA's clients and staff. We therefore devote special attention to issues of racial justice.

The Minnesota Immigration Legal Collaboration Hub (the Hub)

The Hub is a collaborative partnership of five immigration legal services providers in Minnesota: The Advocates for Human Rights (AHR), Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota (ILCM), Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid (MMLA), Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services (SMRLS), and Volunteer Lawyers Network (VLN).

We are working together to expand access to immigration help throughout Minnesota through the creation of legal access points, education and community outreach, rapid response triage, and coordinated intake and referrals.

Primary Responsibilities

• Provide legal assistance to clients in immigration law matters, including affirmative immigration cases and removal defense proceedings.

• Manage a caseload involving immigration matters such as asylum, humanitarian relief, family-based immigration matters, detention-related representation, and other forms of immigration relief as assigned.

• Meet with clients to provide consultations, advice, and limited services at in-person community clinics throughout MMLA's service area in southwestern and central Minnesota, virtual Hub clinics, and pop-up legal clinics in partnership with the Hub and other community partners.

• Collaborate with Hub partners on response to increased need for immigration detention representation with the Prairie Correctional Facility opening in Appleton, MN.

• Conduct legal research, draft legal documents, and represent clients before immigration courts and administrative agencies.

• Conduct legal screening, advice, and brief services to individuals held in immigration detention facilities.

• Present Know Your Rights and other community outreach and educational presentations.

• Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with community-based organizations and service providers.

• Advocate for clients' rights and ensure access to justice.

Required Qualifications

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).

• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and racial justice principles.

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree and active admission to practice law in good standing in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.

• Prior immigration law experience, especially in removal defense, whether as a student, law clerk, intern, fellow, or practicing attorney.

• Demonstrated commitment to immigrant communities, public interest law, civil rights advocacy, or serving vulnerable populations through professional, academic, volunteer, or lived experience.

• Strong legal research, writing, advocacy, and client interviewing skills.

• Ability to communicate effectively with individuals from diverse cultural, linguistic, and socioeconomic backgrounds.

• Must be able to attend in-person legal clinics in Marshall, MN and Montevideo, MN twice monthly in each location, as well as travel to other in-person legal clinics developed in partnership with the Hub.

• Must possess a valid driver's license, reliable transportation, and the ability to travel throughout MMLA's service area.

• Must be able to pass a background check and gain access to county jail facilities and Prairie Correctional Facility in Appleton, MN to visit detained individuals.

• Ability to provide community presentations on Know Your Rights, outreach at resource and tabling events, and attend meetings with community partners.

Preferred Qualifications

• Fluency or professional proficiency in Spanish strongly preferred. Proficiency in other languages spoken within immigrant communities served by MMLA is also highly valued.

• Prior immigration court, litigation, judicial clerkship, or other courtroom advocacy experience preferred.

• Work, volunteer, or lived experience with diverse economic, social, rural, and cultural communities.

• Experience conducting community outreach, public speaking, or educational presentations.

• Experience working with trauma-impacted individuals and communities.

Ideal Candidate Competencies

• Commitment to immigrant rights and access to justice.

• Cultural humility and the ability to build trust across diverse communities.

• Strong organizational and time management skills.

• Ability to balance independent work with collaborative team-based advocacy.

• Sound judgment and professionalism in high-stakes situations.

• Ability to work effectively in emotionally demanding environments involving detention, deportation, family separation, and other significant immigration-related challenges.

Compensation Information

• $80,000 to $84,363 depending on experience, plus benefits. Benefits include family medical and dental insurance, short- and long-term disability, life insurance, 403(b) with employer match, FSA, employee assistance programs, and generous paid time off.

• Salary Determination: Salary is based on relevant prior experience and aligned with our organizational salary matrix. Candidates are placed on the schedule according to years of directly related experience to ensure consistency and equity.

• Language Proficiency Credit: For client-facing roles, fluency in a relevant non-English language or ASL may count as one additional year of experience. Fluency must be certified at Intermediate High or above, with sufficient oral and written skills to perform all job duties without an interpreter. Assessment is conducted by an external testing service.

• This position is initially being hired for a two (2) year fellowship period.

Application Submission

Interested applicants should submit their resume, cover letter, and references at https://mylegalaid.org/employment/ by 09/18/2026.

If the above link directs you to our Career Page and you do not see the correct posting, we have paused or ended the application submission window.

If you require a reasonable accommodation for completing this application, interviewing, or otherwise participating in our employee selection process, please contact Megan Cook at mcook@mylegalaid.org.

Please direct all other inquiries to hiring@mylegalaid.org.

Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The terms and conditions of employment, including wages, benefits, and job security, may vary based on union status. Positions within our organization may be governed by collective bargaining agreements and union representation, while others are not.