Staff Attorney, Affirmative Unit

About the Organization

Canal Alliance is a nonprofit champion of immigrants. We exist to break the generational cycle of poverty for Latino immigrants and their families by lifting barriers to their success.

At Canal Alliance we know our strength is our team of dedicated employees. We invest in professional development, building trust and relationships, and value life-work balance. We work a 4 day workweek with a regular 32 hours per week. We offer hybrid work for most positions.

We are proud to be one of North Bay’s Best Places to Work.

Position Summary

The Affirmative Unit Staff Attorney (AU Staff Attorney) represents clients in various humanitarian immigration matters, focusing on affirmative cases. They will maintain an active caseload while conducting case consultations, developing legal strategies, and providing legal representation. The Staff Attorney primarily represents clients before the USCIS and occasionally before the EOIR. In collaboration with members of the AU, the Staff Attorney plays a key role in supporting the delivery of high-quality affirmative immigration legal services by advancing legal excellence, strengthening consistency in practice, monitoring and integrating developments in immigration law and policy, and contributing to the development and implementation of best practices in AU.

Essential Functions

• Manage an assigned caseload, including but not limited to conducting intakes, consultations, legal research, determining eligibility and risk assessment, developing case strategy, responding to Requests for Evidence (RFE), filing Appeals, Motions to Reconsider, Motions to Reopen, preparing and filing submissions to USCIS
• Identify client need for relevant Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and background check requests; prepare and submit FOIA requests and background checks; analyze results to evaluate their impact on case strategy; and file appeals
• Conduct detailed file reviews to identify missing information or evidence, factual discrepancies, and legal issues to determine and implement case strategy
• Collect, organize, and review supporting documentation and evidence for immigration filings
• Ensure timely completion of case milestones and filing deadlines in accordance with agency procedures, workplans, and case management protocols
• Submit case inquiries to USCIS, the USCIS Ombudsman, and Congresspeople
• Prepare and represent clients at biometrics appointments, USCIS interviews and EOIR hearings
• Conduct peer reviews of colleagues’ filings
• Track and analyze changes in immigration law, policy, and procedures, translating developments into timely guidance and resources for program staff
• Develop, maintain, and refine legal resources, templates, and best practices to support program staff and promote consistency, and efficiency
• Schedule and confirm client appointments
• Maintain prompt and regular client communications via texts, voicemails, and emails
• Timely and accurately note all client communications in LawLogix
• Conduct fingerprinting for background check submissions
• Maintain physical and digital client files in order
• Compile client data for reporting requirements
• Participate in one-on-one check-in meetings with supervisor, Affirmative Unit meetings, ILS department meetings, all staff meetings, and quarterly all-staff retreats
• Attend immigration legal trainings as assigned by Supervising Attorney

Other Responsibilities

• Other duties as assigned.