Senior Children's Attorney

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

IRC seeks a Senior Children's Attorney to join the IRC's Washington State operations in SeaTac, Washington. The Senior Children's Attorney is experienced in the areas of law affecting unaccompanied immigrant children – immigration, juvenile, and family law. The Senior Children's Attorney will focus on direct representation, supervision and supporting the ongoing development of IRC Washington's Children's Legal Services program, a program funded by the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) and providing legal services for unaccompanied children, including representation in immigration court, before USCIS, and in state court proceedings. The Senior Children's Attorney will bring several years' experience representing children and transitional aged youth (preferably unaccompanied minors), superb legal judgment and legal ethics, an ability to work independently while recognizing the value of collaboration and cross-referencing with other experts, and a passion for this area of work. The position will work in collaboration with community partners and will be part of the Asylum and Removal Defense Community of Practice, led by IRC's Immigration Technical Unit (TU) at IRC's headquarters, which supports IRC's 24 legal service programs across the US. 

This position is anticipated to be funded through July 31, 2026. Continuation is subject to ongoing funding availability. 

Major Responsibilities

Direct Legal Representation

•    Handle caseload of complex children's cases before the state courts, immigration court and USCIS.

•    Conduct and oversee intakes with child clients, identify relief such as SIJ classification, asylum, VAWA, U-visa, T-visa, etc., and provide direct representation for unaccompanied children released to sponsors in King, Pierce, Snohomish, and Spokane counties.

•    Initiate state court proceedings, including Dependencies, Vulnerable Youth Guardianships, Parenting Plans, Minor Guardianships, and other state court actions as deemed appropriate for children who are eligible for special immigrant juvenile status. 

•    Coordinate closely within IRC's multidisciplinary teams to identify needs and facilitate referrals to services offered in-house and through partnerships with external providers.

•    Ensure client and program data is collected consistently, managed appropriately, and reported accurately in accordance with program reporting requirements set by IRC. 

•    Maintain up-to-date knowledge and expertise of changing state court, asylum and immigration policies as they relate to children through regular trainings and peer-to-peer consultation. 

•    Serve as a strong advocate for humanitarian immigrants.

•    Coordinate closely within IRC's multidisciplinary teams to identify client legal needs and facilitate referrals to services offered in-house and through partnerships with external providers.

•    Work collaboratively as part of the local team and across departments, including case managers. 

•    Participate in community-based coalitions related to immigrant rights.

•    Serve as a strong advocate for humanitarian immigrants.

Leadership Responsibilities

•    May supervise Legal Assistants, Children's Attorneys, and/or DOJ Accredited Representatives serving IRC Washington's children and youth clients, focusing on state court representation for SIJ classification, removal defense, and applications before USCIS. 

•    Train and mentor Children's Legal Services staff in state court, immigration court, and USCIS legal processes and procedures.

•    Lead and provide legal supervision and/or guidance to incoming fellows and/or Children's Attorneys, with a proportionate reduction in caseload over time as supervision responsibilities increase, for long-term growth of a holistic children's legal services program with a vision toward program leadership and management.

Job Requirements

•    Law degree (JD or LLM) from an ABA-accredited U.S. institution and admission to the Washington State Bar;

•    At least 3 years' experience providing direct representation in Washington State juvenile and family courts, immigration court and/or before USCIS to  immigrants seeking humanitarian relief; 

•    Experience providing legal services to children and/or working with children preferred; 

•    Excellent research, writing, analytical, and organizational skills and excellent legal judgment;

•    Ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both orally in a courtroom setting and in writing; 

•    Bilingual in Spanish/English preferred or willingness to take Spanish language classes as part of the job responsibilities; 

•    Evidence of capacity to be a strong team member in a highly collaborative multidisciplinary environment;

•    Deep commitment to immigrant rights and working with humanitarian immigrants;

•    Trauma-informed and sensitive listening and communication skills;

•    Personal integrity in handling ethically complex and confidential situations;

•    Strong computer literacy, research and analysis skills; and

•    Must be willing and able to travel frequently in and around the service area to attend hearings and interviews and engage with clients and community partners.

Working Environment:   

•    Hybrid office environment with some remote work and occasional participation in community outreach and legal assistance events.  

•    May require occasional weekend and/or evening work, flexible working hours may be permitted on a case by case basis.  

If applicant chooses to work a hybrid work schedule, applicant must have a home or alternate workspace they can effectively complete their work from during regularly scheduled hours. 

Compensation: (Pay Range: $90,000 - $100,079) Posted pay ranges apply to US-based candidates. Ranges are based on various factors including the labor market, job type, internal equity, and budget. Exact offers are calibrated by work location, individual candidate experience and skills relative to the defined job requirements.

Standard of Professional Conduct: The IRC and the IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – our Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability, and Equality.

Cookies:

Compensation: Posted pay ranges apply to US-based candidates. Ranges are based on various factors including the labor market, job type, internal equity, and budget.  Exact offers are calibrated by work location, individual candidate experience and skills relative to the defined job requirements.

US Benefits: We offer a comprehensive and highly competitive set of benefits. In the US, these include: 10 sick days, 10 US holidays, 20-25 paid time off days depending on role and tenure, medical insurance starting at $143 per month, dental starting at $6.50 per month, and vision starting at $5 per month, FSA for healthcare and commuter costs, a 403b retirement savings plans with immediately vested matching, disability & life insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program which is available to our staff and their families to support counseling and care in times of crisis and mental health struggles. 

Equal Opportunity Employer: IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

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