Staff Attorney, Immigration Legal Policy

About CWS

Imagine waking up every morning with the chance to change someone's life. Imagine knowing your efforts will benefit both your career and our neighbors around the world. At CWS, our team knows they are making a difference every day. Whether you're in our U.S.-based offices supporting refugees, asylees or unaccompanied children ... implementing hygiene initiatives in Cambodia or rebuilding projects in Central America ... or even connecting remotely from your home on fundraising campaigns, grant reports, or critical communications - you have the opportunity to work towards a world where everyone has food, a voice and a safe place to call home.

Purpose

CWS seeks a Staff Attorney to provide immigration legal and policy analysis, technical assistance, and operational support to CWS’s programs. The Staff Attorney’s technical assistance portfolio is focused on emerging legal issues, rapid‑response developments, and policy‑driven changes that impact service delivery across the network. The role prioritizes timely interpretation of new policies, analysis of case impacts, and development of rapid‑response protocols and materials to support field teams during shifts in law or enforcement. This role will support both CWS local immigration legal departments and non-legal departments as well, and will liaise with program leadership across the organization. The Staff Attorney assumes a strategic role and supports programs teams by monitoring, analyzing, and disseminating resources and trainings on new developments in immigration law and policy. In addition to technical assistance, this position will serve as a key link between the legal department and other CWS programs teams, including advocacy and policy teams, and will also engage in and support rapid response to new immigration policy developments, by tracking case impacts and enforcement, supporting local legal teams with discrete actions such as clinics or presentations, and helping to develop emergency protocols and best practices.

The position is remote and is required to travel to CWS or affiliate offices when deemed necessary.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical assistance and materials generation to CWS’s network of local and affiliate offices regarding a wide range of legal services. The primary focus will be on rapid‑response to new and developing immigration legal policies, including timely guidance, model pleadings/templates, and field advisories.
• Stay abreast of changes in immigration law and policy and serve as a subject-matter expert and source of information and analysis of immigration legal services issues and policies within CWS’ US programs portfolio, with an emphasis on emerging issues that require accelerated guidance and coordinated response.
• Conduct coaching, mentoring, training to local CWS network and affiliates on legal services principles.
• Respond to technical legal questions, including case related questions.
• Contribute to the design of rapid‑response data points and case‑impact indicators; partner with the Program Officer and Associate Director on implementation within existing tracking systems.
• Conduct regular meetings with CWS HQ program leads to stay informed on population-specific legal services trends and issues across the network. Coordinate with CWS program leads on the development of TA materials based on this.
• Work with Director of Asylum and Legal Services to develop legal services tools and standards for CWS, with accompanying common approaches, quality indicators, data collection, consolidated agency guidelines, program manuals and training curriculum packages. Lead drafting of rapid‑response protocols and best practices for emerging immigration legal issues; submit recommendations for review and approval by the Associate Director and Director.
• Provide technical assistance into new business development ventures including proposal development and reporting processes to expand CWS’ programs.
• Develop effective training models to provide necessary training and support.
• Provide activity reports on rapid‑response TA and emerging‑issues training; contribute data and narrative updates to the Director and Associate Director for inclusion in program performance reporting.
• Represent CWS at community-based organization meetings and various Task Force meetings related to immigration issues.
• Promote the CWS legal program through various media including newspaper, radio and television. Coordinate and plan outreach activities to achieve program goals.
• Perform other related duties and special projects as requested.

Qualifications

Education: JD degree with specialization in Immigration law. Must be licensed to practice law in any jurisdiction (state Bar preferred). Experience with immigration representation and other areas of Immigration law, including asylum representation and working with vulnerable populations.

Experience:

• A minimum of 2 - 4 years' experience with immigration representation and other areas of Immigration Law, including asylum representation. A minimum of 2 years' experience supervising others.
• Direct experience in designing, commissioning, and delivering training of technical competencies to different target groups.
• Ability to work with several different teams remotely.
• Ability to work on several different programs at the same time, as well as flexibility to manage competing priorities.
• Demonstrated ability to produce high-quality written resources
• Excellent organizational and time management skills, and able to timely manage multiple projects at one time.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Excellent analytical skills and attention to detail.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with a high degree of autonomy and independence.
• Strong interpersonal and diplomacy skills, including the ability to engage professionally with a range of partners.
• Must be willing to travel domestically for conferences, trainings, and program meetings.
• Ability to work in a multi-cultural environment required.

Skills:

• Ability to speak a second language is ideal.
• Experience working with a wide range of legal practitioners.

Special Requirements

• Program requires background check.

Benefits