Russian Speaking Associate Immigration Attorney

AGENCY OVERVIEW:

Jewish Family and Children's Services (JFCS) has served the San Francisco Bay Area for 175 years. We offer world-class services to support individuals and families across all stages of life, including adoption, mental health, senior care, disability services, financial assistance, Holocaust education, and youth development. Our mission and work are rooted in Jewish values, and we serve people of all faiths and backgrounds.

The Legal Services program assists Bay Area immigrants with legal help, citizenship classes, counseling, disabilities issues, restitution for Holocaust survivors, and more. We serve people from all over the world and in multiple languages, including English, Spanish, Russian, and Hebrew. 

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Russian Speaking Associate Immigration Attorney, under the Director of Legal Services’ supervision, is responsible for representation of JFCS clients in naturalization and immigration matters, completion of immigration-related forms, corresponding with clients and immigration agencies, and interpreting/translating for clients. This includes (but is not limited to) legal consultations, representing clients at USCIS interviews, responding to USCIS requests, maintaining license to practice law, and keeping up to date on changes in immigration law. The Associate Immigration Attorney will also assist the Director of Legal Services in reaching the outreach, policy advocacy, and volunteer engagement goals of the Legal Services department. All duties will be performed in line with legal ethics and the agency’s standards of quality and professionalism.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

• Salary Range: $80,000 - $85,000 (depending on experience)
• Employment Type: full-time, exempt position with benefits
• Employer 403(b) retirement match plus additional employer contribution (subject to eligibility)
• Cafeteria plan with medical, dental, vision, FSA, Employer-paid life, and disability insurance
• 16 holidays (10 federal and up to 6 Jewish holidays), annually
• 3 weeks of vacation and 2 weeks of sick leave, annually

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Performs immigration legal consultations, advises clients on immigration matters, and represents clients at USCIS interviews
• Tracks the progress of individual cases and prepares case documents for filings, interviews, and hearings
• Prepares letters, correspondence, memos, and other material for JFCS Legal Services Department
• Researches legal issues to address complex immigration issues affecting clients
• Contacts governmental offices (USCIS, NVC, etc.) to follow up on the status of cases
• Assists Director of Legal Services in updating client intake procedure, case management policies, and other department best practices which affect client experience
• Represents JFCS’ Legal Services at volunteer, outreach, and group processing events
• Assists by interpreting for clients at JFCS appointments and other client meetings when needed
• Does document translation (if able) for client civil documents and intake forms when required for immigration or naturalization application

JOB QUALIFICATIONS:

• One (1) year of immigration law experience and/or equivalent legal experience assisting low-income and/or underserved immigrant communities is required
• Fluency in Russian is required
• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from ABA-accredited law school
• Current license to practice law in any U.S. jurisdiction (California Bar membership preferred)
• Demonstrated interest in immigration law and serving underserved or historically disadvantaged communities
• Working knowledge of using Evolv and LollyLaw case management system is preferred
• Ability to commute to USCIS field offices in San Francisco and San Jose for client interviews, therefore a valid CA driver’s license and proof of automobile liability insurance and access to a reliable transportation is required
• Knowledge of and sensitivity to issues regarding immigration and naturalization and cross-cultural communications is required
• Previous experience working with senior, disabled, LGBT, and/or HIV/AIDS communities is preferred

To be considered for this position, you must meet the requirements and competencies listed above. Application materials will be reviewed as they are received and well-qualified candidates will be contacted for an interview.

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply, including minorities, women, veterans, and disabled individuals. Qualified applicants with arrest and/or conviction records will be considered for employment in a manner consistent with Federal, state and local laws, including but not limited to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran, or disability status. JFCS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of employees so classified.