Staff Attorney, Citizenship Initiative for Vietnamese Immigrant Communities (CIVIC)

Posted by on March 26, 2012

Citizenship Initiative for Vietnamese Immigrant Communities (CIVIC) Staff Attorney

Posted on: March 7, 2012

Our organization: BPSOS-Delaware Valley is the local branch of Boat People SOS, Inc. (BPSOS), a national Vietnamese-American community-based organization with 32 years of service and advocacy in the community. Our mission is to empower, organize, and equip Vietnamese individuals and communities in their pursuit of liberty and dignity.BPSOS-Delaware Valley has two offices in the Delaware Valley region: one in Philadelphia and one in Pennsauken, New Jersey. We are a highly dynamic and fast-paced organization with a tight-knit and passionate staff, volunteers, and advisory board.

Job Summary: The staff attorney is committed to the mission, goals and services of BPSOS. The attorney provides services to assist clients with the preparation and submittal of proper and pertinent documentation to improve their immigration and citizenship status. The attorney also supervises a paralegal and other staff doing work in conjunction with legal services at BPSOS. The attorney works in collaboration with the program team in the acquisition and retention of pro bono and volunteer resources. The attorney stays abreast of changing immigration and immigration-related laws and regulations.

Prerequisites for the Position:

A Juris Doctor degree from a recognized and accredited institution.
Admission to the Bar of any state.
Experience practicing law, including experience in the field of immigration law with administrative responsibilities.
Bi-lingual, oral and written language abilities
Able to work independently, with minimal supervision and be a self-starter.
Strong advocacy skills and client-focus and ability to interact effectively with clients and empathize and be compassionate.
Excellent public speaking and presentation skills.
Effective inter-personal skills and able to function within a team and collaborative environment.
Experience in the nonprofit sector preferred, particularly working with low-income clients, and clients who have survived trauma.
Experience working with volunteers preferred.
Ability to travel between Philadelphia, PA and Pennsauken, NJ.

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience preparing N-400 applications for Naturalization
Experience organizing Citizenship drives
Vietnamese language fluency (oral and/or written)
Experience with Community Organizing
Experience teaching ESL

Key Responsibilities:

Provide immigration legal services to clients and assist clients in completing immigration-related forms and applications.
Responsible for client case assessment, caseload assignments and review of cases/case files.
Prepare and review cases for submission to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Review team prepared applications prior to submission to ensure accuracy and completeness.
Maintain, monitor and ensure accurate and timely input of client information and submit monthly and annual statistical and activity reports.
Maintain accurate and complete client records, ensure compliance with organization and pertinent policies, procedures and laws. Ensure client confidentiality.
Conduct community outreach and presentations on immigration issues. Participate in networking activities to promote services and to learn about available resources. Collaborate with other agencies to complement the agency’s services.

Assist in the recruitment, training and supervision of volunteers and student interns.
Participate in meetings with area legal services and community-based organizations.
Participate in program team and agency staff meetings.
Perform other related duties as assigned.

Location: Philadelphia, PA and Pennsauken, NJ

Forward a cover letter and resume and three professional references by email to hr@bpsos.org. Please write “Application for CIVIC Staff Attorney” in the subject line, attach cover letter/resume AND include both in the body of the email.

BPSOS is an equal opportunity employer.