open positions
Managing Attorney
The Immigration Project is seeking a full-time Managing Attorney to lead our team in zealous advocacy efforts both through their own direct representation of clients, but also through mentoring and training other team members. The Managing Attorney is responsible for representing clients and completing casework across various immigration-based subjects with a focus on humanitarian and complex family-based immigration issues.
The ideal candidate will have a proven ability to advocate for a diverse set of clients through direct representation on immigration matters. He or she will be committed to filing for immigration relief in a fast-paced environment and able to handle a heavy caseload while being able to maintain and balance the mentorship and supervision of fellow colleagues as well as pro bonos, interns, volunteers, and community members. This position is an excellent opportunity to engage with policymakers, governmental organizations, other nonprofits and advocacy groups to bring about real change in the lives of our clients.
Company Overview
The Immigration Project is a dynamic immigration legal aid organization located in Normal, Illinois, with a satellite office in Champaign, Illinois. The agency is the largest non-profit immigration legal services agency located in downstate Illinois with immigration attorneys on staff and serves clients in 86 counties across central and southern Illinois. We understand the importance of immigration for our communities and believe in equal access to fairness and justice. Our goal is to advocate with, not for, our clients and walk alongside them through the legal process as they make the best decisions for their lives.
Job Details
The Managing Attorney, who is based in either Normal, IL or Champaign, IL and reports directly to the Legal Director, is responsible for:
- Maintaining a diverse client caseload focused on humanitarian-based immigration claims which may include defensive or affirmative asylum claims, VAWA/U Visa claims, applications for SIJS, family-based immigration claims, specifically waiver cases, and/or complex naturalization
- Mentoring and Supervising fellow colleagues to develop their own immigration knowledge and ability to zealously represent our clients within our service area
- Counseling immigrants and their families regarding immigration legal remedies virtually or by traveling to regional clinic locations and workshops throughout downstate Illinois
- Preparing immigration applications, attending USCIS interviews, researching applicable law, composing memoranda, writing client affidavits, and drafting motions and briefs
- Make regular visits to the Chicago and St. Louis USCIS field offices to represent clients
- Presenting to the public on asylum, Know Your Rights, recent executive orders, and other immigration matters
- Connecting clients with social services resources and opportunities presented by other Immigration Project programs
- Maintaining reporting and case management systems as required by internal policies
- Working collaboratively with and mentoring other staff, volunteers, Community Navigators, and interns
- Representing The Immigration Project in meetings, press-related events, regional/state associations, and other public forums
- Participating in grassroots organizing and advocacy efforts based on expressed community needs
- In accordance with the ethical standards required of the legal profession and the Code of Professional Responsibility, preserving client confidentiality, accounting for client monies, and avoiding conflicts of interest
- Performing other duties as assigned
Requirements
- License to practice law with membership in good standing to any state bar (Required, Illinois Preferred)
- 3-5 years of law experience, with at least two years of experience in immigration legal matters (Required)
- Asylum and Immigration law experience (Preferred)
- Previous experience supervising volunteers or administrative staff
- Demonstrated ability to serve clients in a professional, welcoming, and efficient manner
- Strong organizational ability
- High attention to detail
- Ability to pass various background checks to meet grant requirements
- Full-time position
- Ability to work out of either the Champaign or Normal, IL offices (Required)
- Ability and willingness to travel throughout Illinois regularly
Benefits
- Flex Time
- Paid Time Off
- Heath Insurance
- Dental Insurance
- Vision Insurance
- Travel Reimbursement
Application Instructions:
Please email a letter of interest, resume, and references to:
Legal Director: Danielle DeWinter at ddewinter@immigrationproject.org
Senior Staff Attorney
The Immigration Project is seeking a full-time Senior Staff Attorney to lead our team in zealous advocacy efforts both through their own direct representation of clients, but also through mentoring and training other team members. The Senior Staff Attorney is responsible for representing clients and completing casework across various immigration-based subjects with a focus on humanitarian and complex family-based immigration issues.
The ideal candidate will have a proven ability to advocate for a diverse set of clients through direct representation on immigration matters. He or she will be committed to filing for immigration relief in a fast-paced environment and able to handle a heavy caseload. He or she will also be willing to help foster the development of immigration knowledge to fellow colleagues as well as pro bonos, interns, volunteers, and community members. This position is an excellent opportunity to engage with policymakers, governmental organizations, other nonprofits and advocacy groups to bring about real change in the lives of our clients.
Company Overview
The Immigration Project is a dynamic immigration legal aid organization located in Normal, Illinois, with a satellite office in Champaign, Illinois. The agency is the largest non-profit immigration legal services agency located in downstate Illinois with immigration attorneys on staff and serves clients in 86 counties across central and southern Illinois. We understand the importance of immigration for our communities and believe in equal access to fairness and justice. Our goal is to advocate with, not for, our clients and walk alongside them through the legal process as they make the best decisions for their lives.
Job Details
The Senior Staff Attorney, who is based in either Normal, IL or Champaign, IL and reports directly to the Legal Director, is responsible for:
- Maintaining a diverse client caseload focused on humanitarian-based immigration claims which may include defensive or affirmative asylum claims, VAWA/U Visa claims, applications for SIJS, family-based immigration claims, specifically waiver cases, and/or complex naturalization
- Counseling immigrants and their families regarding immigration legal remedies virtually or by traveling to regional clinic locations and workshops throughout downstate Illinois
- Preparing immigration applications, attending USCIS interviews, researching applicable law, composing memoranda, writing client affidavits, and drafting motions and briefs
- Make regular visits to the Chicago and St. Louis USCIS field offices to represent clients
- Presenting to the public on asylum, Know Your Rights, recent executive orders, and other immigration matters
- Connecting clients with social services resources and opportunities presented by other Immigration Project programs
- Maintaining reporting and case management systems as required by internal policies
- Working collaboratively with and mentoring other staff, volunteers, Community Navigators, and interns
- Representing The Immigration Project in meetings, press-related events, regional/state associations, and other public forums
- Participating in grassroots organizing and advocacy efforts based on expressed community needs
- In accordance with the ethical standards required of the legal profession and the Code of Professional Responsibility, preserving client confidentiality, accounting for client monies, and avoiding conflicts of interest
- Performing other duties as assigned
Requirements
- License to practice law with membership in good standing to any state bar (Required, Illinois Preferred)
- 2+ years of law experience (Required)
- Asylum and Immigration law experience (Preferred)
- Previous experience supervising volunteers or administrative staff
- Demonstrated ability to serve clients in a professional, welcoming, and efficient manner
- Strong organizational ability
- High attention to detail
- Ability to pass various background checks to meet grant requirements
- Full-time position
- Ability to work out of either the Champaign or Normal, IL offices (Required)
- Ability and willingness to travel throughout Illinois regularly
Benefits
- Flex Time
- Paid Time Off
- Heath Insurance
- Dental Insurance
- Vision Insurance
- Travel Reimbursement
Application Instructions:
Please email a letter of interest, resume, and references to:
Legal Director: Danielle DeWinter at ddewinter@immigrationproject.org
Job Overview:
The Staff Attorney will be joining/assisting to create a new universal representation model program within The Immigration Project (TIP). TIP recently joined a new initiative supported by the governor of Illinois to try to eliminate unrepresented litigants in front of the Chicago Immigration Court. We along with other immigration legal aids in Illinois are accepting cases for detained individuals in front of the Chicago Immigration Court on a merits blind basis based on capacity. This closely aligns with our current program representing children both in detention, but as well as in their removal cases in front of the Chicago Immigration Court. Therefore, the Staff Attorney will be responsible for representing both detained adults and children as well as children released from detention in their removal matters to attempt to secure immigration relief.
The ideal candidate for this role has practical experience with hearings and preparing casework, speaks and writes fluently in Spanish and English, is highly organized and detail-oriented, and has a connection, personal or professional, to the immigration process. This position is for you if you are looking to join a movement to not only end detention, but ensure every immigrant has a right to counsel, enjoys working with children as clients, have the ability to communicate effectively with various audiences, and is a proactive team member who can self-manage a high volume of work.
Company Overview:
The Immigration Project is a dynamic immigration legal aid organization located in Normal, Illinois, with a satellite office in Champaign, Illinois. The agency is the largest non-profit immigration legal services agency located in downstate Illinois with immigration attorneys on staff and serves clients in 86 counties across central and southern Illinois. We understand the importance of immigration for our communities and believe in equal access to fairness and justice. Our goal is to advocate with, not for, our clients and walk alongside them through the legal process as they make the best decisions for their lives.
Job Details:
The Staff Attorney, who is based in either Normal, IL or Champaign, IL and reports directly to the Managing Attorney, is responsible for:
● Maintains a diverse client caseload of adults and children either in detention or recently released from detention in their removal defense cases under the supervision and mentorship of the managing attorney or legal director.
● Counsels immigrants and their families regarding immigration legal remedies virtually or by traveling to regional clinic locations and workshops throughout downstate Illinois.
● Directly represents adults or children while they remain in the detention center as well as those released within our geographic zone.
● Prepares immigration applications, attends USCIS interviews, makes appearances before EOIR, researches applicable law, composes memoranda, writes client affidavits, and drafts motions and briefs.
● Makes regular visits to the Chicago Immigration Court to represent clients.
● Presents to the public on citizenship, Know Your Rights, recent executive orders, and other immigration matters.
● Connects clients with social services resources and opportunities presented by other Immigration Project programs.
● Maintains reporting and case management systems as required by internal policies.
● Works collaboratively with and mentors administrative staff, volunteers, Community Navigators, and interns.
● Represents The Immigration Project in meetings, press related events, regional/state associations, and other public forums.
● Participates in grassroots organizing and advocacy efforts based on expressed community needs.
● In accordance with the ethical standards required of the legal profession and the Code of Professional Responsibility, preserves client confidentiality, accounts for client monies, and avoids conflicts of interest.
● Performs other duties as assigned.
Requirements:
● License to practice law with membership in good standing to any state bar (Required, Illinois Preferred)
● Fluent in Spanish (Required)
● Immigration law experience (Preferred)
● Experience working with children as clients (Preferred)
● Previous experience working with indigenous communities, survivors of domestic violence, or low-income individuals
● Strong organizational ability
● High attention to detail
● Ability to learn technical and legal information
● Ability to pass various background checks to meet grant requirements
● Full-time position
● Ability to work out of either the Champaign or Normal, IL offices (Required)
● Ability and willingness to travel throughout Illinois regularly
Benefits:
● Flex Time
● Paid Time Off
● Health Insurance
● Dental Insurance
● Vision Insurance
● Travel Reimbursement
Application Instructions:
Please email a letter of interest, resume, and references to:
Legal Director: Danielle DeWinter at ddewinter@immigrationproject.org
Position: Part-time Bilingual Housing Team Assistant
Job Location: TIP has offices in Normal and Champaign. Some travel will be necessary. Specific geographical assignment dependent on applicant. Some remote work authorized.
Salary: 15 hours a week,
Position Description
Work under the direction of the Housing Team Specialist to conduct intakes regarding housing needs, collect documents, and appointments to complete applications for low-income immigrant families in downstate Illinois in compliance with federal, state, and agency programmatic guidelines.
Duties
- Complete intake questionnaire by telephone, videoconference, and in person
- Assist with collecting documents of clients in a variety of geographic areas throughout Illinois
- Schedule clients to assist in completing applications with CBRAP or HAF programs
- Communicate with clients in Spanish
- Attend and help plan outreach events
Position Requirements
- Applicants should be bilingual. Spanish preferred. French or other languages would be considered.
- Computer skills
- Organized and detail-oriented
- Must live in Illinois
How to Apply
Submit a resume to Social Services Director Sarah Mellor at smellor@immigrationproject.org. Please put “Housing Team Assistant” in the subject line. No phone inquiries please.
Position: Part-Time Bilingual Social Services Caseworker
Job Location: Champaign, IL
Salary: $15 / hr
Duration: Part time, grant-funded position through June 2023. Extension of the position
dependent on performance and grant funding.
Benefits: Travel reimbursement for travel outside of the count. Paid time off. No health or
retirement benefits for part time workers.
Position Description:
Work under the direction of the Social Services Director to provide social service resources,
especially in the area of Mental Health, to low-income immigrant families in downstate Illinois in compliance with federal, state, and agency programmatic guidelines.
Duties:
● Provide resource information and referrals by telephone, videoconference, and in person
● Build and maintain a directory of immigrant-friendly resources in geographic areas
● Travel 1-2 times per month
● Assist with scheduling and advertising outreach events and workshops
● Communicate with clients in Spanish and/or French to assess needs & program eligibility
● Attend training and weekly meetings
Position Requirements:
● Applicants must be bilingual. Language ability in English and Spanish
● Computer skills
● Organized and detail-oriented
● Must live in Illinois
How to Apply:
Submit a resume to Social Services Director Sarah Mellor at smellor@immigrationproject.org.
Please put “Bilingual Caseworker” in the subject line. No phone inquiries please.
Position: Translation and Interpretation Intern
Job Location: Remote
Academic Credit: Yes
Pay: Unpaid unless the intern is not receiving any academic credit.
Non-credit interns may apply for stipend of up to $500/sem for 50+ hours work
Position Description
Work with the legal team to translate documents and interpret for client appointments
Duties
- Translate documents to
- Attend events in your geographical area or/and virtually
- Attend training and weekly meetings virtually
Position Requirements
- Applicants must be bilingual in either English and Spanish, or French and English
- Computer skills
- Organized and detail-oriented
How to Apply
Apply at www.immigrationproject.org/volunteer-or-intern
Questions?
Position: New Americans Initiative intern
Job Location: Normal, IL office. Some remote work possible.
Academic Credit: Yes
Pay: Unpaid unless the intern is not receiving any academic credit.
Non-credit interns may apply for stipend of up to $500/sem for 50+ hours work
Position Description
Work with the New Americans legal team to help immigrants obtain citizenship and resolve other immigration legal issues.
Duties
- Manage correspondence on the DACA and NAI email
- Utilize spreadsheets with client information to set up workshop appointments
- Create and maintain client files updated with newly received documents
- Coordinate workshops with volunteers and clients
- Revise USCIS forms for filing
- Meet with clients for form signing and discuss the process
- Put together finalized forms for mailing
- Manage Zoom clinic meetings between legal representatives and clients
- Help with data for Outreach
Position Requirements
- Bilingual preferred but not required
- Computer skills
- Organized and detail-oriented
How to Apply
Fill out the intern application at www.immigrationproject.org/volunteer-or-intern
Questions?
Position: Social Services intern
Job Location: Remote
Academic Credit: Yes
Pay: Unpaid unless the intern is not receiving any academic credit.
Non-credit interns may apply for stipend of up to $500/sem for 50+ hours work
Position Description
Work with the Social Services team to help immigrants with financial assistance, mental health, healthcare, public benefits, education, housing and other needs
Duties
- Process applications using spreadsheets and internet-based programs
- Communicate with clients in Spanish to assess needs and eligibility
- Attend events in your geographical area and virtually to promote Immigration Project
- Attend training and weekly meetings virtually
Position Requirements
- Applicants must be bilingual in English and Spanish,
- Computer skills
- Organized and detail-oriented
- Must live in Illinois
How to Apply
Apply at www.immigrationproject.org/volunteer-or-intern
Questions?
Our Mission
Recognizing that access to accurate, complete information regarding immigration law is geographically and economically restricted for underserved immigrant populations in downstate Illinois, the Immigration Project endeavors to provide access to justice for immigrants and their families through immigration-related legal and educational services to immigrants, refugees, their families and others in downstate Illinois, in a manner and context which recognizes the full dignity of each individual.
The Immigration Project is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The Immigration Project celebrates diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and therefore does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, national origin, veteran status or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.
Based in Bloomington-Normal with a satellite office in Champaign