Three current job openings:

1. Immigrant Services Advocate

The National Immigrant Justice Center (“NIJC”), a program of Heartland Alliance, Chicago, Illinois, seeks an Immigrant Services Advocate to provide victim witness services to immigrant victims of human trafficking or other types of abuse. This position will assess the victims and ensure access and delivery of services to victims of trafficking and other immigrant victims of abuse.  The duties of this position include:

• Conducting initial in-takes to potential victims of human trafficking;
• Assessing the victims of safety and developing a safety plan;
• Providing referral services for victims;
• Evaluating existing gaps in services for victims of trafficking;
• Identifying services for victims of human trafficking;
• Coordinating services for victims of human trafficking;
• Collecting and disseminating information about benefits and services for trafficked persons to federal, state, and local authorities/agencies;
• Developing multi-lingual, culturally-appropriate educational materials and resources;
• Tracking services provided for victims;
• Assisting in drafting proposals and reports;
• Participating in meetings with non-governmental organizations and law enforcement agencies, as appropriate; and
• Conducting informational workshops for government agencies and service providers.

Qualifications:

Experience in providing social services to individuals, preferably to immigrants and/or refugees.  Excellent writing, editing, public speaking, and computer skills are needed for this position, as is the proven ability to communicate effectively with federal, state, and local authorities, agencies, and service providers.  Candidates must be bilingual: oral comprehension and fluency close to a native speaker in both English and Spanish.  B.A. or equivalent degree required.  Graduate study or degree desirable in international relations, public policy, social work, or related field.

How to Apply:

2. Immigration Attorney for the National Asylum Partnership on Sexual Minorities

The National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC), a program of Heartland Alliance for Human Needs & Human Rights, is seeking an experienced immigration attorney for its National Asylum Partnership on Sexual Minorities (NAPSM) Project.  The attorney will develop and implement national strategies to ensure access to legal protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) asylum seekers and immigrants who are HIV-positive through litigation, advocacy, technical assistance, development of materials, trainings and documentation.  The attorney will cultivate nationwide partnerships to build national capacity for representing this population.  In addition, the attorney will identify countries from which LGBT asylum seekers are fleeing persecution and seeking protection in the U.S. and oversee an asylum documentation project relating to LGBT/HIV-positive asylum claims. 

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Strengthen a national network to provide legal services to LGBT and HIV-positive immigrants, in particular detained individuals
• Update, and disseminate Know Your Rights and other information material for LGBT asylum seekers.
• Provide free legal intake, representation and/or referrals to qualified attorneys for LGBT asylum seekers and HIV-positive individuals. 
• In coordination with national partners, edit, update and distribute a manual for attorneys on preparing sexual orientation-based asylum claims as well as a manual on filing complaints on behalf of the LGBT/HIV-positive individuals with international bodies.
• Recruit and support pro bono attorneys who provide legal representation to LGBT asylum seekers and HIV-positive individuals.
• In coordination with national partners, conduct three to four legal trainings where legal services are not available for LGBT and HIV-positive asylum seekers.
• Provide technical assistance to attorneys representing LGBT and HIV positive asylum seekers.
• Oversee the compilation of a national directory of attorneys/legal service providers representing LGBT immigrants
• Identify countries that have demonstrated a pattern of persecuting individuals based on their sexual orientation or HIV-positive status.
• Supervise the asylum documentation project and respond to inquiries regarding LGBT/HIV-positive individuals in detention.
• Serve as NIJC spokesperson on issues impacting LGBT and HIV-positive immigrants.
• Upload sample briefs, asylum documentation and materials identified above onto http://www.asylumlaw.org/, allowing national and international access to resources on LGBT refugee cases.
• Write grants for programs pertaining to the needs of LGBT/HIV-positive immigrants and asylum seekers.
• Conduct legal and community presentations with national and Chicago-based LGBT immigrant rights organizations.

Qualifications:

How to Apply:

3. Staff Attorney

The National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC) is a program of the Heartland Alliance for Human Needs & Human Rights. Established in the 1970s, NIJC promotes human rights and access to justice for immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers through legal services, policy reform, impact litigation, and public education. NIJC provides immigration legal services and representation to individuals throughout the metropolitan Chicago area, serving approximately 8,000 persons each year.

NIJC is hiring for a staff attorney that will provide legal counseling and representation to low-income immigrants seeking immigration benefits in immigration proceedings and before the Department of Homeland Security.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Participates and conducts preliminary intake interviews, gathers all relevant facts and conducts legal analysis to assess for immigration relief or benefits under U.S. immigration law.

• Participates in weekly in-person intake and community partnership clinics.
• Develops and implements case strategy based on immigration law and procedure including preparing cases for hearings, drafting legal documents and gathering evidence packets.
• Represents clients in immigration proceedings before the Immigration Court, Board of Immigration Appeals and at administrative interviews before the Department of Homeland Security.
• Conducts outreach and training on immigration legal issues.

Qualifications:

• J.D. degree and license to practice law and minimum of one year of direct experience working with or providing legal representation to immigrants, asylum seekers and/or refugees.
• Excellent written and oral skills in English including demonstrated ability in professional and legal writing. Ability to read, speak and write Spanish language.
• Ability to work in fast paced environment and multi-task; strong organizational and computer skills necessary.