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Immigration Equality’s high-performance legal team is recruiting a new attorney for our Washington, DC office. The Legislative Lawyer will engage in legislative, administrative and regulatory advocacy and policy work on behalf of LGBT and HIV-positive immigrants and their families. This position will focus almost entirely on legal and policy issues that affect LGBT immigrant families. This is a policy position – there will be no direct representation and no asylum work.
Founded in 1994, Immigration Equality is the country’s premiere legal aid and advocacy organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and HIV-positive immigrants and their families. Immigration Equality’s pro bono asylum project represents LGBT people fleeing persecution because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, with the participation of more than 40 top national law firms. Immigration Equality works to end discrimination against LGBT people in U.S. immigration law through education, outreach, and advocacy. In 2009, Immigration Equality created the Immigration Equality Action Fund, a 501(c)(4), to expand its federal legislative advocacy.
Position Overview
The Legislative Lawyer’s work will focus on legislative and administrative advocacy for LGBT and HIV-positive immigrants and their families. While the position may include some limited client “legal hotline” contact, it is primarily a policy position. This work will include:
- Draft proposed legislation on a number of LGBT-related immigration issues;
- Research and develop opportunities for administrative advocacy that would benefit same-sex binational families as a group as well as other LGBT and HIV related immigration issues;
- Participate in meetings with immigration coalition members and government officials to address LGBT-specific immigration concerns;
- Analyze proposed legislation and regulations for impact on LGBT and HIV-positive immigrants and expand on recommendations Immigration Equality has made on regulatory advocacy issues affecting LGBT/H immigrants;
- Research and develop expertise on legal issues unique to same-sex binational couples, including but not limited to: parenting issues; property ownership issues; tax issues; and inheritance issues;
- Research and develop opportunities for impact litigation or amicus work in areas that would benefit same-sex binational couples;
- Represent Immigration Equality at conferences concerning LGBT immigration issues.
Qualifications
- J.D. from an accredited law school and admitted to practice in at least one state;
- Experience working on legislative, policy and/or administrative advocacy issues required;
- Close attention to detail and ability to spend long periods of time researching and writing;
- Immigration law experience strongly preferred;
- Demonstrated commitment to LGBT issues, HIV issues, detention issues and/or immigration issues;
- Excellent research, writing and speaking skills;
- Ability to work well on a variety of tasks simultaneously;
- Flexibility in ability to prioritize tasks in rapidly changing legal landscape;
- Fluency in another language preferred;
- Ability to work some evenings and weekends;
- Ability to travel regularly to Immigration Equality’s NY headquarters;
- Ability to travel for conferences.
Salary and Benefits
Immigration Equality is an affirmative action employer: immigrants and people of color are strongly encouraged to apply. Immigration Equality fosters a progressive, LGBT-friendly, work space, and applicants must demonstrate the ability to collaborate within a diverse and inclusive environment. Salary DOE; excellent benefits.
Application Procedure
Applications should submit a detailed cover letter and resume. Applicants who receive an interview will later be asked to submit a writing sample, such as a legal research memo or article and three references.