Staff Attorney (Legal Immigration)

Description

The Staff Attorney (Legal Immigration) serves in a leadership role at the forefront of direct legal representation for low-income clients living with or affected by HIV. This position provides comprehensive immigration legal services, including advocacy, application support, and representation before USCIS, EOIR, and BIA. The Staff Attorney plays a critical role in ensuring access to justice by delivering trauma-informed, culturally competent legal support tailored to the unique needs of GMHC’s client population.

The Staff Attorney is part of a fully integrated model of care that centers client autonomy, encourages cross-departmental collaboration, and affirms the dignity and rights of individuals living with or affected by HIV.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

The Staff Attorney is responsible for the following:

Client Legal Services

• Conduct comprehensive legal needs assessments at intake and reassess clients regularly to identify evolving legal needs or additional service needs (e.g. related to social determinants of health).
• Provide direct immigration legal services, including:
• Know Your Rights presentations and legal education.
• Pro se assistance on straightforward and complex cases.
• Legal counsel and case strategy development.
• Full regal representation before USCIS, EOIR, and the BIA in matters including, but not limited to: Asylum, Employment Authorizations, Naturalization, Adjustments of Status, VAWA petitions, TPS, Deferred Action, U and T visas, family-based petitions, and inadmissibility waivers.
• Provide client-centered legal referrals and follow-up support to ensure continuity of care and access to appropriate services. 

Community Education, Outreach, and Technical Assistance

• Deliver legal education and outreach presentations to clients and community members to enhance awareness of available legal services and immigrant rights.
• Collaborate with community-based health and human service providers to offer technical assistance, training, and timely referrals for immigrant clients and those affected by HIV.
• Support walk-in clients and help manage the immigration appointments calendar, ensuring timely follow-up and scheduling coordination.

Program Administration and Compliance

• Maintain accurate and timely records of client services, legal outcomes, and progress notes using internal databases and dashboards.
• Ensure all client documentation meets funder and audit requirements and support internal data quality and validation efforts.
• Assist with preparing monthly and ad hoc reports to meet program deliverables and track outcomes.
• Monitor contract compliance by ensuring that all client charts are complete and contain required documentation in accordance with audit and funder standards.
• Ensure the Department remains audit-ready through consistent documentation practices and adherence to compliance protocols.
• Participate in funder site visits, audits, and program evaluations.

Internal Collaboration & Supervision Support

• Under the guidance of departmental leadership, assist in the supervision and mentoring of paralegal staff, interns, and fellows to support high-quality, holistic legal services.
• Provide consultation to peers and legal team members on case matters and evolving immigration law developments.
• Collaborate with legal and non-legal staff to address systemic issues affecting GMHC’s client population and contribute to policy discussions and strategic solutions.

Requirements

SPECIAL SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE

The ideal candidate will demonstrate a combination of the following required and preferred competencies to succeed in this role:

Required Qualifications:

• A minimum of two to three (2-3) years of experience practicing immigration law, with a demonstrated commitment to advancing the rights and protections of vulnerable populations.
• Strong knowledge of immigration law, legal procedures, and case strategy, particularly in humanitarian and family-based petitions.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, with the ability to interact effectively with clients, colleagues, and external stakeholders.
• Proven ability to manage a dynamic caseload independently, while balancing multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Demonstrated cultural competency in working with diverse populations, including LGBTQ+ individuals, low-income communities, immigrants, racial minorities, and people living with disabilities.
• Fluency in both English and Spanish, sufficient to meet the linguistic needs of GMHC’s client population.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience providing legal services to people living with HIV and/or experience in HIV-related legal advocacy or public health law.
• Familiarity with trauma-informed legal practice, including approaches that integrate sensitivity to past trauma into legal service delivery.
• Knowledge of interdisciplinary service models that integrate legal, medical, and social services to support holistic client care.
• Prior experience in HIV-related legal services, public health law, or trauma-informed legal practice.

EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATION

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school.
• Admission to practice law in New York State.
• Admitted or eligible for admission to the U.S. District Court for the Southern and/or Eastern District of New York.
• Active registration with the New York State Office of Court Administration (OCA).
• Ongoing compliance with New York State Continuing Legal Education (CLE) requirements and maintenance of good standing with the NYS Bar.

TECHNICAL SKILLS

The ideal candidate should demonstrate the following technical competencies to effectively manage legal documentation, reporting, and service delivery:

Microsoft Office and Excel Proficiency

• Intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including:
• Data tracking and analysis for case management and program performance.
• Creating and maintaining spreadsheets to monitor client progress and service deliverables.
• Using formulas, pivot tables, and data validation tools to ensure documentation accuracy,
• Basic proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including:
• Outlook for email communications, calendar coordination, and client scheduling.
• Word for drafting legal documentation, formal correspondence, and grant-related reporting.
• PowerPoint for preparing outreach, training, or public education presentations.

Case Management Systems and Data Entry

• Experience using electronic case management and data tracking systems such as:
• Clio, TREAT, AWARDS, AIRS, eCOMPAS, or similar platforms used for client documentation and service delivery tracking.
• Accurately entering and managing data to ensure all program activities and contract deliverables are properly recorded and reportable.
• Familiarity with federal immigration databases and case tracking tools, including:
• USCIS Case Status Online.
• EOIR (ECAS/Portal) systems.
• DHS and Department of State portals related to client case status, filings, and communications.
• Ability to retrieve, interpret, and incorporate client status updates and government communications into legal files and case strategy.

Documentation, Compliance, and Confidentiality

• Strong documentation skills to maintain:
• Clear and accurate legal records, service notes, and case plans.
• Timely updates in accordance with HIPAA, organizational, and funder-specific confidentiality requirements.
• Ability to follow established protocols to ensure:
• Program and audit readiness
• Full compliance with internal quality assurance standards and external regulatory frameworks.

WORK ENVIRONMENT & SCHEDULE

This is a hybrid position that includes a mix of on-site and remote responsibilities:

• Schedule and work location will be determined by program needs and supervisor discretion.
• On-site presence for client appointments, team collaboration, case conferencing, and select internal or external meetings.
• Travel as required for court appearances, legal proceedings, outreach, and occasional conferences or trainings.
• Remote work for legal writing, documentation, case preparation, and administrative responsibilities, as appropriate.
• Flexibility to work occasional evenings or modified hours to meet client needs, case deadlines, or agency obligations.
• Participation in the annual AIDS Walk New York event is mandatory for all GMHC staff.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

While carrying out the responsibilities of this role:

• The position is primarily office-based and sedentary, involving extended periods of computer use, phone communication, and virtual conferencing.
• The staff member must be able to navigate a standard office environment and attend in-person meetings, court dates, or off-site events as needed.
• This role includes direct interaction with clients who may be experiencing medical or emotional vulnerability, requiring a high level of empathy, patience, and emotional resilience to provide trauma-informed, client-centered legal support.

GMHC supports a racial and gender-diverse environment which contributes to a positive and inclusive atmosphere. Working at GMHC requires a demonstrated awareness of communities that we serve, and we seek candidates who are dedicated to promoting equity and social justice.