Background:
TakeRoot Justice provides legal, participatory research and policy support to strengthen the work of grassroots and community-based groups in New York City to dismantle racial, economic and social oppression.
TakeRoot models our internal structure on anti-oppressive and democratic principles to build a workplace culture that mirrors the progressive change we pursue through our work. We encourage all staff members to participate in key organizational decisions and to help manage integral aspects of our internal operations through a system of committees, or “circles” that oversee areas such as hiring, budgetary decisions, racial justice work, internal and external community building, communications, policy, and more. Applicants are encouraged to learn more about TakeRoot’s work by visiting our website: www.takerootjustice.org.
TakeRoot’s Immigrants’ Rights team strengthens the organizing work of our community-based partners by providing community education, strategy support, legal clinics and direct immigration representation in line with our partners’ organizing goals. We offer community education and strategy support on many issues including immigrant community defense networks, immigrant tenants’ and workers’ rights organizing and the fight against immigration fraud. Additionally, we work alongside our partners to protect individuals from detention and deportation, keep families together, and build power in immigrant communities.
Position:
TakeRoot Justice seeks candidates for the position of Fully Accredited DOJ Representative/ Advocacy Coordinator to join our Immigrants’ Rights team.
Primary responsibilities include:
• Direct representation of clients on a wide range of affirmative and defensive matters, including Asylum, VAWA, U/T visas, family-based petitions, SIJS and cancellation of removal, including representing individuals in immigration court;
• Develop and maintain relationships with organizing groups throughout New York City together with TakeRoot staff;
• Create and facilitate community education presentations and workshops for partner organizing groups and their members, including sometimes on evenings and weekends;
• Provide legislative advocacy, legal research, and action support to organizing groups and the members centered in campaigns;
• Staff virtual and/or on-site community-based legal clinics and advise clients of their avenues for relief;
• Advocate to legislative and regulatory bodies on behalf of immigrants and organizing groups, primarily at the city and state level through lobbying, city council testimony and more
• Assist the resource management team in grant compliance and fundraising;
• Assist with peer support of attorneys, advocacy coordinators and interns in the Immigrants’ Rights practice area as needed.
• Participate in TakeRoot’s self-governance structure, including collective staff decision-making, participation in governance circles or working groups,
Ideal Candidates will:
• Be committed to economic and racial justice and the immigrant justice movement in New York City;
• Be passionate about working toward immigrant justice within a community lawyering model, serving community-based organizations and their members, and developing creative lawyering strategies to support immigrant organizing;
• Be a Fully Accredited DOJ Representative;
• Have a minimum of three years of immigration law or related experience;
• Have fluency in a second language (Spanish and/or Haitian Creole is strongly preferred);
• Have strong writing, analytical, and interpersonal skills;
• Be self-directed and enthusiastic about boundary-pushing immigration advocacy.
Salary and compensation:
The salary range for this position is $50,880 – $63,600 consistent with the salary scale set forth in the collective bargaining agreement. TakeRoot Justice offers an excellent benefits package, including generous vacation, personal, and sick time, along with strong medical and dental coverage. This is a bargaining unit position represented for collective bargaining purposes by the National Organization of Legal Services Workers, UAW, Local 2230.
Application Instructions:
Interested applicants should send a cover letter, resume and writing sample in a single PDF by e-mail only (no hard copies please) with the subject line “Immigrants’ Rights DOJ Accredited Representative” to nqurashi@takerootjustice.org, Attn: Nadia Qurashi. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis.
TakeRoot Justice is an equal opportunity employer. TakeRoot encourages applications from people with diverse backgrounds, including women, people of color, immigrants, people with disabilities, LGBTQ people, people from low-income backgrounds, and people with personal experience with the criminal justice system. We strongly encourage applications from people with lived experiences in the communities we serve.