Immigration Associate Attorney

Brief Job Description:

As an Immigration Associate Attorney at Bretz & Coven, LLP, your primary responsibilities will be defending non-citizens in removal proceedings. The role requires a minimum of two years of experience, specifically in immigration court. You will be tasked with addressing various aspects of immigration law, including cancellation of removal, asylum, waivers, and defending against immigration consequences resulting from alleged criminal and fraudulent conduct. This position offers challenging work with opportunities for both professional and economic growth within a nationally recognized legal team. The successful candidate will play a crucial role in helping clients navigate complex immigration issues and achieve positive outcomes. Foreign language skills and federal court experience are a plus.

Company Overview:

Bretz & Coven, LLP is a nationally renowned immigration law firm with a strong reputation for representing foreign nationals with complex immigration cases, including removal defense, the immigration consequences of criminal convictions and fraud, family-based immigration, humanitarian immigration and more. Our dedicated team shares a mission to protect and advance the rights of the immigrant community, emphasizing teamwork, respect, dignity, and creativity

Responsibilities:

• Manage a caseload of removal defense cases
• Prepare and litigate applications for relief from removal, including cancellation of removal, adjustment of status, asylum, withholding of removal, Convention Against Torture (CAT), and other waivers
• Prepare and argue motions to release clients from detention in bond proceedings
• Challenge allegations of removability through motions to terminate and motions to suppress
• Conduct investigations and discovery to support clients' claims with persuasive evidence
• Work closely with clients and their families to prepare affirmative applications for visas, citizenship, asylum, U visas, and visas under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), in addition to waivers of inadmissibility
• Collaborate with other attorneys and experts nationally and locally to leverage knowledge for clients' benefit
• Perform legal research and writing, including drafting and filing motions and briefs before immigration courts, the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA), and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
• Analyze immigration consequences of criminal convictions and provide "Padilla consults" to criminal defense attorneys
• Litigate petitions for writ of habeas corpus and applications for preliminary injunctive relief in the U.S. District Court
• Supervise support staff and paralegals
• File, brief, and litigate petitions for review in federal courts
• Conduct consultations for potential clients interested in the law firm's services
• Prepare and file motions for post-conviction relief (PCR) in criminal courts
• Prepare and file motions for special immigrant juvenile visas (SIJV) in family courts

Compensation and Benefits:

We offer a competitive compensation and benefits package, including:

• Competitive salary
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Medical insurance
• 401k and profit sharing
• Payment of AILA membership dues
• Payment of annual CLE courses
• Compensation for cases you bring into the firm
• Relocation assistance for out-of-state new hires
• A pleasant, demanding working environment
• Attorneys who choose to continue their careers with our law firm are considered for promotion along a partnership track, offering additional opportunities and compensation

Requirements:

• Must be licensed to practice law in NY or NJ or have the ability to immediately waive in
• At least 2 years of relevant legal experience in immigration courts preferred, but all qualified applicants with immigration court experience will be considered
• Proficiency in Spanish or at least one other foreign language
• Knowledge of Crim/Imm and waivers
• Excellent writing and verbal skills
• Ability to handle a fast-paced and demanding docket
• Ability to work as a team
• Commitment to our mission and values
• Federal court experience is a plus

Application Process:

Interested applicants should submit the following documents via email directly to Kerry Bretz at kwbretz@bretzlaw.com:

• Resume
• Cover letter
• Two (2) writing samples

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $100,000.00 - $135,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Referral program
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift

Work Location: In person