Transgender Law Center
Job Description – Transgender Law Center’s Border Butterflies Project
Job Title: Staff Attorney
Status: Full-time, exempt
Location: This position can be remote or work out of TLC’s offices in Oakland or Brooklyn
Reports to: Supervising Attorney
Salary: $75,000-$85,000 depending on experience and location
About the Border Butterflies Project
Border Butterflies is a project anchored by the Black LGBTQIA Migrant Project, Transgender Law Center, Familia: Trans Queer Liberation Movement, and other Tijuana based organizations. The project aims to support LGBTQ asylum seekers at the US-Mexico border with legal, humanitarian, post-detention, and organizing support. The staff attorney position, based in the Tijuana/San Diego region, will be hosted by Transgender Law Center. The staff attorney will provide direct legal support to LGBTQ asylum seekers in living Tijuana and the United States.
POSITION SUMMARY
This position is within TLC’s litigation team with a focus on the Border Butterflies Project.
Primary Responsibilities
Provide direct immigration services to LGBTQ asylum seekers in the United States including;
• conflict-of-interest checks
• over-the-phone and in-person intakes and consultations- including at community centers and shelters
• preparing applications including but not limited to, asylum, change of venue, parole, bond, u visas, t visas, and vawa
• conducting research
• Represent clients at master calendar hearings and ICE check-ins
• Provide limited direct representation in immigration court for asylum merits hearings
Improve the quality of care that LGBTQ asylum seekers receive:
• Working with mental health providers, healthcare providers, and shelter services providers to improve the quality of care that asylum seekers receive
• Supporting the services being provided to be more holistic, coordinated, client-centered, strength-based, and trauma-informed.
Coalition Presence:
Develop, sustain, and strengthen new and existing coalitions and collaborations, working with all the following;
o immigrant legal service and advocacy organizations
o social service and victim support agencies
o government agencies
Community Education:
• Conduct immigration clinics, community meetings and Know-your-“rights” information sessions
• Develop written resources including know-your-rights material and sample legal documents;
• Develop, sustain, and strengthen educational outreach to immigrant communities
• Engage in education efforts for community members and attorneys, including speaking at conferences, trainings, and webinars;
Administration & TLC’s internal ecosystem:
• Daily attention to administrative and operational responsibilities to ensure reporting compliance, including detailed and comprehensive data collection
• Assist with the smooth transfer of cases to pro bono attorneys and other legal representatives;
• Attend relevant meetings, including;
o Border Butterfly meetings;
o All-staff meetings (1-2 hours per month)
• Other duties as assigned in support of the BBP legal team and the organization at large