Immigration Legal Fellowship Project (Jan 2025)

IMMIGRATION LEGAL FELLOWSHIP PROJECT ANNOUNCEMENT

The Immigration Legal Fellowship Project is a California state funded legal fellowship program. The Fellowship aims to develop the organizational capacity of legal service providers and increase the number of qualified immigration attorneys able to provide legal services in underserved areas of the state.

The Position

California ChangeLawyers is partnering with the California Department of Social Services, immigrant rights organizations, including Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) and Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA), to provide a 16- to 18-month fellowship to an attorney or law graduate committed to providing immigration legal services in underserved regions of the state [Inland Empire (Riverside/San Bernardino) and the Central Valley (greater Fresno area.] There will be a strong preference for candidates who are licensed and those pursuing legal careers in the regions mentioned above. 

The Immigration Legal Fellow will receive intensive legal training on immigration law, particularly removal defense representation, and immigrant rights as well as hands-on experience representing clients before federal agencies and the immigration court.  

The Fellow will be placed in host organizations in underserved regions of the State, to be determined. The host organization will act as the Employer of Record for the Fellows for the duration of the Fellowship. The Fellow will be assigned a Mentor Attorney who will provide legal guidance, technical assistance, and mentorship through the fellowship. The Fellowship cohort will have access to leadership development, and networking opportunities provided by California ChangeLawyers as well as ongoing legal training provided by the ILRC.
 

Fellowship Duties will include: 

• Participate in all orientation and training sessions provided to the cohort.
• Directly shadow experienced attorneys working on immigration cases, participate in Know Your Rights orientation sessions at immigration detention centers, and provide pro se assistance to detained individuals. 
• With the assistance of Mentor Attorneys during initial training, work on a variety of immigration cases, including preparing applications, declarations, and supporting evidence as well as providing co-representation in immigration interviews, bond hearings, and removal hearings.
• Provide representation for individuals in a variety of immigration matters, including:  preparing applications, declarations, and supporting evidence as well as providing representation in immigration interviews, bond hearings, and removal hearings under the guidance of the Mentor Attorney.
• Participate in on-going legal training and capacity building opportunities as well as regular case rounds sessions with the entire Fellowship cohort.
• Actively participate in leadership development activities and annual Fellowship Convenings. 

Qualifications

• California or other state bar license preferred.
• Law school graduate.
• Record of experience or demonstrated commitment to serving immigrant communities.
• Prior experience working in an immigration legal service organization preferred but not required. 
• Strong ties to California’s Inland Empire or Central Valley regions, with a preference for those pursuing long-term careers in those regions.  
• Willing to live and work in the Inland Empire or Central Valley. 
• Fellows must be open to working in any of the host organizations’ locations.
• Willingness and flexibility to be as responsive to community needs as needed. 
• Able to travel for training and for legal representation.  
• Must be fluent in Spanish or another language widely spoken in the target regions (such as Arabic, Dari, Farsi, Hmong, Khmer, Mixteco, Pashto, Punjabi, Vietnamese, Urdu, or other). 
• Strong writing skills and attention-to-detail. 
• Diverse candidates from groups historically underrepresented in the legal profession are strongly encouraged to apply. 

Position Details, Salary & Benefits

This is a 16 to 18-month fellowship that will start in March 2025 and conclude in August 2026.  Fellowship salary range is $72,000 annually.  Benefits package includes medical benefits and professional fees.

Application Instructions

Apply via Submittable. Please have your resume, two letters of recommendation, and a writing sample on hand.

Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible.  Applications will be considered on a rolling basis.  

The deadline to apply is February 26, 2024 at 11:59 PM PST.