Removal Defense Immigration Attorney

Removal Defense Immigration Attorney

Organization: Alonso & Alonso Attorneys at Law, PLLC

Reports To: Managing Attorney

Employment Type: Full-Time, Exempt

Location: San Antonio, TX (Requires travel throughout Texas)

Salary Range: $88,000 – $160,000 (Commensurate with experience across Attorney Levels I–V)

About Us

At Alonso & Alonso Attorneys at Law, we believe every individual deserves skilled legal representation and a dedicated advocate when facing the complexities of the U.S. immigration system. Through compassionate representation, strategic litigation, and unwavering advocacy, we help individuals and families defend their right to remain together.

As one of the nation's fastest-growing immigration law firms, we represent clients nationwide through a client-centered approach built upon integrity, excellence, innovation, and meaningful results. We empower our attorneys with extensive professional development, collaborative legal support, and opportunities to make a lasting impact.

Job Summary

The Removal Defense Immigration Attorney represents clients in defensive immigration proceedings before the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), Immigration Courts, and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS/ICE). This role focuses on providing strategic legal guidance, courtroom advocacy, and high-quality representation to individuals facing removal while pursuing all available forms of relief.

This position is based in San Antonio, TX, and requires regular travel across Texas for court appearances, client meetings, and detention facility visits.

Essential Responsibilities & Duties

Client Advocacy & Courtroom Representation

Develop and execute strategic defense strategies to protect clients from removal.

Represent clients in EOIR and DHS proceedings, including Master Calendar, Individual Merits, Bond, and Asylum hearings.

Pursue relief options including Asylum, Withholding of Removal, CAT, Cancellation of Removal, Motions to Reopen/Reconsider, BIA Appeals, Prosecutorial Discretion, VAWA, U/T Visas, SIJS, and Deferred Action.

Conduct legal consultations, evaluate eligibility, prepare clients/witnesses for testimony, and zealously advocate during contested hearings.

Maintain clear, empathetic client communication regarding strategy, court dates, legal risks, and case progress.

Case Preparation & Litigation Management

Draft, review, and file litigation motions, briefs, appeals, asylum applications, declarations, legal memoranda, and supporting evidence.

Conduct in-depth research on immigration statutes, regulations, federal precedent, and evolving agency guidance.

Monitor court deadlines, filing schedules, detention statuses, and government correspondence.

Collaborate with paralegals, legal assistants, and case managers to ensure litigation files are organized, complete, and filed on time.

Team Collaboration & Leadership

Participate in legal case reviews, litigation strategy sessions, and trial preparation.

Mentor legal support staff and junior attorneys on removal defense procedures and courtroom advocacy.

Contribute to firm initiatives focused on legal excellence, subject-matter expertise, and collaborative culture.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

Education: Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school.

Licensure: Active Bar License in good standing in at least one U.S. jurisdiction; eligible to practice before EOIR and USCIS.

Legal Expertise: Deep knowledge of removal defense procedures, statutory relief, and federal immigration regulations.

Skills: Exceptional courtroom advocacy, oral argument, legal writing, research, and case management skills under tight court deadlines.

Mobility: Willingness to travel throughout Texas for court appearances, client visits, and detention facility meetings.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience: 2+ years of immigration litigation experience handling removal defense matters from intake to final disposition.

Courtroom Track Record: Hands-on experience with EOIR hearings (Master/Merits/Bond), BIA appeals, Motions to Reopen, and USCIS/ICE appearances.

Language: Bilingual in English and Spanish strongly preferred.

Software: Experience with Litify or equivalent legal case management platforms.

Core Competencies

Litigation Advocacy: Strong courtroom presence and unwavering protection of client rights.

Strategic Analysis: Innovative application of statutes, case law, and agency policy to complex facts.

Client Counseling: Empathetic guidance for clients navigating emotionally sensitive, high-stakes proceedings.

Organization & Judgment: High-level caseload management, deadline adherence, and ethical legal decision-making.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Filing Accuracy: $\ge$ 98% accuracy across all legal filings, motions, and briefs.

Hearing Preparation: 100% of clients fully prepped at least 48 hours prior to scheduled hearings.

Deadline Compliance: 100% compliance with court filing deadlines and litigation milestones.

Responsiveness: Respond to client inquiries within 1 business day whenever possible.

Client Satisfaction: Maintain an average client satisfaction rating of $\ge$ 90%.

Task Completion: Complete $\ge$ 95% of litigation support tasks within target timelines.

Work Environment & Travel

Schedule: Full-time, exempt position following core business hours with flexibility for court schedules, detention visits, and emergency hearings.

Location: Base office in San Antonio, TX.

Travel: Regular travel throughout Texas required (vehicle/air) for court appearances, detention visits, and firm events; occasional overnight stays.

Compensation & Total Rewards

Salary & Career Progression

Base Salary: $88,000 – $160,000 per year.

Career Placement: Requisition may be filled across Attorney Levels I–V based on post-bar experience, trial capabilities, and demonstrated expertise per the Firm's Attorney Staffing & Advancement Policy.

Health & Wellness Benefits

100% Employer-Paid Medical Insurance for individual employee coverage.

Dental and Vision Insurance options.

Employer-Paid Life Insurance & Short-Term Disability Coverage.

EAP and Mental Health Support Resources.

Enhanced Programs: Cigna Healthy Rewards®, RecoveryOne Physical Therapy, Omada Health, Foodsmart Nutrition, Amplifon Hearing, HelloFresh discounts, and gym corporate rates.

Financial Security & Retirement

401(k) Plan with a 3% employer-funded contribution.

Employer-Paid Life and Disability Coverage.

Professional Development & Time Off

Continuing Education Allowance & in-house Texas Bar-approved CLE programs.

Ongoing litigation mentorship and specialized removal defense training.

Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) + Firm-Recognized Holidays.

Unlimited PTO starting on your 3rd anniversary.

Fully Paid New Parent Leave.

Physical Demands

Regular sitting, standing, walking, computer use, and legal research. Occasional lifting of legal files/exhibits up to 10 lbs. Must be capable of traveling by car or plane to access courts, detention centers, and client locations statewide. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Equal Opportunity Employment Statement

Alonso & Alonso Attorneys at Law, PLLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, or any other protected status under federal, state, or local law. Employment decisions are based strictly on business needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications.