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SUMMARY   

The City of Atlanta Office of the Public Defender seeks a Spanish‐speaking bilingual attorney to provide direct representation, community outreach and education to community members in the City of Atlanta with a focus on those facing deportation proceedings and imminent removal. The staff attorney will be a member of the public defender’s office which provides legal services to indigent clients with special emphasis on representing Immigration detainees in the Atlanta City Detention Center.

The staff attorney will provide legal assistance to community members through: (1) direct representation (2) individual consultations; and (3) community education. The attorney will provide representation to immigrants in removal proceedings before Atlanta Immigration Court, on appeal to the Board of Immigration Appeals, before the federal courts and, before USCIS. The staff attorney may also be assigned work relating to other immigration matters. The staff attorney will also serve as the primary immigration advisor to assistant public defenders on immigration-criminal matters.

REPORTS TO:

Chief Public Defender/Director 

Deputy Director

RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Provide direct representation to clients in immigration court, on appeal to the Board of

• Immigration Appeals or before the federal courts;

• Provide direct representation to persons submitting affirmative applications with USCIS;

• Conduct presentations, workshops, legal clinics and individual consultations in Spanish

• and English;

• Provide support to Public Defender staff on cases;

• Provide direct representation and other forms of legal assistance to individuals in other

• types of immigration matters;

• Perform administrative tasks related to grant reporting and other requirements;

• Collaborate with community partners to facilitate client intakes and connect clients to

• services;

• Perform other tasks as required and directed by supervisory staff. 

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE AND ATTRIBUTES

• Juris Doctorate required. Must be a member of the Georgia Bar Association.

• Demonstrated commitment to immigrant rights and willingness to support the City of Atlanta Office of the Public Defender holistic mission, vision and values

• Excellent written and oral communication skills

• Commitment to working in a diverse working environment

• Fluent in English and Spanish;

• Ability to travel by car;

• Strong organizational skills and ability to work independently; and

• Proficiency in use of web‐based software, MS Word and MS Excel, case managements systems, Legal research software.

Qualifications

Licensures and Certifications 

Georgia license to practice law is required