Staff Attorney

National Immigration Law Center

Litigator advancing rights of low-income immigrants at the National Immigration Law Center. Responsible for impact litigation, policy analysis, advocacy, and community empowerment.

Posted 5/22/2026full-timeRemote • California, District of Columbia • 🇺🇸 United StatesLead💰 $86,726 - $108,459 per yearWebsite

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

Mocha

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Conduct impact litigation on a range of issues in collaboration with litigation teams of other Staff Attorneys, Senior Attorneys, Deputy Directors, Paralegals, and other Program staff.
Identify and develop litigation in federal and state courts with supervision and support from Senior Attorneys and/or Deputy Directors, including preparing pleadings, motions, and briefs; conducting discovery; presenting oral arguments; and handling appeals.
Develop and maintain a significant litigation case load in state and/or federal court, typically in partnership with an internal case team and external co-counsel.
Strategically, creatively, and boldly use plaintiff-driven, community-grounded impact litigation in combination and partnership with NILC’s other core strategies of policy research and analysis, strategic partnerships and advocacy, communications, and movement power building to advance NILC’s vision and mission.
Advance NILC’s administrative and legislative advocacy by providing legal analysis and technical assistance to colleagues in NILC’s other departments; government officials and staff; the media; and advocates, organizers, and attorneys nationwide.
Develop community education materials, co-create webinars, and provide Know Your Rights (KYR) presentations.
Mentor and teach legal interns, legal fellows, and more junior attorneys in all aspects of case investigation, development, and litigation, as well as in other legal work.
Collaborate with staff across the organization via Program workgroups to support ongoing programmatic work.
Represent NILC with coalition partners on litigation and other areas of legal experience or expertise.
Engage with the media about relevant legal work and litigation in coordination with the Strategic Communications department.
Proactively, constructively, and consistently report to relevant staff and leadership about programmatic developments, administrative needs and broader institutional concerns, opportunities, and needs.
Work with legal team staff on responding to requests for assistance, case development, and provision of legal representation.
Successfully engage in/support policy advocacy, campaigns, and community outreach to advance NILC’s mission.
Support and strengthen internal protocols and communication; foster a collaborative work environment and contribute positively to team dynamics; and reflect NILC’s and the Legal Department’s values inside and outside the organization.
May be a part of a larger cross functional project using the MOCHA framework/methodology.

Requirements

What you’ll need

JD degree and active member in good standing of a State Bar Association required
2-6+ years of litigation experience
Demonstrated experience in the investigation and development of impact litigation.
Proficiency with in-office and virtual environments and software such as MS Office, internet research, and virtual collaboration tools.
Civil litigation experience in federal court preferred.
Expertise in immigrants’ rights or other public interest impact litigation strongly preferred.
Proficiency in non-English languages spoken by Latinx, Asian, Pacific Islander, African, Caribbean, and Arab communities preferred. Fluency in more than one language desirable.

Benefits

Comp & perks

medical, dental, vision, life and AD&D insurance
STD and LTD insurance
healthcare and dependent care FSA
stipends and/or reimbursements for wellness, phone, and internet
generous paid time off
robust holiday schedule
employee assistance program (EAP)
additional voluntary insurance packages

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills & Tools

litigationimpact litigationcase investigationlegal analysispleadingsmotionsbriefsdiscoveryoral argumentsappeals

Soft Skills

mentoringcollaborationcommunicationstrategic thinkingcreativitycommunity outreachadvocacyteam dynamicsreportingproblem-solving

Certifications

JD degreeactive member of State Bar Association