SR Staff Attorney - Law School

Position Summary

The Immigration Law Lab is a unique opportunity for students to learn immigration law while supporting the emergent, short-term needs of the Chicago immigrant community and beyond. The Immigration Law Lab is situated within the Holistic Immigration Hub Pilot, recently launched by the Loyola University Chicago and its School of Law. As a component of the Holistic Immigration Hub, The Law Lab is an integral partner with the Immigration and Human Rights Clinic. Meeting the complex needs of immigrant families requires an interdisciplinary approach. The Holistic Immigration Hub is designed to harness Loyola's collaborative spirit and cross-disciplinary approach to recognize and restore the fundamental dignity of migrants in society and before the law. Leveraging powerful partnerships amongst the School of Law, Stritch School of Medicine, Parkinson School of Health Sciences & Public Health, and the Schools of Education and Social Work, the Hub advances novel legal pedagogy, interdisciplinary clinical training, and innovative research to develop a new generation of immigration lawyers, serve migrant children and families, and propel Loyola's reputation as a leader in immigrant justice guided by Jesuit values.

The SR. Staff Attorney will work within the Immigration and Human Rights Clinic to assist in structuring and launching the Immigration Law Lab, engage in the coordination of immigration law lab projects and volunteer opportunities, direct representation of clients and systemic advocacy, and supervise other staff and students. The supervising attorney will develop and maintain collaborative relationships with other components and faculty associated with the Loyola Holistic Immigration Hub, law school faculty, faculty at Loyola outside the school of law and organizational partners involved in the Immigration Law Lab and the Holistic Immigration Hub - including immigration legal services partners; engage in outreach and training for partner organizations, students, and other community members as necessary; develop internal and external resources and materials; manage referral and information exchange protocols; and provide direct service representation and policy advocacy to Immigration Law Lab and Clinic clients. The supervising attorney will also work in collaboration with faculty from law, social work, medicine, nursing, and public health to develop opportunities for students to engage in interdisciplinary advocacy.

All staff in the School of Law report to the Associate Dean for Administration. Additionally, the Law School Staff Attorney has accountability to Sarah Diaz and Katherine Kaufka Walts, Co-Directors of the Holistic Immigration Hub.

The position is grant funded for a period of 3 years or as long as funds are available.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following.

1. Engage in direct legal representation, research, and policy work on immigration and human rights.

2. Develop and provide training and resource development for partner organizations, community, and students;

3. Engage in outreach in Chicago, Illinois and surrounding communities;

4. Maintain referral, filing, and case management system for Immigration Law Lab, and monitor cases for the Immigration and Human Rights Clinic project;

5. Draft reports to funders, partners, and the broader community as needed,

6. Mentor volunteers and students;

7. Maintain relationships with organizational partners, university, and other community members;

8. Generally help facilitate the launch of this innovative new program.

Special Instructions:

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Position to begin September 1, 2025. Applicants are asked to submit (1) a letter of interest, (2) resume, and (3) the names and contact information for three references.

Make inquiries to: Sarah J. Diaz, Director, Immigration & Human Rights Clinic, Loyola University Chicago School of Law, email sdiaz10@luc.edu; Melanie Holland Bell, Associate Dean for Administration, Loyola University Chicago School of Law, email mbell14@luc.edu

Candidates must possess a minimum of 3 years of legal experience, a Juris Doctor from an accredited law school and admission in good standing to state and federal practice in the State of Illinois (or eligibility to be admitted in Illinois within one year of hiring).

Minimum qualifications:
Candidates must possess a minimum of 3 years of legal experience, a Juris Doctor from an accredited law school and admission in good standing to state and federal practice in the State of Illinois (or eligibility to be admitted in Illinois within one year of hiring).

Annual travel to the border required.

Preferred qualifications: 5 or more years of legal practice experience in an immigration law setting; experience supervising other staff and/or students; experience collaborating across professions; excellent public speaker and writer.

Demonstrated interest in immigration and human rights law and social and racial justice. Ability to read, analyze, and interpret immigration law and policy (including regulations, statutes, case law, administrative decisions, and legislative history), law periodicals, professional journals, and agency procedures. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and legal manuals in a variety of subjects. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from organizational partners, clients, students, funders, and the general public.

Commitment to creative and innovative thinking and partnership around program development. Strong organizational skills with the ability to prioritize tasks. Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, and as part of an interdisciplinary team. Experience in supervising and providing collaborative constructive support to new attorneys, other support staff, and students. Detail oriented. Flexible work attitude, ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment with a small staff, and ability to work collaboratively with a diverse group of professionals.

Ability to interact with a variety of people of various socio-economic backgrounds and education levels demonstrating strong client-centered lawyering skills. Excellent judgment, including sensitivity to client needs, cultural nuances, and confidentiality. Interest in serving low-income people and addressing the needs of migrant people.

Fluency in written and spoken Spanish is strongly preferred.

Juris Doctor; admission/eligibility for admission to any state bar; must be in good standing.

Adept user of Internet, case management systems, e-mail, class management software and other office automation systems. Will be expected to oversee the installation and maintenance of case management and data collection systems, LegalServer and Clio.

As a Jesuit, Catholic institution of higher education, we seek candidates who will contribute to our strategic plan to deliver a Transformative Education in the Jesuit tradition. To learn more about Loyola University Chicago's mission, candidates should consult our website at www.luc.edu/mission/. For information about the university's focus on transformative education, they should consult our website at www.luc.edu/transformativeed.

Founded in 1870, Loyola University Chicago is one of the nation's largest Jesuit, Catholic universities, recognized for its academic excellence, commitment to community engagement, and leadership in sustainability. A Carnegie R1 research institution, Loyola leverages its status as one of an elite group of universities with the highest level of research activity to advance knowledge that serves communities and creates global impact. With 15 schools, colleges, and institutes-including Business, Law, Medicine, Nursing, and Health Sciences-Loyola operates three primary campuses in the greater Chicago area and one in Rome, Italy, that provide students a transformative, globally connected learning experience. Consistently ranked among the nation's top universities by U.S. News & World Report, Loyola is a STARS Gold-rated institution that is ranked as one of the country's most sustainable campuses by The Princeton Review and has earned distinctions from AmeriCorps and the Carnegie Foundation for its longstanding record of service and community engagement. Guided by its Jesuit mission and commitment to caring for the whole person, Loyola educates ethical leaders who think critically, act with purpose, and strive to create a more just and sustainable world.

Loyola University Chicago strives to be an employer of choice by offering its staff and faculty a wide array of affordable, comprehensive, and competitive benefits. To view our benefits in detail, click here.

Loyola adheres to all applicable federal, state, and/or local civil rights laws and regulations prohibiting discrimination in private institutions of higher education. Please see the University's Nondiscrimination Policy.