Temporary Staff Attorney, Special Projects

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title :

Temporary Staff Attorney Special Projects

Reporting Office : New York NY

Department :

Refugee Representation

Job Classification : Fulltime; Exempt

Supervisor :

Supervising Senior Staff Attorney

Union Classification :

Union

Accountable To :

Director Refugee Representation

Last Updated : 11 / 14 / 2025

COVERAGE PERIOD : February 2 2026 July 3 2026

PURPOSE OF THE JOB :

The temporary staff attorney will collaborate with the Supervising Senior Staff Attorney to effectively administer Human Rights Firsts pro bono asylum legal representation work through Project : Afghan Legal Assistance (PALA).

The PALA Special Projects team within Human Rights First provides with partner support legal representation to Afghan refugee arrivals. We help connect individual asylum seekers with pro bono attorneys providing limited scope and pro se assistance. The PALA team also provides direct legal assistance to Afghan immigrants.

The temporary staff attorney will assist in administering Human Rights Firsts pro bono legal representation work. They will mentor law firm attorneys providing representation in asylum cases in removal proceedings (detained and non-detained) and affirmative addition they will provide direct legal assistance to Afghan clients with asylum (both affirmative and in removal proceedings) adjustment of status and family reunification cases.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES :

Case Selection Placement and Management

• Conduct legal screenings and intake interviews with potential Afghan immigrant clients;
• Assist in identifying cases appropriate to either place with volunteer pro bono attorneys or HumanRights First staff;
• Ensure that whether Human Rights First provides in-depth mentoring on cases placed with volunteer pro bono teams or direct legal support all clients and volunteers with whom we partner receive high-quality legal services and guidance;
• Provide pro bono attorneys with prompt and thorough legal and procedural support on our Afghanpro bono cases including conducting trainings strategizing on individual cases reviewing draft submissions and informing volunteers of significant legal developments in asylum SIV or other immigration laws impacting the Afghan population in the U.S.;
• Build and maintain strong relationships with law firms and volunteer attorneys and create training and advertising materials for pro bono counsel as needed;
• Identify and conduct outreach to new pro bono partners through various traditional and technological platforms and promote attorney interest in pro bono representation of Special Projects clients;
• Identify analyze and respond to legal or procedural changes that affect immigrants including statutory changes proposed regulations and decisions of the Board of Immigration Appeals or federal courts;
• Contribute to and lead efforts to develop training materials for volunteer attorneys including Human Rights Firsts online Resource Library and other manuals memoranda videos or other training media as needed; and
• Assist in conducting client outreach supporting in-person and virtual client information sessions and maintaining other forms of regular communication with Special Projects client population.

Mentorship

Advocacy

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE SKILL AND EXPERIENCE :

Human Rights First is committed to recruiting retaining and developing staff from a diversity of backgrounds including members of racial and ethnic minorities LGBTQ people people with disabilities people of all socioeconomic backgrounds people of all nationalities and veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces. We believe that a diverse staff and an inclusive work environment that welcomes a range of perspectives make us stronger and more effective.

The salary range for this position is $85000-$90000 / year (prorated) DOE.

Apply at the Human Rights First website under CAREERS : Experience :

Staff IC

Key Skills

Clerical,Diploma,Foreclosure Paralegal,Flight Operations,Construction Equipment

Employment Type : Full-Time

Experience : years

Vacancy : 1

Yearly Salary Salary : 85000 - 90000