Pro Bono Mentor

• The Organization:
• The Florence Project was founded in 1989 to respond to a representation crisis for indigent non-citizens detained at the rural Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Detention Center in Florence, Arizona. Through our programs today, we provide services to thousands of adults, youth, and children detained in Eloy, Florence, Phoenix, and Tucson, Arizona on any given day. In 2001, the Florence Project implemented our Integrated Social Services Program, one of the first of its kind in this field. The Florence Project provides high quality legal and social services and supports initiatives for national changes in immigration law and policy.

Primary Purpose of the Job:

The Pro Bono Mentor will work directly with the Adult Program and the Pro Bono Program. The Pro Bono Mentor will provide some direct representation to detained individuals in immigration removal proceedings and custody redetermination hearings. However, a significant portion of the Pro Bono Mentor’s time will be devoted to providing an excellent and responsive mentoring service to Pro Bono Attorneys handling Florence Project cases. This position includes administrative duties and requires visits to detention facilities in Eloy and Florence , as well as travel to Phoenix and Tucson .

Pro Bono Mentor positions at the Florence Project are generally assigned to one program at a time (here, the Ad ult Program) as a matter of organizational structure. However, legal needs and services provided by the Florence Project can and often do evolve over time. This position will support the immediate need for legal case work and mentorship in the Adult Legal Program. However, depending on the evolving legal needs and priorities of the organization, the p osition may be assigned to work performed by other programs, including the Children’s Program or Advocacy Team, and or assigned to other departments/programs as needed .

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

Pro Bono Mentorship:

Attend all staff and team meetings, trainings, and stay well versed in organizational developments.

Maintain a reasonable number of active cases at all times and remain current with the state of the law and local process.

Work with the Adult Program staff to promptly identify suitable cases for pro bono placement.

Review incoming referrals from legal service providers and other stakeholders as well as internal referrals.

Conduct intakes of adults detained in Eloy and Florence selected for potential pro bono placement.

Write up referrals of cases to be placed with pro bono attorneys.

Mentor pro bono attorneys and law firms partnering with the Florence Project.

Monitor ongoing cases and developments in case law, policy, and court processes and procedures to provide relevant and timely updates to pro bono partners.

Host periodic office hours for pro bono attorneys.

Provide technical assistance on a discretionary basis to attorneys handling cases outside the FIRRP Pro Bono Program.

Develop templates, sample materials, guides and resources for volunteer attorneys.

Track monthly successes and challenges for reporting purposes.

Advocacy

Develop and maintain cooperative relationships with local and national community partners, including but not limited to private immigration attorneys, public officials, law enforcement officials, and other nonprofits that provide services to the immigrant population.

Develop and maintain professional relationships with the Immigration Court (EOIR), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS), government and social service organizations, and community organizations.

Communicate with the Pro Bono Manager about possible advocacy initiatives and legal trainings for the community.

Support Florence Project outreach and development activities as needed.

Perform other administrative duties as needed.

Other Duties & Responsibilities:

Support the Pro Bono Manager to foster and cultivate relationships with law firms, the immigration bar, non-profits, professional associations, university clinics, and judicial pro bono programs through outreach, trainings, CLEs and other events such as our annual Pro Bono Awards Reception.

Participate in organizational fundraising and outreach efforts as requested.

Assist with other adult program tasks as needed.

Input data in a wide range of databases and assist with provision of data for reports.

Prepare timely statistical reports.

Conduct quarterly case audits for presentation and review.

Participate in training on immigration procedures and may conduct training sessions as assigned.

Participate in developing and implementing special projects or presentations.

This position can be assigned to a primary line of work while maintaining flexibility to be assigned to other lines of work/cases at other moments depending on program’s needs, including pro se work, direct representation work, and trafficking work. Additionally, this position may perform case work for, and provide other legal support to, Children’s Legal Program or Advocacy Team as assigned. The position involves the possibility of being transferred fully to other legal work depending on the needs and priorities of the organization.

Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Requirements:

J.D. and admission to any state bar.

2+ years of experience providing direct representation to immigrants in removal proceedings.

Demonstrate commitment to advocating for indigent immigrant clients in a respectful and empowering way.

Demonstrate zealous support for the Florence Project’s mission.

Must be comfortable working with people with criminal convictions.

Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work with diverse populations.

Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.

Ability to work with external stakeholders and partners in a respectful and diplomatic manner.

Highly organized with the ability to be an innovative thinker and work in a high-volume setting with limited resources.

Excellent problem solving, research and analytical skills, is able to effectively manage multiple projects and meet deadlines.

Demonstrate to be a hardworking, flexible, respectful team player that can work effectively in a collaborative, innovative, and client-centered work environment.

Ability to work independently, be adaptable and reliable in the face of conflict, pressure, crisis, or changing priorities.

Exhibit high ethical standards and the ability to maintain confidentiality.

Must be able to pass federal and state background checks.

Fluency or advanced proficiency in Spanish required. Fluency in other languages is a strong plus.

Travel is required for this position.

Must have a valid driver's license and reliable transportation.

Proven computer skills. Advanced understanding of basic office applications.

Preferred Requirements:

Licensed to practice law in Arizona or eligible to waive into practice in Arizona (have two years of good standing in another state bar or have received a score of 273 or greater on the Universal Bar Exam).

Extensive knowledge of immigration law, specifically deportation defense, asylum, and criminal-immigration law issues is strongly preferred.

2 years of prior experience practicing before the Arizona Courts, the Immigration Courts, or USCIS is strongly preferred.

Prior experience working with trauma survivors or individuals with mental health issues is a plus.

Prior advocacy work in immigrant rights, human rights, LGBTQ rights, criminal justice, or experience working with trauma survivors is a plus.

Experience with databases and data tracking (i.e., Legal Server) is a plus.

Working Conditions/Physical Demands:

This position can be based in either the Florence Project’s Central Phoenix Office, or the Tucson office, with occasional travel to the Eloy and Florence facilities,