Senior Children’s Attorney

Job Posting Organization:
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is a prominent international humanitarian non-governmental organization (INGO) founded in 1933 at the behest of Albert Einstein. The IRC operates in over 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities, focusing on responding to the world's most severe humanitarian crises. The organization's mission is to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to individuals affected by conflict and disaster. With a workforce dedicated to delivering lasting impact, the IRC aims to help millions regain control of their futures and strengthen their communities, embodying a force for humanity.

Job Overview:
The Senior Children’s Attorney position at the IRC's Washington State operations is designed for an experienced legal professional specializing in the areas of law that affect unaccompanied immigrant children, including immigration, juvenile, and family law. The role emphasizes direct legal representation, supervision, and the ongoing development of the IRC Washington’s Children’s Legal Services program, which is funded by the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR). This program provides essential legal services for unaccompanied children, including representation in immigration court, before USCIS, and in state court proceedings. The Senior Children’s Attorney will be expected to leverage their extensive experience in representing children and transitional aged youth, particularly unaccompanied minors, while demonstrating superb legal judgment and ethics. The position also requires a collaborative approach, working closely with community partners and being part of the Asylum and Removal Defense Community of Practice, which is supported by IRC’s Immigration Technical Unit at headquarters. This role is critical in ensuring that vulnerable children receive the legal support they need to navigate complex legal systems and achieve positive outcomes.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Senior Children’s Attorney will be responsible for a variety of duties, including but not limited to: handling a caseload of complex children’s cases before state courts, immigration court, and USCIS; conducting and overseeing intakes with child clients to identify appropriate legal relief options such as SIJ classification, asylum, VAWA, U-visa, and T-visa; initiating state court proceedings including Dependencies, Vulnerable Youth Guardianships, Parenting Plans, and Minor Guardianships; coordinating closely with IRC’s multidisciplinary teams to identify client needs and facilitate referrals to both in-house and external services; ensuring accurate and consistent data collection and reporting in compliance with IRC’s program requirements; maintaining up-to-date knowledge of changing state court, asylum, and immigration policies; advocating for humanitarian immigrants; participating in community coalitions related to immigrant rights; and collaborating effectively with local teams and across departments, including case managers. Additionally, the attorney may supervise Legal Assistants and Children’s Attorneys, providing training and mentorship to enhance the skills of the legal services staff.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a law degree (JD or LLM) from an ABA-accredited U.S. institution and be admitted to the Washington State Bar. A minimum of three years of experience providing direct representation in Washington State juvenile and family courts, immigration court, and/or before USCIS is required. Experience in providing legal services to children or working with children is preferred. Candidates should demonstrate excellent research, writing, analytical, and organizational skills, along with strong legal judgment. Effective communication skills, both orally in court and in writing, are essential. Bilingual proficiency in Spanish and English is preferred, or a willingness to take Spanish language classes as part of job responsibilities. A strong commitment to immigrant rights and working with humanitarian immigrants is crucial, along with trauma-informed communication skills and personal integrity in handling complex and confidential situations. Strong computer literacy and research skills are also necessary, as well as the ability to travel frequently within the service area for hearings and client engagements.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a Juris Doctor (JD) or Master of Laws (LLM) degree from an American Bar Association (ABA)-accredited institution. This educational foundation is essential for understanding the complexities of immigration, juvenile, and family law as they pertain to unaccompanied immigrant children.

Experience:
The position requires at least three years of relevant experience in providing direct legal representation in juvenile and family courts, immigration court, and/or before USCIS. This experience should ideally include working with children and transitional aged youth, particularly unaccompanied minors, to ensure that the attorney is well-versed in the unique challenges and legal needs of this population.

Languages:
Proficiency in both Spanish and English is preferred for this role, as it enhances communication with clients and community partners. Candidates who are not bilingual should be willing to undertake Spanish language classes as part of their job responsibilities to better serve the client population.

Additional Notes:
The Senior Children’s Attorney position is anticipated to be funded through July 31, 2026, with continuation subject to ongoing funding availability. The working environment is hybrid, allowing for some remote work, and may require occasional weekend or evening hours. Flexibility in working hours may be permitted on a case-by-case basis. Candidates must have a suitable home or alternate workspace for remote work during scheduled hours. The compensation for this position ranges from $90,000 to $100,079, based on various factors including labor market conditions, job type, internal equity, and budget considerations. The IRC offers a comprehensive benefits package, including paid time off, medical, dental, and vision insurance, a retirement savings plan, and an Employee Assistance Program. The IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer, considering all applicants based on merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.