Bilingual Staff Attorney – Immigration Law (NYLAG, New York City)

Breaking: NYLAG Seeks Bilingual Staff Attorney to Expand Immigration Relief Across NYC

The New York Legal assistance Group (NYLAG) has announced a full‑time, bilingual Staff Attorney role aimed at expanding access to immigration relief for immigrants and families in crisis. The position supports outreach and depiction across New York City thru a collaborative team with the Office for New Americans.

What’s happening

NYLAG is recruiting for a skilled attorney to advise and represent clients in immigration relief applications.The role involves direct client work, community outreach, and on‑site consultations at partner organizations across several NYC boroughs, in coordination with two other lawyers and a paralegal.

The Prospect

The Staff Attorney will handle administrative and removal proceedings before USCIS and Immigration Courts, conduct public presentations, and help organize legal clinics. He or she will also train partner organization staff and travel within the city to meet clients where they are.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct complete, client‑centered consultations to assess eligibility for immigration relief. Prepare forms, affidavits, and supporting documents for submission to USCIS or the Immigration Court.
• Represent clients in USCIS and Immigration Court proceedings when required.
• Coordinate outreach with community organizations, delivering group presentations on legal rights and entitlements.
• Provide training to staff at partner organizations on immigration issues.
• Organize and run legal immigration clinics and deliver on‑site consultations at community sites.
• Travel across NYC to meet clients and participate in community events.
• Collaborate with pro bono networks and volunteers to broaden access to services.
• Maintain case files, monitor progress, and update the case management system.

Who should apply

• J.D. required and admission to the New York bar or another state bar.
• Fluency in Spanish or another language common to the client population is required.
• Minimum of three years’ experience in immigration matters.
• Strong writing,speaking,and organizational skills; ability to work under pressure and in collaboration with a diverse team.
• Demonstrated commitment to immigrant communities, social justice, and trauma‑informed service delivery.

Organization and culture

NYLAG has been serving as 1990,delivering free civil legal services,financial empowerment,impact litigation,policy advocacy,and community partnerships. The organization emphasizes equity and access to justice, working with communities across more than 150 sites and a Mobile Legal Help Center.

Location, travel, and schedule

The position supports work in Brooklyn/Queens and Manhattan/Bronx/Staten Island, with travel required to meet clients across the city. The role is full‑time and aligned with NYLAG’s professional standards and unionized framework.

Compensation and benefits

Salary range for this role is $93,175 to $103,515 per year, with salaries set under a collective bargaining agreement. Benefits include medical, dental, vision, 401(k), life insurance, long‑term disability, commuter benefits, and flexible spending accounts for medical and dependent care.

Application instructions

Interested candidates should save both a resume and a cover letter as a single PDF before submitting. The organization values diversity and inclusion and encourages applicants from varied backgrounds, including people of color, women, immigrants, veterans, and LGBTQ+ communities.

Key facts at a glance

Key Fact	Details
Organization	New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG)
Position	Staff Attorney (Full‑Time, Bilingual)
Locations	Brooklyn/queens and Manhattan/Bronx/Staten Island; NYC‑wide travel
Team Context	Works with two attorneys and a paralegal under the Office for New Americans (ONA)
Salary	$93,175 to $103,515 per year
Benefits	Medical, dental, vision, 401k, life insurance, long‑term disability, commuter benefits, FSA
Requirements	J.D.; NY or other state bar admission; Spanish or other language fluency; ≥3 years immigration experience
How to Apply	Submit resume and cover letter in one PDF

Evergreen insights for readers

Immigration relief work remains a central pillar of legal aid in major U.S. cities,highlighting how legal clinics and community partnerships can transform lives. Roles like this demonstrate how lawyers combine litigation, advocacy, and direct client support to navigate complex systems and protect vulnerable populations.

As city services and nonprofit networks strengthen, bilingual attorneys with trauma‑informed approaches can expand access to relief programs and ensure families stay together.This balance of courtroom advocacy and community outreach is increasingly essential for holistic justice delivery.

Reader questions

What experiences should a candidate bring to effectively run trauma‑informed immigration clinics? How can organizations better coordinate across multiple boroughs to reach hard‑to‑serve communities?

Share yoru thoughts in the comments and tell us how you would contribute to expanding immigration relief access in a diverse megacity.

Ation in Immigration Court

Bilingual Staff Attorney – Immigration Law (NYLAG, New York City)

Role Overview

• Position: Bilingual Staff Attorney
• Employer: New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG)
• Location: Manhattan and Brooklyn offices, serving the five boroughs
• Focus: Representing limited‑income immigrants in asylum, DACA, TPS, VAWA, family‑based petitions, and removal defense

Key Responsibilities

1. Client Intake & Screening

• Conduct multilingual intake interviews (Spanish, Mandarin, Arabic, etc.)
• Assess eligibility for relief options and refer to appropriate services

2. Case Readiness & Filing

• Draft and submit I‑589 asylum applications, I‑485 adjustment of status packets, and I‑765 work authorization requests
• Prepare evidentiary briefs for immigration court and EOIR hearings

3. Portrayal in Immigration Court

• Appear before immigration judges for master calendar and individual hearings
• Negotiate settlements, request continuances, and submit motions to reopen or reconsider

4. Collaboration with Community Partners

• Coordinate with social service agencies for housing, health care, and employment referrals
• Provide legal training to bilingual community advocates and pro‑bono volunteers

5. Advocacy & Policy Work

• Contribute to NYLAG’s immigration policy briefs and public comment letters
• Participate in city‑wide language access initiatives and the NYC Office of Immigrant Affairs roundtables

Required Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an ABA‑accredited law school
• Admission to the New York State Bar (or eligibility for pro hac vice)
• Minimum 2‑3 years of immigration practice, preferably with legal‑aid or public‑interest focus
• Bilingual fluency in English and at least one of the following: Spanish, Mandarin, Russian, Haitian Creole, Bengali, Urdu
• Demonstrated cultural competency and sensitivity to trauma‑informed client needs

Language Skills & Cultural Competency

• active listening in the client’s native language to uncover nuanced facts (e.g., family ties, persecution details)
• Translation accuracy: Use certified translators for complex documents and avoid reliance on informal interpretation for legal filings
• Cultural nuance: Understand community‑specific norms (e.g., honor‑based concerns in South Asian families) to craft persuasive arguments and build trust

Impact on Clients

• Increased case success: NYLAG reports a 27% higher grant rate for asylum when clients are represented by bilingual attorneys who can directly elicit credible testimony.
• Faster processing: Language‑matched counsel reduces the need for supplemental clarification, accelerating USCIS adjudication timelines.
• Improved mental health outcomes: Clients cite reduced anxiety and higher satisfaction when dialog barriers are eliminated.

Benefits of Hiring Bilingual Staff Attorneys

• Expanded client base for NYLAG, reaching underserved immigrant populations
• Compliance with city and federal language‑access mandates (e.g., Title VI, NYC Human Rights Law)
• Enhanced fundraising appeal: Grantors prioritize organizations demonstrating effective language services, leading to a 15% increase in annual donations for NYLAG’s immigration unit.

Practical Tips for aspiring bilingual Immigration Attorneys

1. Maintain language proficiency thru community immersion, language workshops, or certification (e.g., DELE for Spanish).
2. Volunteer with local immigrant advocacy groups to gain real‑world experience and build a referral network.
3. Document language skills on your resume with specific examples: “Conducted over 150 bilingual asylum interviews in Spanish, resulting in 42 granted asylum cases.”
4. Stay current on immigration policy—subscribe to NY Immigration Law Blog, USCIS alerts, and the American Immigration Lawyers association (AILA) newsletters.
5. Develop trauma‑informed interviewing techniques to protect clients’ emotional well‑being while gathering essential facts.

Real‑World Example: NYLAG’s 2024 Asylum Success Story

• Client: A Guatemalan indigenous woman fearing gender‑based violence
• Attorney: Bilingual staff attorney fluent in K’iche’ and Spanish
• Outcome: submitted a meticulously detailed I‑589 with culturally specific evidence; secured asylum after a 3‑month litigation period.
• Key factor: Direct communication eliminated translation errors, allowing the attorney to accurately convey the client’s persecution narrative.

Career Path & Advancement Opportunities

• Junior Bilingual attorney → Senior Staff Attorney (led complex cases, mentor junior counsel)
• Team Lead – Language Services (oversee interpreter pool, develop multilingual outreach strategies)
• Program Director, Immigration Services (manage NYLAG’s entire immigration unit, shape policy advocacy)

Frequently Asked Questions

Question	Answer
Do I need formal interpreter certification?	Not mandatory, but certification (e.g., Certified Court Interpreter) enhances credibility and may be required for certain court filings.
Can I represent clients in removal proceedings without a law degree?	No. Representation in immigration court requires admission to the bar or a qualified non‑attorney representative under specific circumstances.
What funding sources support bilingual attorney positions at NYLAG?	Federal LSC grants, New York City Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, private foundations (e.g., Open Society Foundations), and corporate sponsorships.
How does NYLAG handle conflict of interest for bilingual staff?	NYLAG follows AILA’s Conflict of Interest rules; attorneys must disclose any personal or familial connections to clients and recuse when appropriate.
Is tele‑law a viable option for bilingual representation?	Yes—NYLAG’s virtual intake platform supports secure video sessions with built‑in language‑selection features, expanding access for clients in remote boroughs.