Lead Defensive Attorney

Role Overview

• Lead defensive litigation strategy across removal defense cases, including asylum, withholding of removal, and CAT claims, ensuring each case is positioned for the strongest possible outcome before the Immigration Courts
• Represent clients as lead counsel in Master Calendar and Individual Hearings—both virtual and in-person—after preparing clients to testify and ensuring strategic readiness on all procedural and factual issues
• Provide final review and clearance of all legal filings in defensive cases, ensuring accuracy, legal soundness, strategic coherence, and compliance with firm standards
• Draft and refine legal briefs and other filings, taking ownership of final work product quality while working with documents originated by junior attorneys or paralegals
• Mentor and develop attorneys through substantive guidance on legal analysis, persuasive writing, and courtroom advocacy, providing detailed feedback and training that builds their effectiveness before Immigration Courts
• Collaborate across legal teams to ensure cases move efficiently through established workflows while maintaining quality standards, working closely with paralegals, legal assistants, and other attorneys
• Leverage technology, including AI tools, to enhance work product efficiency and quality, adhering to structured workflows while exercising professional judgment to refine legal arguments and case strategy
• Travel to represent clients at Immigration Courts throughout the country, planning for up to two trips of one or two nights per month
• Support the firm’s affirmative asylum team on a limited, as-needed basis, including through case preparation and virtual representation of clients in interviews with USCIS

Requirements

• Alignment with the firm’s core values of integrity, excellence, accountability, teamwork and passion
• Deep, demonstrated commitment to helping immigrants secure their future in the United States through humanitarian relief
• Minimum three years, with at least 20 individual hearings completed, handling removal defense cases, including for asylum and related relief
• Spanish-language fluency for effective client communication
• Outstanding legal research, writing, and analytical skills with proven ability to craft persuasive arguments
• Demonstrated track record of supervising, mentoring, and providing substantive guidance to other attorneys
• Strong technological proficiency and willingness to use AI tools and structured workflows to enhance legal work
• Exceptional attention to detail with ability to perform at a high level without close supervision
• Proven ability to work under pressure, manage competing deadlines, and maintain quality standards in high-stakes situations
• Ability to thrive in a mission-driven environment that values excellence, integrity, and continuous improvement
• Residence within one hour's drive of the nondetained Immigration Court(s) in Orlando, Dallas, or Houston (remote work with frequent court appearances)

Benefits

• Insurance: 100% of premiums covered for top-notch health insurance, plus dental and vision insurance
• Retirement benefits: 401(k) with employer matching
• Generous time off: Four weeks of vacation annually, plus 11 U.S. federal holidays off
• Comprehensive onboarding and training program: we invest in bringing you up to speed on our systems, and are happy to provide funding and time for professional development opportunities
• Bar dues and continuing legal education fees: We cover your professional costs
• Career advancement paths: We often promote from within