Attorney (Immigration & Family Law) - Cornerstone Legal Services

Attorney (Immigration & Family Law) - Cornerstone Legal Services

 

 

Status: Full-time (negotiable), exempt

Full Time Salary Range: $125K to $150K

Location: Sandy, Utah (remote Salt Lake City options possible)

Language: Professional fluency in English. Spanish language skills are beneficial.

 

Organization Summary

Cornerstone Legal Services (CLS) is a purpose driven, nonprofit Christian organization serving our vulnerable Utah neighbors who are too often priced out of the legal system. Through a sliding fee scale, CLS provides free and low-cost legal services in family law, immigration, and related civil matters, seeking to reflect the love and mercy of Jesus by making competent, dignified legal help accessible to those who need it most.

As a nonprofit law firm, we honor the dignity of both those we serve and those who we serve alongside. We are committed to realistic client-billable hour expectations, access to comprehensive benefits options, and a healthy work-life balance for our attorneys and paralegals-fostering a sustainable practice where meaningful access to justice and the well-being of our team strengthen one another.

Position Summary

We are seeking an experienced attorney, ideally with 15 or more years of relevant legal experience, to provide direct, client-centered representation to CLS immigration and family law clients. The full-time Attorney carries a varied annual caseload of up to 1800 client billable hours and 300 admin billable hours including intentional mentoring of fellow attorneys/staff, supervising future staff attorneys, providing client care, and investing in the community—while upholding the ethical, professional, and mission standards of CLS.

Essential Duties

·  Maintain a full and diverse caseload of immigration and family law matters, carrying each case from intake through resolution with attention to client circumstances and case complexity.

·  Assess the merits of prospective matters, and recommend acceptance, referral, or declination.

·  Manage a client portfolio with the expectation of generating no fewer than 36 billable hours per week on average, with time recorded accurately and contemporaneously, subject to client needs and case volume.

·  Counsel clients clearly and candidly regarding their legal options, likely outcomes, fees under CLS’s sliding fee scale, and the documents and evidence their matter requires.

·  Draft, review, and file pleadings, petitions, applications, motions, declarations, and supporting evidence.

·  Maintain complete, accurate, and current physical and electronic case files and case management records and respond promptly to client calls and messages.

·  Mentor current staff, supervise and develop future in-house staff attorneys in their work product and professional development.

·  Comply with all ethical obligations, court rules, grant requirements, reporting standards, and internal CLS policies.

·  Serve clients of every faith and background with dignity and compassion.

·  Work collaboratively with paralegals, volunteer and pro bono attorneys, and other staff, providing clear direction and review of delegated work.

·  Build and maintain working relationships with courts, public agencies, churches, and partner organizations, and make appropriate internal and external referrals.

·  Assist with training and supervision of paralegals, interns, volunteers, and pro bono attorneys.

·  Contribute case data, outcomes, and narrative reporting that support grant compliance and demonstrate our impact.

·  Participate in staff meetings and other duties as assigned and supervise and evaluate all employees.

Immigration Practice

·  Represent clients in applications and petitions before U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, including family-based petitions, adjustment of status, naturalization, consular processing, employment authorization, and humanitarian relief such as asylum, VAWA, U and T nonimmigrant status, and Special Immigrant Juvenile Status.

·  Represent clients in removal proceedings before the Executive Office for Immigration Review, including master calendar and individual hearings, or arrange appropriate coverage and referral where the scope of representation is limited.

·  Advise clients on interactions with the Department of Homeland Security, USCIS, EOIR, the Department of State, and consular posts, and submit case status inquiries as needed.

·  Track filing deadlines, receipt notices, and expiration dates, and maintain a working knowledge of changes in immigration law, policy, and practice affecting low-income immigrant clients.

Family Law Practice

·  Represent clients in Utah district and juvenile court in divorce, legal separation, custody and parent-time, child support, paternity, guardianship, adoption, modification, and enforcement matters.

·  Represent survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and harassment in protective order and related proceedings, including matters involving child victims or the children of victims.

·  Prepare clients and witnesses for mediation, hearings, and trial, and appear on the client’s behalf in court and at settlement conferences.

·  Identify and address the immigration consequences of family law matters, and coordinate representation where a client’s circumstances span both practice areas.

Administration

·  Collaborate with, mentor, and proactively support other attorneys.

·  Develop and lead community education activities in various legal areas/topics.

·  Cultivate relationships in the community that support and care for the clients, staff, and organization.

Qualifications

·  J.D. from an accredited law school.

·  Active membership in good standing with the Utah State Bar, or eligibility to obtain Utah admission promptly; an active license in any state bar is sufficient for practice before federal immigration agencies.

·  Professional fluency in English and preferably Spanish, spoken and written, sufficient to counsel clients and review documents without an interpreter.

·  Experience in immigration law, family law, or both; prior nonprofit or legal aid experience preferred, but not required.

·  Experience serving clients who are in crisis or who are recent trauma survivors, with the flexibility, patience, and humor to thrive in a mission driven environment.

·  Experience representing clients in trial courts.

·  Experience in appellate courts, preferred but not required.

·  Strong written and oral advocacy, time management, priority setting, and organizational and management skills, with the ability to manage a demanding caseload both independently and as part of a team.

·  Proficiency with, or able to learn, Microsoft 365 and legal case management software; CLS uses Clio.