South Texas Pro Bono Asylum Representation Project (ProBAR) Attorney Position

The South Texas Pro Bono Asylum Representation Project (ProBAR) seeks an attorney to join the ProBAR Legal Orientation Project (LOP) in Harlingen, Texas. ProBAR is a national volunteer effort based in Harlingen, Texas that provides high quality representation to detained and indigent asylum seekers and other immigrants in South Texas. Legal immigrants and persons fleeing persecution from all over the world are detained in isolated South Texas pending administrative immigration court hearings. Others face summary deportation by Immigration Officers, without the benefit of appearing before the immigration court. These individuals frequently do not speak English, are unfamiliar with the legal system, and do not know how to sustain their burden of proof for relief from removal. Legal orientation and representation is crucial for these individuals; without it, deportation is a virtual certainty regardless of the merits of their claims. ProBAR is a project of the American Bar Association, the State Bar of Texas, and the American Immigration Lawyers Association, and also receives funding from the Executive Office for Immigration Review, Office of Refugee Resettlement, Texas Bar Foundation, and other sources. Responsibilities: The LOP attorney will conduct live, daily group rights presentations at the Port Isabel Detention Center, a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) detention center in South Texas. The attorney, together with a paralegal, will provide individual orientations to unrepresented detainees after the rights presentations. The attorney will also refer people with relief to the ProBAR Director for possible placement with a pro bono volunteer. The attorney and paralegal will provide regular workshops to unrepresented individuals to teach them how to represent themselves and monitor the cases of such individuals. The LOP attorney will help train and supervise pro bono lawyers and law students. The attorney will be responsible for regular reporting to LOP funders. The attorney will also provide limited direct representation to detained individuals, separate from the LOP program. Qualifications: The LOP attorney should have a fundamental knowledge of immigration law and immigration court procedures; public speaking skills; strong writing skills; ability to work well with others and to work under pressure; flexibility and strong communication skills; client interviewing abilities; and an appreciation of multicultural experiences. Must have been admitted to a bar (Texas bar is strongly preferred) or have taken a bar examination and be waiting for the results by start date. Spanish fluency is required; immigration court experience is strongly preferred. Compensation: The LOP attorney will be hired as a contractor of the American Bar Association, and will receive compensation commensurate with qualifications. The contract is for one year, and is subject to renewal based on performance and availability of funding. Applications: The position is available beginning immediately. Please send resumes to Meredith Linsky, ProBAR Director, 301 E. Madison Ave., Harlingen, Texas 78550; tel. (956) 425-9231; fax (956) 425-9233; e-mail: probar@sbcglobal.net.   Meredith is an alum of UC Davis School of Law and doing great work!

KJ