Fellowship in Global Rights and Immigration Detention

Full-time Position: Fellowship in Global Rights and Immigration Detention

Date posted: January 6th, 2023

Organization: Global Rights Advocacy (GRA)

Duration: One-Year fellowship for a human rights lawyer funded by the Legal Foundation of Washington (Accelerator Grant)

Location:Most in person work will be done in person in Tacoma and Seattle.

Requirements: JD and bar license required (WA license preferred). Spanish fluency is necessary. More qualifications specified below.

Approach: Using International Human Rights Law and international litigation, as well as Immigration Law and possibly US/state courts.

Key Responsibilities:

• Streamlining and organizing Global Rights Advocacy’s fact-finding and advocacy at the Northwest ICE Processing Center (NWIPC) in Tacoma, WA.
• Coordinating visits requests from current immigrants detained, partner organizations and clients.
• Weekly visits to immigrants detained at the NWIPC to conduct human rights intakes, gather evidence on the conditions of detention, and provide basic legal orientation.
• Preparing research, legal documents and briefs in support of litigation before international bodies (e.g., Inter-American Human Rights System, UN Treaty Bodies, United Nations Special Procedures), and in support of advocacy before government agencies and international organizations.
• Maintaining and managing communication with clients, advocates, and civil society partners. Attending coalition meetings and reporting on briefings, congressional hearings, symposia, and other meetings.
• Providing basic legal orientation to detained immigrants, ensuring that their human rights abuses are addressed.
• Building a network of advocates to compile detailed reports for submission.
• Collaborating with a range of organizations to strengthen advocacy and impact.
• Request and coordinate visits or hearings by the UN or IACHR, if granted.

Qualifications:

• Proficiency in immigration law and international human rights law. Experience with a legal clinic, working with detained individuals, or related experience is highly valued.
• Fluency in Spanish is required. Other languages are a plus.
• Strong research, writing, and advocacy skills.
• Aptitude to collaborate with a multicultural team, as well as numerous advocates and civil society actors in the region.
• Ability to work independently; self-motivated and organized.
• Commitment to social justice and human rights.

Benefits:

• Opportunity to make a significant impact on the lives of detained immigrants and engage with grassroots organizations. Ability to work on cases and matters before the Inter-American and UN human rights systems.
• Mentorshipand training from experienced human rights lawyers.
• Salary $60,000 per year, plus benefits package.

To Apply:

Interested candidates should submit their resume, cover letter, and writing sample/excerpt (5 pages maximum) to agonza@globalrightsadvocacy.org. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis, until position is filled as soon as possible.