The University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law is seeking a Staff Attorney in the Chacón Center for Immigrant Justice. The Chacón Center for Immigrant Justice provides vital advocacy and training to benefit immigrants and build the capacity of the legal community to serve immigrant clients in Maryland and nationally. The Center currently trains and supports law students to provide zealous representation for immigrants, especially in cases involving asylum, enforcement abuses, and the minimizing of the lasting effects and racial inequities of disproportionate criminal enforcement. Primarily through its two law clinics, it provides direct representation to people in the immigration agencies and courts and in the federal appellate courts to advance the law. It supports a Citizenship Initiative to promote naturalization so that Maryland's immigrant community can have more stability and more of a political voice to advocate for itself. The Center is hiring for a multi-pronged initiative to strengthen Maryland's legal community and immigrant support systems by training and supporting immigration and pro bono attorneys to employ new strategies to respond to extraordinary enforcement; supporting Special Immigrant Juvenile efforts for foster children and naturalization workshops; providing emergency financial support for litigation and other client needs, as appropriate; and providing thought leadership by convening symposia and strategic gatherings regionally and nationally. The Center is currently led by a Faculty Director and includes two clinics, each led by its own faculty Clinic Director and staffed by law students. The Immigration Clinic works on systems-related policy projects and represents low- and moderate-income immigrants in matters relating to immigration status, usually before the immigration agencies or in the immigration trial courts. The Federal Appellate Immigration Clinic represents immigrants who are appealing decisions to the Board of Immigration Appeals or in the federal courts. The Center is also host to a Legal Fellow who works under the supervision of the Center Faculty Director and the Immigration Clinic Director to represent clients in immigration proceedings. As part of its new initiative, the Center will be hiring this Staff Attorney position, a Program Director, and a Practitioner-in-Residence. Primary duties of the Staff Attorney: Under the supervision of the Program Director, the Staff Attorney will lead the Center's effort to strengthen infrastructure to ensure that Maryland state foster youth have the legal support to apply for immigration status when they qualify. The Staff Attorney will also support and help staff the Center's naturalization efforts and support its attorney training and mentoring program and its pro bono attorney recruitment. The position is in person with flexibility for some remote work. It will require both legal and programmatic work including: - With support of the Program Director, have primary responsibility for development of infrastructure to help ensure children in the Maryland foster care system have legal representation to apply for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, including: - communication and coordination with stakeholders in the state foster care system and the existing immigration legal services community; - exploration and implementation of strategies to ensure legal needs are addressed by foster care system, nonprofit providers, or pro bono attorneys; - as necessary, recruitment and ongoing mentoring of pro bono attorneys; - exploration and implementation of structures to ensure ongoing support for and communication with affected children in the years-long process; - Work with the Program Director to support the Center's initiative on naturalization, including by supporting and staffing pro se naturalization screening events and workshops in conjunction with other organizations, recruiting and supporting pro bono attorneys, developing a referral network, working with clinic and other students on naturalization workshop efforts, and/or providing direct representation in more complex cases; - Work with Program Director on Center trainings for pro bono and other attorneys, developing materials and templates related to training topics for local attorney use, supporting ongoing drop-in group mentoring of pro bono attorneys in subject matter areas; and - Other duties as required to support Center goals and initiatives. Minimum Qualifications: J.D. from an ABA accredited school. Must be barred in Marylandor another United States jurisdiction and be in good standing. Three to five years of experience in immigration law and policy. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: Familiarity with concepts and practice of immigration law, with preference for knowledge of Special Immigrant Juvenile Status and naturalization and willingness to develop legal expertise as needed. Excellent research, writing, oral communication, and presentation skills. Ability to work with a wide range of people, including immigration and other attorneys, immigrant clients, students, community representatives, and government officials. Ability to network and interact as well as support effective partnerships with key groups and individuals. Experience with Microsoft Office products, including Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Excellent coordination and organizational skills and meticulous attention to detail. Ability to work independently and as a member of a team. Ability to handle multiple ongoing tasks that require daily or weekly updating and attention. Openness to critical feedback and sincere desire to learn and grow as a professional. Ability to travel to training and community partner sites as needed. Spanish proficiency preferred. Knowledge of the local MD/DC immigrant legal services landscape are a plus. This is a full-time two-year appointment with the possibility of renewal subject to performance and continued funding. This position is in-person in Baltimore, with the opportunity for remote work consistent with University policies and subject to approval of supervisors. Payroll title:Research Assistant or Associate depending on selected candidate's qualifications. Annualized salary:$80,898 - $91,212 accordingly Interested applicants should submit (a) a cover letter, (b) resume, (c) the names and telephone numbers of at least three references.Deadline to apply is April 12, 2026, though applications will be considered on a rolling basis. UMB is a public university and constituent institution of the University System of Maryland. All employees are expected to work primarily physically within the State of Maryland. UMB is committed to cultivating a diverse and inclusive workforce and is proud to be an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, ancestry or national origin, sex, pregnancy or related conditions, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, physical or mental disability, marital status, protected veteran's status, or any other legally protected classification. If you anticipate needing a reasonable accommodation for a disability under the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA), during any part of the employment process, please submit aUMB Job Applicant Accommodation Request. You may also contactHRDiversity@umaryland.edu. Please note that only inquiries concerning an ADA request for reasonable accommodation will be responded to from this email address. The University of Maryland, Baltimore prohibits sex discrimination in any education program or activity that it operates. Individuals may report concerns or questions to the Title IX Coordinator. Read theUMB Notice of Non-Discrimination for more information. Job: Faculty Organization: Francis King Carey School of Law - Instruction Title: Staff Attorney in the Chacón Center for Immigrant Justice Location: null Requisition ID: 26000057
