Job Description
DIRECTOR AND STAFF ATTORNEY
Classification: Level 5/ Class 6250/ Exempt / Full-Time / Benefited /Non-represented
Hiring Salary: $115,000 - $120,000
Term: One-year term with annual renewal contingent on funding
Location: San Francisco, California (On-site role with occasional hybrid flexibility)
THE ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
UC Law SF has created a new Habeas Institute to litigate pro bono immigration habeas cases in federal district court. The litigation will take place primarily in the Northern and Eastern Districts of California. The Institute will also serve as a center for research, writing, and study of this important and emerging practice area.
The Director and Staff Attorney of the Habeas Institute (“Director”) is a combined litigation and academic leadership role, focusing primarily on immigration habeas and related litigation. The Director, reporting to and working alongside the Institute’s founding faculty members (Professors Jonathan Abel and Richard Boswell), will supervise and collaborate with students in the Immigrants’ Rights Clinic and mentor pro bono practitioners handling habeas matters across the region, and will otherwise engage in educational activities to support the Habeas Institute’s mission.
This position is contingent on available fundraising, and the Director is expected to help raise funds to operate the Habeas Institute. Grant funding has been secured for the first year, with the goal of renewing that funding in subsequent years and raising additional funds.
Representative duties include but are not limited to the following:
Litigation
- File immigration habeas corpus petitions in federal district court, primarily in the Northern and Eastern Districts of California (but also in other districts around the country) and handle all follow-up litigation through resolution and motions for fees, in partnership with faculty and students.
- Maintain a fast-paced litigation docket with multiple court filings each week and multiple court appearances each month.
- Draft pleadings, motions, briefs, and other litigation documents to a high standard of written advocacy.
- Coordinate with co-counsel, outside counsel, and community partners as appropriate.
Education, Training, Student Mentorship, and Research
Assist with hosting habeas conferences and events.
Work collaboratively with students enrolled in the Immigrants’ Rights Clinic on active habeas matters, including supervising their case work and providing substantive feedback on their writing and litigation strategy.
Mentor pro bono practitioners who are handling immigration habeas cases, including through case consultations, training, and model filings.
Help shape the Institute’s scholarly and programmatic agenda in collaboration with the founding faculty members and other affiliated faculty.
Fundraising
- Pursue grants and other third-party funding to support the Habeas Institute’s operations
QUALIFICATIONS
REQUIRED:
- Membership in good standing of the State Bar of California.
- A minimum of three years of relevant practice experience.
PREFERRED:
Below are some of the experiences and skills that would be valuable in a candidate. We encourage you to apply even if you don’t meet every qualification listed:
- Experience litigating federal immigration habeas corpus cases.
- Experience litigating cases in immigration court.
- Broad understanding of immigration remedies.
OTHER:
- Strong legal writing and oral communication skills.
- Strong creative and problem-solving skills
- Language (Spanish) recommended but not required
- Adaptability to a changing legal environment
- Strong collaborative and teamwork skills.
- Genuine desire to work with, teach, and supervise law students.
- Availability and responsiveness appropriate to the time-sensitive nature of habeas practice.
- Strong commitment to integrity.
- Willingness to engage in fundraising.
BENEFITS
Health and Welfare Benefits
- Comprehensive medical, dental and vision insurance coverage
- Flexible Spending Accounts for transportation-related, healthcare and dependent care expenses
- Employee Assistance Program
For your Financial Future
- Life Insurance, Disability Insurance, and Legal Insurance
- Deferred Compensation Plans/Pre-tax Retirement Savings Programs
For your Work/Life Balance
- Fifteen paid holidays per year
- Generous vacation and sick leave
- Commuter Benefits Program
THE HIRING PROCESS
Appointment contracts are on the academic calendar. Annual renewal is subject to funding and performance.
This position has been designated as “sensitive” and requires a pre-employment background check.
Federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities. Please contact Human Resources if you require reasonable accommodation to apply for a job. Examples of reasonable accommodation include making a change to the application process, providing documents in an alternate format, using a sign language interpreter, or using specialized equipment.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Applicants who meet the position requirements will be competitively evaluated to identify the individuals whose breadth and depth of experience and education most closely relate to the stated requirements and the needs of the College. Depending on the quality and number of applications received, only the better qualified applicants may be contacted for an interview. The position is open until filled.
UC Law SF is an equal opportunity employer. UC Law SF strives to provide a diverse and inclusive educational environment that fosters cultural awareness, mutual understanding and respect. UC Law SF is interested in candidates who will contribute to diversity and equal opportunity in higher education through their teaching. Qualified women and members of underrepresented minority groups are strongly encouraged to apply.
