Staff Attorney - Holistic Immigration Hub Pilot

Position Summary

The Immigration and Human Rights Clinic, housed at Loyola University Chicago School of Law, provides students with an opportunity to engage in immigration legal services and advocacy both in the United States and before international mechanisms. The clinic will provide unique opportunities for students to use their experience in providing direct services to also conduct international law advocacy around immigration and human rights, allowing student work to proceed on multiple intersecting forms of humanitarian immigration relief on multiple levels (local, national, international). The Immigration and Human Rights Clinic is a component of Loyola University's and the School of Law's Holistic Immigration Hub Pilot. Meeting the complex needs of immigrant families requires an interdisciplinary approach. The Holistic Immigration Hub is designed to harness Loyola's collaborative spirit and cross-disciplinary approach to recognize and restore the fundamental dignity of migrants in society and before the law. Leveraging powerful partnerships amongst the School of Law, Stritch School of Medicine, Parkinson School of Health Sciences & Public Health, and the Schools of Education and Social Work, the Hub advances novel legal pedagogy, interdisciplinary clinical training, and innovative research to develop a new generation of immigration lawyers, serve migrant children and families, and propel Loyola's reputation as a leader in immigrant justice guided by Jesuit values.

The Holistic Immigration Hub Pilot Staff Attorney will work in collaboration with the Director of the Immigration and Human Rights Clinic, assisting with client representation, research and policy work, and supervision of law students, interdisciplinary placements, and other staff. The staff attorney will also assist with teaching the Immigration and Human Rights Clinic course, the Immigration Law Lab, and possibly other courses offered by the Holistic Immigration Hub. The staff attorney will engage in interprofessional collaborations with other university programs such as medicine, social work, public health, nursing, etc., as described in the mission of the Holistic Immigration Hub.

This staff attorney position offers leadership development, experience collaborating on an interprofessional team, clinical teaching experience, support for research and scholarship, and career growth for immigration attorneys. This staff attorney position is particularly well suited for lawyers who are seeking a career in clinical law teaching or human rights advocacy.

All staff in the School of Law report to the Associate Dean for Administration. Additionally, the Staff Attorney has accountability to Sarah Diaz and Katherine Kaufka Walts, Co-Directors of the Holistic Immigration Hub.

The position is grant funded for a period of 3 years or as long as funds are available.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:

1. Engage in direct legal representation, research, and policy work to address emerging case and policy issues in immigration and human rights;

2. Assist the clinic director with strategic planning, management and administration of the Immigration and Human Rights Clinic as needed;

3. Supervise students, volunteers, and staff, including overseeing intake, supporting case advocacy, reviewing drafts of emails, correspondence and pleadings, and attending hearings, court, and meetings with students;

4. Train students, other staff and lawyers in the Holistic Immigration Hub, and organizational partners on immigration and human rights;

5. Prepare and communicate information to partners, colleagues, students, and volunteers regarding legal and social resources;

6. Maintain frequent and professional communication with all collaborating entities and programs of the Holistic Immigration Hub;

7. Support faculty research, develop materials for publication, and assist with event planning.

8. Other clinic and curricular duties as determined in collaboration with the clinic director.

Special Instructions:

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Position to begin September 1, 2025. Applicants are asked to submit (1) a letter of interest, (2) resume, and (3) the names and contact information for three references.

Make inquiries to: Sarah J. Diaz, Director, Immigration & Human Rights Clinic, Loyola University Chicago School of Law, email sdiaz10@luc.edu; Melanie Holland Bell, Associate Dean for Administration, Loyola University Chicago School of Law, email mbell14@luc.edu

Candidates must possess a minimum of 3 years of legal experience, a Juris Doctor from an accredited law school and admission in good standing to state and federal practice in the State of Illinois (or eligibility to be admitted in Illinois within one year of hiring).

Minimum qualifications: Candidates must possess a minimum of 3 years of legal experience, a Juris Doctor from an accredited law school and admission in good standing to state and federal practice in the State of Illinois (or eligibility to be admitted in Illinois within one year of hiring). Applicants must be in good standing with the State Bar.

Preferred qualifications:
Five or more years of public interest or direct legal service experience in an immigration law setting.

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret legal sources (including regulations, statutes, case law, administrative decisions, and legislative history), law periodicals, professional journals, and agency procedures. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and legal manuals in a variety of subjects. Interest in creative legal scholarship around immigration and human rights. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from partners, health center staff, clients, students, and the public.

Strong organizational skills with the ability to prioritize tasks. Ability to work independently with minimal supervision and as part of a team. Detail oriented. Flexible work attitude, ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment with a small staff and frequent student turnover (due to semester long courses and graduation).

Ability to successfully interact with a variety of people of various socioeconomic, racial and ethnic, ability, and education levels and a strong commitment to client-centered lawyering. Excellent judgment, including sensitivity to diverse client and student needs, cultural nuances, and confidentiality. Interest in teaching students, serving low-income clients, and addressing immigration law with creative problem-solving skills.

Fluency in written and spoken Spanish is highly preferred.

Juris Doctor; admission/eligibility for admission to any state bar; must be in good standing.

Adept user of Internet, case management systems, e-mail, class management software and other office automation systems. Will be expected to oversee the installation and maintenance of case management and data collection systems, LegalServer and Clio.

As a Jesuit, Catholic institution of higher education, we seek candidates who will contribute to our strategic plan to deliver a Transformative Education in the Jesuit tradition. To learn more about Loyola University Chicago's mission, candidates should consult our website at www.luc.edu/mission/. For information about the university's focus on transformative education, they should consult our website at www.luc.edu/transformativeed.

Founded in 1870, Loyola University Chicago is one of the nation's largest Jesuit, Catholic universities, recognized for its academic excellence, commitment to community engagement, and leadership in sustainability. A Carnegie R1 research institution, Loyola leverages its status as one of an elite group of universities with the highest level of research activity to advance knowledge that serves communities and creates global impact. With 15 schools, colleges, and institutes-including Business, Law, Medicine, Nursing, and Health Sciences-Loyola operates three primary campuses in the greater Chicago area and one in Rome, Italy, that provide students a transformative, globally connected learning experience. Consistently ranked among the nation's top universities by U.S. News & World Report, Loyola is a STARS Gold-rated institution that is ranked as one of the country's most sustainable campuses by The Princeton Review and has earned distinctions from AmeriCorps and the Carnegie Foundation for its longstanding record of service and community engagement. Guided by its Jesuit mission and commitment to caring for the whole person, Loyola educates ethical leaders who think critically, act with purpose, and strive to create a more just and sustainable world.

Loyola University Chicago strives to be an employer of choice by offering its staff and faculty a wide array of affordable, comprehensive, and competitive benefits. To view our benefits in detail, click here.

Loyola adheres to all applicable federal, state, and/or local civil rights laws and regulations prohibiting discrimination in private institutions of higher education. Please see the University's Nondiscrimination Policy.