WNYRIAC Staff Attorney

The Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo, Inc.

Staff Attorney – Western New York Regional Immigration Assistance Center (WNYRIAC)

The Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo and the Ontario County Public Defender’s Office operate a Regional Immigration Assistance Center (RIAC) to cover the 7^th and 8^th Judicial Districts of New York. The mission of the RIAC is to provide advice and consultations, CLEs and other trainings, and any necessary support to mandated representatives regarding the immigration consequences to noncitizens of criminal and family court proceedings. The RIAC will serve public defenders and appellate attorneys, and Assigned Counsel panel members, throughout Western New York.

We seek a Staff Attorney for this project. The Staff Attorney will be based primarily in Canandaigua, located in the Finger Lakes region of New York (see below).

Employment Standards:

1. NYS Bar admission is required
2. 1-6 years of experience of removal defense experience in immigration, with knowledge about the intersection of criminal law and immigration law, and an interest in how immigration law affects family law proceedings.
3. Candidates must have a demonstrated commitment to indigent defense and immigrant clients.
4. Reliable transportation and license to operate a motor vehicle in New York State or demonstrated capacity to meet the transportation needs of the position.

This position will require travel throughout the 7^th and 8^th judicial districts to work with institutional providers, as well as occasional overnight travel, and travel to NYC, Albany and our Buffalo, NY office.

Candidates should be well organized with good communication skills and writing ability for regular consultations with criminal defense and family law attorneys representing non-citizens, and have a desire to conduct CLEs and trainings for lawyers. The ability to speak a language spoken by the region’s noncitizen communities is an advantage, but not required.

Salary Range: $61,745 - $80,629, depending on experience.

A comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, and vision benefits is available to you and your dependents.  In addition, we offer generous vacation, personal, and sick time.  Other benefits available to you are long-term disability insurance, supplemental term life insurance, parking expense reimbursement plan, transit plan, a flexible spending account, and a 401(k) retirement plan.

Many of our attorneys apply for New York State Higher Education Services Corporation District Attorney and Indigent Legal Services Attorney Loan Forgiveness Program and the Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program

The Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo, Inc. values Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Minorities / Females / Disabled / Veterans / Sexual Orientation / Gender Identity

Please send your cover letter, at least three references, and resume to  resume@legalaidbuffalo.org or The Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo, Inc., Attention: Human Resources, 290 Main Street, Suite 400, Buffalo, NY 14202 by December 31, 2022.

Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis.

For more information about life in Canandaigua and Buffalo, please visit the following:

https://www.canandaiguachamber.com/residence/

https://www.theodysseyonline.com/canandaigua-ny-best-place-earth

https://www.visitfingerlakes.com/about-the-finger-lakes/communities/canandaigua/

https://www.lifeinthefingerlakes.com/

http://info.buffaloniagara.org/blog/top-reasons-to-live-in-buffalo

https://www.buffalospree.com/

For additional information about the agencies, please visit https://legalaidbuffalo.org/ and https://www.co.ontario.ny.us/117/Public-Defender