Associate Attorney with 3+ years of experience

A law firm situated in Coral Gables, FL, is in search of an Associate Attorney to spearhead its immigration practice. The ideal candidate will lead a team in managing a high volume of immigration cases, focusing on researching and drafting responses to Requests for Evidence (RFE), Notices of Intent to Deny (NOID), and appellate briefs. The Associate Attorney will also provide leadership in training and overseeing writers and support specialists while improving case-dispositive responses.

Duties:

• Lead a team in researching and drafting responses to RFEs, NOIDs, and appellate briefs.
• Train and mentor writers in written advocacy, research, and litigation skills to produce high-quality drafts.
• Oversee support specialists, ensuring timely provision of additional evidence to support case-dispositive inquiries.
• Manage the RFE response team, ensuring adherence to deadlines and continuous improvement in response quality.
• Implement and monitor KPIs to manage high volumes of work efficiently.
• Track and analyze trends in RFEs to enhance RFE and application processes.
• Analyze communications from USCIS, including RFEs, NOIDs, and application denials.
• Evaluate application materials, identifying additional evidence to strengthen cases.
• Provide comprehensive training in legal and factual research to the team.
• Review case submissions to USCIS for attorney approval before submission.

Requirements:

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an ABA-accredited law school.
• Bar admission to practice law in a US state or territory.
• Minimum of 3 years of litigation experience with a focus on written advocacy.
• Leadership or management experience, preferably in a legal setting.
• Ideally, 1+ year experience as an immigration attorney, with substantive experience in researching and drafting responses to RFEs or NOIDs.
• Experience with various immigration applications such as VAWA, T-Visa, U-Visa, Asylum, Medical DA, I-601, DS-260, and DS-160 applications is advantageous.
• Substantial legal research and drafting experience.
• Bilingual proficiency in English and Spanish is preferred.
• Preferably an appellate background or extensive experience in drafting dispositive motions briefs.
• Prior immigration experience, especially with responding to RFEs, NOIDs, and/or humanitarian-based cases, is a plus.

Education and Certifications:

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an ABA-accredited law school.
• Bar admission to practice law in a US state or territory.

Skills:

• Excellent written advocacy and litigation skills.
• Strong leadership and team management abilities.
• Proficiency in legal research and drafting.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills.
• Analytical mindset with attention to detail.
• Ability to manage high-volume caseloads and meet deadlines consistently.