Associate Attorney

KEY OBJECTIVE

The Associate Attorney is responsible for providing legal advice to clients and providing case strategy and guidance to legal support staff (such as Case Managers and Case Coordinators). The Associate Attorney will ensure that cases are prepared in a manner that is accurate, effective, and supports the firm’s and its clients’ best interests.

MAJOR DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide legal advice and case updates to clients, generally without direct guidance or supervision for routine matters.
• Conduct or contribute to client consultations.
• Accompany clients to interviews and similar in-person matters.
• Formulate case strategy for assigned cases.
• Oversee the production of case materials (drafts, filings, etc.)
• Draft case matters as directed, including more difficult case materials that are not appropriate for drafting by support staff (RFE responses, complex fact patterns, etc.).
• Function as a primary client point of contact (often in conjunction with Case Managers), in order to ensure that client communications are addressed quickly, efficiently, and in a manner that reflects positively on the firm.
• Leading or participating in case status team meetings with legal support staff as needed and appropriate.
• Examine and address questions or case issues raised by legal support staff and provide guidance for addressing same.
• Function as a primary/final case reviewer for drafts/final submissions.
• Maintain organized, legally-compliant client files.
• Conduct legal research and maintain up-to-date knowledge of relevant developments in immigration law and agency practice.
• Participate in required professional development activities.
• Represent Green and Spiegel at client and industry functions, as directed.

EXPECTATIONS

• Ability to independently address most common legal issues without needing to seek guidance from a Senior Associate/Partner, while maintaining awareness of when such issues do require escalation.
• Pre-existing knowledge of relevant laws, regulations, and agency practices for area of specialization.
• Ability to effectively manage a caseload and deadlines.
• High level of awareness of legal developments and agency practices.
• High level of awareness of individual client needs and concerns.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Juris Doctor (JD) degree or equivalent.
• State Bar Membership.
• 2-5 years of experience within business immigration law, preferably with one or more specific areas of specialization: E, L, H, O, P visas or IV processes.
• Strong verbal, written, and organizational skills.
• Willingness to take on added responsibilities and learn new things
• Ability to show initiative and work as part of a team.
• Attention to detail.
• Ability to multi-task and prioritize.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and ability to adapt quickly to firm-specific software.
• Excellent time management skills.