Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project (ASAP)

Jobs and Internships

The Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project (ASAP) sees a future where the United States welcomes individuals fleeing violence. Below please find opportunities to join our team.

Litigation Counsel or Senior Litigation Counsel

Location: Remote workplace, location flexible.

Start Date: We are considering applications on a rolling basis.

The Role

The Litigation Counsel position will be part of the organization’s systemic reform team, with a focus on participatory impact litigation and advocacy efforts for ASAP’s over 160,000 members, consisting of individuals and families who are seeking asylum in the United States. The Litigation Counsel will join a team focused on making change through litigation, policy advocacy, and strategic media opportunities. Above all, ASAP’s litigation practice serves its members’ needs and is participatory. Even though we focus on impact litigation, ASAP’s members and clients are intimately involved with our practice. We prioritize centering impacted persons in litigation and making sure any legal relief that is won in litigation actually reaches those in need.

ASAP’s litigation practice covers cases challenging major federal regulations and policies, as well as cases representing individual asylum seekers pursuing monetary damages and injunctive relief. In addition to serving as counsel, ASAP’s litigation team often supports ASAP in its role as an organizational plaintiff.

For this position we are looking for a candidate with between 3-6 years of litigation experience specifically in federal court (not immigration court). We are looking for a candidate with excellent judgement who can serve as a lead or co-lead attorney on cases.

Responsibilities

  • Help manage ASAP’s impact litigation work, including helping to supervise an active caseload of complex federal impact litigation before federal courts and executive agencies;
  • Help ensure ASAP’s clients and members guide the strategic direction of ASAP’s litigation docket;
  • Help develop new legal theories and litigation strategies;
  • Help supervise junior attorneys, legal fellows, and interns;
  • Draft and edit legal filings and engage in legal research for cases before immigration agencies and federal courts;
  • Represent ASAP in federal court and before federal agencies, including as an oral advocate;
  • Communicate effectively with clients and members engaging in strategic litigation, policy advocacy, and media outreach;
  • Participate in, collaborate with, and support staff in ASAP’s systemic reform department.
  • Help maintain relationships with pro bono counsel, other co-counsel, and plaintiff organizations (e.g., firms, public interest organizations, community groups);
  • Assist in representing ASAP in local, national, international coalitions and working groups as needed.

Qualifications

  • Fluency in Spanish is strongly preferred;
  • A J.D. degree and admission to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction required;
  • 3–6 years of relevant litigation experience in federal court required (clerkships count towards this requirement.)
  • Experience in complex civil litigation, civil rights litigation, and immigration law valued;
  • Demonstrated strategic judgement in litigation context and demonstrated capacity to take a leading role in managing cases;
  • Prior experience working on behalf of asylum seekers and immigrants preferred;
  • Excellent legal strategy, analysis, drafting, and editing skills;
  • Excellent oral communication skills, including in both legal advocacy and broader public communication;
  • Ability to work independently and within a team;
  • Some experience managing staff preferred;
  • A developed race and equity lens that informs your work and guides your leadership;
  • Commitment to supporting the development of a high-performing department that utilizes litigation, policy, and media strategy creatively in the fight for systemic change.

Salary & Benefits

Salary for this position is commensurate with qualifications, with a range of $70-90,000. ASAP offers an excellent benefits package including health insurance coverage at no cost, 401K matching, generous paid vacation, personal, and sick days, and paid parental leave.

How to Apply

Interested applicants should apply at this link.  The position will be open until it is filled. If you have questions, please email [email protected] .

ASAP is an equal opportunity employer. ASAP strongly encourages asylum seekers, immigrants, Black people, Indigenous people, and people of color (BIPOC), Latinx people, people with disabilities, LGBTQ people, women, first-generation college students/professionals, and all marginalized individuals to apply, and recognizes the unique and valuable skills that such applicants can bring to this work.

 

Contract Attorney Position: $100/hour to answer asylum seekers’ legal questions

ASAP has grown to serve 160,000+ asylum-seeking members, and we are seeking experienced immigration attorneys to field our members’ immigration legal questions!

As we scale our membership services, ASAP will periodically be bringing on new contractors as the need arises. We will reach out to candidates on an ongoing basis, based on the volume of questions we receive from our members.

We are looking to contract immigration attorneys for 1-2 hours per day for 2-5 days a week at the rate of $100 per hour. Attorneys will receive a list of questions from ASAP members in Spanish and will provide a help-desk style answers in writing the same day, without further follow up or communication with the member. All work can be done remotely and online.

If you are interested, please send an email to [email protected] with the subject line “Contract Attorney,” including a brief description of your Spanish proficiency and immigration legal experience along with a resume or a link to your LinkedIn profile or professional bio. Please note that we will reach out to candidates on an ongoing basis, as the need arises. If you do not hear back from us immediately, we may still be hiring for this position at a later time. Selected candidates will be asked to do a 20-minute interview including a Spanish screen. Those who move forward will be asked to do a 1-hour timed Q&A answer session, which will be compensated at $100/hour

View sample questions here.

ASAP is an equal opportunity employer. ASAP strongly encourages asylum seekers, immigrants, Black people, Indigenous people, and people of color (BIPOC), Latinx people, people with disabilities, LGBTQ people, women, first-generation college students/professionals, and all marginalized individuals to apply, and recognizes the unique and valuable skills that such applicants can bring to this work.

 

Bilingual Community Resources Attorney (English & Spanish)

ASAP is hiring a Bilingual Community Resources Attorney to create accessible content for ASAP’s membership of over 150,000 asylum seekers! We are looking for a talented writer in both English and Spanish who brings immigration legal experience, creativity, and a commitment to helping asylum seekers navigate the U.S. immigration system on their own.

About ASAP

The Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project (ASAP) is the largest membership organization of asylum seekers in the United States, with over 150,000 members from more than 150 countries. Thousands more asylum seekers become ASAP members each week, joining a collective effort to build a United States that welcomes individuals fleeing violence. For more information, visit our website at www.asylumadvocacy.org.

Location

Remote workplace, location flexible in the United States.

Responsibilities

  • Manage ASAP’s resources projects from start to publication.
  • Write clear, actionable, and legally accurate content in both English and Spanish for thousands of asylum seekers, including FAQs and legal announcements.
  • Translate content drafted by others into Spanish.
  • Create informational videos and infographics.
  • Help to redesign ASAP’s website to improve the user experience for asylum seekers.
  • Continually improve and maintain ASAP’s existing resources, including by responding to members’ feedback.
  • Manage and support outside immigration attorney contractors who answer members’ legal questions, including serving as a backup to directly answer members’ questions.
  • Provide final legal signoff on resources and answers to members’ questions.
  • Work collaboratively as part of ASAP’s member services team, including one other full-time resources attorney and several other staff members.

Qualifications

  • Fluent in Spanish and English.
  • Outstanding and accessible writer.
  • Passion for creating tools for asylum seekers navigating the U.S. immigration system without a lawyer.
  • 2+ years of experience providing legal services to asylum seekers.
  • A J.D. degree and admission to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.
  • Exceptional organizational skills and ability to balance multiple projects and deadlines.
  • Exceptional attention to detail.
  • Graphic design, web design, and/or video editing skills are a plus.
  • Commitment to ASAP’s mission.

Salary & Benefits

The salary range for this position is $70,000 – $90,000, commensurate with qualifications. ASAP offers an excellent benefits package including health insurance coverage at no cost, 401K matching, generous paid vacation, personal, and sick days, and paid parental leave.

How to Apply

Interested applicants should apply at this link. The position will be open until it is filled. If you have questions, please email h[email protected]

ASAP is an equal opportunity employer. ASAP strongly encourages asylum seekers, immigrants, Black people, Indigenous people, and people of color (BIPOC), Latinx people, people with disabilities, LGBTQ people, women, first-generation college students/professionals, and all marginalized individuals to apply, and recognizes the unique and valuable skills that such applicants can bring to this work.

 

Software Engineer

The Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project (ASAP) seeks a full-time Software Engineer to join our nimble, growing organization!

About ASAP: ASAP sees a future where the United States welcomes individuals fleeing violence. We work alongside our members — thousands of asylum seekers — to make this vision a reality. Over the past year, ASAP has grown to become the largest membership organization of asylum seekers in the United States. Today, ASAP has over 150,000 asylum seeker members from 175+ countries and living in all 50 states. Thousands of new members apply to join ASAP each week.

This hire would be the second software engineer on ASAP’s growing team. You would work alongside Software Engineer Ngan Tran and report directly to Co-Executive Director Swapna Reddy. Together, ASAP’s software engineers will build systems and tools that work for 150,000+ asylum seekers. Our ideal software engineer is a versatile worker, thrives in a start-up environment, and is passionate about ASAP’s mission.

Location: Remote workplace, location flexible in the United States.

Responsibilities 

  • Design and build user-oriented software tools to work for 150,000+ asylum-seeking members.
  • Prototype applications in several environments and languages.
  • Write clean, maintainable, and well-tested code.
  • Adopt good software engineering practices and methodologies, particularly Agile.
  • Understand ASAP’s technology priorities, effectively collect project requirements, and offer solutions.
  • Communicate effectively about technical problems and solutions, including to stakeholders without technical backgrounds.
  • Maintain and scale existing applications.
  • Rapidly investigate and troubleshoot problems.

Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and/or 1+ years experience as a Full Stack Engineer.
  • A commitment to putting member accessibility first.
  • Thorough and up-to-date knowledge of Python and/or JavaScript.
  • Experience with backend servers, databases (PostgreSQL/MySQL) and REST APIs.
  • Familiarity of best practices around code review, testing, and documentation.
  • Experience or interest in building applications involving Twilio, Facebook, Whatsapp, GSuite, and/or CRMs.
  • Passion for developing scalable and maintainable software systems.
  • Ability to adapt to change and be flexible, balancing multiple projects and deadlines at once.
  • Motivation to learn new tools and technologies to complete a project with maximum efficiency.
  • Commitment to ASAP’s mission and vision.
  • Spanish fluency is a plus, but not required.

Application Process, Salary & Benefits

Interested applicants should apply at this link and will be considered on a rolling basis.  Applicants who pass an initial screening interview will be asked to build a sample API in Python or JavaScript as a skills test. The salary range for this position is $80,000-$100,000, commensurate with skills and qualifications. ASAP offers an excellent benefits package including health insurance coverage at no cost, 401K matching, generous paid vacation and sick days, and paid parental leave. If you have questions, please email [email protected].

ASAP is an equal opportunity employer. ASAP strongly encourages asylum seekers, immigrants, Black people, Indigenous people, and people of color (BIPOC), Latinx people, people with disabilities, LGBTQ people, women, first-generation college students/professionals, and all marginalized individuals to apply, and recognizes the unique and valuable skills that such applicants can bring to this work.

 

Development Director

Help ASAP expand our fundraising efforts at a time of immense growth and opportunity! We are looking for an excellent project manager with strong attention to detail and follow-through to join our team as ASAP’s first Development Director. The Development Director will supervise a full-time Development Associate/Grant Writer and work closely with ASAP’s Co-Executive Directors.

About ASAP

The Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project (ASAP) is the largest membership organization of asylum seekers in the United States, with over 170,000 members from more than 150 countries. Thousands more asylum seekers become ASAP members each week, joining a collective effort to build a United States that welcomes individuals fleeing violence. For more information, visit our website at www.asylumadvocacy.org.

ASAP currently has a staff of 20 and a budget of $3.2 million. We have nearly doubled in size each year since our founding in 2015 and expect to continue on a pace of rapid growth.

Location

Remote workplace, location flexible in the United States.

Responsibilities

  • Lead ASAP’s efforts to raise at least $3.2 million per year from diverse sources, including private foundations, individuals, and companies.
  • Coordinate grant applications and reporting.
  • Make and execute donor stewardship plans.
  • Identify and cultivate new fundraising prospects.
  • Run online giving campaigns and events.
  • Ensure that accurate and comprehensive records are maintained, including through a donor database.
  • Manage ASAP’s overall fundraising program, supervising a full-time Development Associate/Grant Writer and supporting the Executive Team.
  • Work collaboratively with the Executive Team to set and achieve goals, helping the organization be sustainable and responsive to new opportunities.

Qualifications

  • 3+ years of prior project management and/or fundraising experience.
  • Exceptional logistical skills and attention to detail.
  • Strong interpersonal skills.
  • Ability to balance multiple projects and deadlines.
  • Creative and strategic problem solver.
  • Thrive in a startup environment.
  • Excellent communication and writing skills.
  • Comfort with technology.
  • Passion for ASAP’s mission.

Salary & Benefits

The salary range for this position is $80,000-$120,000, commensurate with qualifications. ASAP offers an excellent benefits package including health insurance coverage at no cost, 401K matching, generous paid vacation, personal, and sick days, and paid parental leave.

How to Apply

Interested applicants should apply at this link. The position will be open until it is filled. If you have questions, please email [email protected].

ASAP is an equal opportunity employer. ASAP strongly encourages asylum seekers, immigrants, Black people, Indigenous people, and people of color (BIPOC), Latinx people, people with disabilities, LGBTQ people, women, first-generation college students/professionals, and all marginalized individuals to apply, and recognizes the unique and valuable skills that such applicants can bring to this work.

 

Spring or Summer 2022 Legal Internships

ASAP is currently accepting applications for legal interns to join our remote team in Spring and Summer of 2022.

About ASAP

ASAP sees a future where the United States welcomes individuals fleeing violence. We work alongside our members — thousands of asylum seekers — to make this vision a reality. Our model has three components: community support, emergency legal aid, and nationwide systemic reform. We work with individuals who have come to the United States seeking asylum, regardless of where they are now located.

Responsibilities

Interns will work under attorney supervision to support ASAP’s thousands of members — asylum seekers from over 175 countries and all 50 states. Internship responsibilities could include: providing remote legal assistance on immigration filings, conducting research for federal court litigation and advocacy, creating resources for asylum seekers who have not yet found attorneys, and screening and welcoming new members.

Requirements

Legal interns must be currently enrolled in law school and pursuing a U.S. law degree. Please note that Spanish proficiency and a language assessment over the phone is required for any internship position with ASAP; interns must be capable of working with an individual in Spanish without an interpreter. ASAP will ensure that all interns receive school credit or compensation for their internships. ASAP has a remote workplace, and location is flexible.

How to Apply

Interested applicants should fill out this survey and send a cover letter, resume, and a writing sample to: [email protected], using the subject line “Spring 2022 Legal Internship Application” or “Summer 2022 Legal Internship Application.”

Application Timeline 

For the Spring 2022 legal internship, we will be considering applications on a rolling basis until December 1, 2021.

For the Summer 2022 legal internship, we will close our cycle for 2L candidates on November 12, 2021. We will begin accepting 1L candidates on December 1, 2021 and close our cycle on February 1, 2022.

If you have any questions, you can email [email protected]

ASAP is an equal opportunity employer. ASAP strongly encourages asylum seekers, immigrants, Black people, Indigenous people, and people of color (BIPOC), Latinx people, people with disabilities, LGBTQ people, women, first-generation college students/professionals, and all marginalized individuals to apply, and recognizes the unique and valuable skills that such applicants can bring to this work.

 

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