We’re Hiring: Detention Program Pro Se Staff Attorney

RMIAN has an immediate opening for a full-time Pro Se Staff Attorney in our Detention Program to provide legal information for clients detained at the Aurora Contract Detention Facility. RMIAN’s legal orientation program is a know-your-rights program that seeks to educate and inform individuals detained at the Aurora immigration detention facility about their rights in removal proceedings, court procedures, release options, and relief from removal. The Pro Se Staff Attorney will screen individual cases for referral to volunteer pro bono counsel as well as to RMIAN direct representation staff attorneys. As part of this process, the Pro Se Staff Attorney provides necessary support to the entire team by conducting legal analysis on options for relief for potential clients. The Pro Se Staff Attorney will provide brief advice and pro se assistance to unrepresented individuals who are detained. On occasion, the Pro Se Staff Attorney will represent detained individuals on a limited-scope basis, including in medical advocacy, release advocacy, and other matters. Additionally, the Pro Se Staff Attorney will identify and create pro se materials as needed to distribute to individuals detained at the Aurora facility.

This position is meant for an attorney dedicated to equal justice for all – someone who has experience in immigration law, particularly removal defense (and preferably in a detained setting).

The ideal candidate:

• Is an attorney who has a background in immigration law and a strong commitment to immigrant justice – this person has experience in immigration law and is passionate about RMIAN’s work and mission.

• Is guided by the principle that all respondents before the immigration court are entitled to counsel and is passionate about explaining a complex legal framework in a digestible manner to individuals not well-versed in the complexities of immigration law. This candidate is excited about educating and empowering pro se individuals and enjoys creative delivery of information.

• Is comfortable working with individuals in a detained setting and excited to provide trauma-informed services to a wide variety of individuals, including individuals living with serious physical and mental disabilities and/or illness and individuals with varying levels of education and literacy.

• Enjoys collaborating with others on a team and feels ready to tackle assignments collectively, and is also able to work independently.

• Understands how to prioritize, enjoys handling multiple assignments running in parallel, and can triage to meet time-sensitive deadlines.

• Is skilled at building rapport with pro se respondents and at building relationships with Detention Program staff and LOP stakeholders. The ideal candidate acts with courtesy, patience and poise, is confident speaking to groups, and is excited to share RMIAN’s work with others.

• Has experience and confidence in speaking to groups.

Responsibilities:

Direct Services

• Conduct individual intakes in person several times a week to provide legal information and brief advice and to screen potential clients for eligibility for relief.

• Perform legal and factual research to determine participants’ legal eligibility and suitability of cases for referral and to create educational materials for pro se individuals representing themselves.

• Support RMIAN’s pro bono efforts to match as many cases as possible with free legal representation, including screening cases, communicating with respondents, and gathering records in support of pro se litigation efforts.

• Under the supervision of the Deputy Managing Attorney, determine how to best support individual pro se respondents in their legal cases when it is not possible to find a volunteer attorney to represent the individual.

• If RMIAN’s request is granted to resume providing in-person know-your-rights presentations to groups at the immigration detention center in Aurora, Colorado, provide several group presentations each week. This may include holding pro se workshops and presenting information in a classroom-style environment.

• Represent a discrete number of clients in limited-scope matters.

Outreach, Community Education, and Development Efforts

• Participate in RMIAN’s outreach, community education, and development efforts.

• Participate in internal initiatives related to community building, committee work, and other activities within RMIAN.

Required skills and experience:

• Admission to any state bar

• Professional-level English & Spanish fluency – both oral and written

• Deep dedication to immigration legal services, working with individuals in detention, commitment to working with members of marginalized groups, and people with prior history of involvement in the criminal and immigration legal systems.

Location:

This position is based out of RMIAN’s office located in Westminster, Colorado, but requires frequent travel to the Aurora Contract Detention Facility in Aurora, Colorado. RMIAN’s operations are currently on a hybrid remote/in-person model, requiring at least two days a week of work in RMIAN’s office, or other work-related locations.  For the first three months of employment, working three days a week in the office or the detention facility is required. Additional and/or alternative days in the office or detention facility may be required as needed due to the press of business.

Compensation:

This is a full-time, salaried, exempt position. Salary is commensurate with experience; the range is between $72,000 to $90,500. Salary includes a generous benefits package which includes:

• Generous paid time off with 15 days of vacation in the first year of employment and an additional 2 days for each additional year of employment, 10 sick days, 11 Federal holidays, plus, an annual week-long holiday office closure;

• Excellent health insurance (100% covered by RMIAN);

• Dental & Vision insurance (90% covered by RMIAN);

• Life insurance & professional liability insurance (100% covered by RMIAN);

• Professional development funds and opportunities;

• Eligibility to participate in RMIAN’s Simple IRA retirement plan (RMIAN matches 4%);

• Eligibility to participate in RMIAN’s flexible spending plan; and

• Eight-week sabbatical after five years of employment

If this profile calls to you, please send your resume and cover letter that explains why this role is a great fit for you to hr@rmian.org. Please also include a writing sample and a list of references.

Applicants are encouraged to apply before July 15, 2026. Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

RMIAN is an equal opportunity employer and recognizes the importance of diversity in the workplace. We encourage applications from people of color, immigrants, women, members of the LGBTQ community, and other underrepresented and marginalized groups. RMIAN does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, disability, marital status or veteran status. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment free from discrimination.

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On Sunday, an Immigration Judge, in a written decision, ordered the release of the immigrant rights activist on bond after finding that the Department of Homeland Security failed to justify her continued detention at a hearing. Ms. Vizguerra-Ramirez’s family posted the bond with support from the esteemed Immigrant Freedom Fund ensuring her release as soon as possible.

Laura Lunn, RMIAN Director of Advocacy & Litigation, celebrated her release, saying “For decades, Jeanette has advocated for her community. When she was detained earlier this year, she needed her community to step up for her - and that is exactly what they did, showing up at vigils each week to remind her and others detained that they are not forgotten. RMIAN is honored to be a part of the team supporting Jeanette, the larger immigrant rights movement, and engaging in necessary legal battles to ensure that people can speak out without facing unlawful restrictions on their liberty and impermissible limits on their freedom of speech.” 

Read the full press release from American Friends Service Committee here.

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