The University of Minnesota Law School is seeking applicants who are recent law graduates for an Immigration Litigation Fellowship with the Federal Immigration Litigation Clinic, which is part of the James H. Binger Center for New Americans. The fellowship will begin in August 2022, is anticipated to be a two-year commitment, but may potentially be extended to a third year. The fellowship will prepare the Immigration Litigation Fellow for a career providing noncitizens with high-quality, high-impact representation in federal and administrative courts, whether in a nonprofit, academic, or private practice setting. The Immigration Litigation Fellow will be mentored and supervised by the Director of the Federal Immigration Litigation Clinic and will be engaged in clinical casework and clinical case supervision.

The James H. Binger Center for New Americans is a comprehensive immigration law center composed of four interrelated clinics—the Federal Immigration Litigation Clinic, the Detainee Rights Clinic, the Immigration and Human Rights Clinic, and the Rural Access Clinic—as well as an education and outreach program. The Binger Center was created and operates as a collaborative partnership with the pro bono programs of Minnesota’s leading law firms and also the state’s principal non-profit immigration legal services providers: the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota, Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid, and The Advocates for Human Rights.

The Law School currently offers twenty-four clinical courses with a broad diversity of subject matters. Eleven in-house clinical faculty members and twenty-two part-time adjunct instructors teach in the clinical program. The Law School is committed to providing national leadership in clinical education and to ensure that students are prepared for the increasing complexities of legal practice in a diverse community.

Appointment: This is a 100% time, renewable, 12-month academic professional appointment. The initial formal appointment will be for one year. The appointment may be renewed annually for up to an additional two years following the successful completion of the first year.

Duties and Responsibilities: Under the mentorship of the Director of the Federal Immigration Litigation Clinic, and in collaboration with other Binger Center faculty, the Immigration Litigation Fellow will provide direct legal representation to noncitizen clients and assist in the supervision of law students providing such representation. The Immigration Litigation Fellow will develop and undertake immigration representation projects in conjunction with the Director of the Federal Immigration Litigation Clinic and law student teams that advance the Center’s mission to serve noncitizen clients in federal and administrative courts, while prioritizing impact litigation focused on the intersection of immigration and criminal law (“crimmigration”), immigration detention, post-conviction relief, and due process in removal proceedings, among other topics. The Immigration Litigation Fellow will also pursue collaborative representation in coordination with the Binger Center’s partners, including its non-profit legal services partners.

Over the course of the fellowship, the Immigration Litigation Fellow will have opportunities to undertake increasing responsibility for teaching and management of the Federal Immigration Litigation Clinic, including designing and teaching clinic seminars; building and leading Clinic projects; and providing close supervision, guidance, and feedback to teams of students working on those projects. The Immigration Litigation Fellow may also engage with and help supervise clinical law students in non-litigation policy or advocacy projects that advance the rights of noncitizens. As desired, the Immigration Litigation Fellow will also have the opportunity to pursue related professional and scholarly research and writing projects. The Law School will support professional and/or scholarly development, including through conference travel support.

Required Qualifications: J.D. degree from an A.B.A. accredited law school. Applicants must be licensed to practice law in at least one state (whether Minnesota or another state) and be eligible for admission in state and federal court in Minnesota, if not already admitted.

Preferences: Strong preference will be given to applicants who are recent law school graduates with demonstrated commitment to a career providing representation to noncitizens in federal and administrative courts, and in particular applicants who hope to pursue such a career in Minnesota. Preferred applicants will have demonstrated interest and experience in relevant areas of immigration litigation, including, but not limited to, litigation focused on the intersection of immigration and criminal law (“crimmigration”), immigration detention, postconviction relief, and due process in removal proceedings. Such experience gained through prior participation in law school immigration clinics, or gained through employment prior to, during, or after law school, will be favored. Experience supervising and mentoring law students or others is also desired. Strong preference will be given to applicants with fluency in Spanish and/or Somali. Applicants should have superior academic records, exceptional writing ability, and demonstrated commitment to public service.

Individuals who have graduated from law school in the past 1 – 2 years, including those completing judicial or other relevant clerkships or post-graduate programs, are encouraged to apply. Current third-year law students with outstanding qualifications who are on track to earn their JD degree and sit for the bar exam before September 2022 may also be considered.

To Apply: This position is open until filled. Review of applications will begin March 21, 2022, with the goal of having the individual hired to begin in August 2022. Applications will only be accepted through the University of Minnesota online employment system and only complete applications will be considered. A complete application consists of the required online application, a cover letter, resume, and a list of three references. To apply, go to: https://humanresources.umn.edu/content/find-job, then click the option “External Candidates” or “U of M Employees,” and then enter the job number 346521 in the “keywords” search field.

Candidates, including people of color and women, who will contribute to the cultural and intellectual diversity of the faculty, are strongly encouraged to apply. The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity employer. The University of Minnesota is committed to the policy that all persons shall have equal access to its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, or sexual orientation.

For further information, applicants can feel free to contact Nadia Anguiano-Wehde at
angui010@umn.edu or 612-301-8653.