Posting updated on 12/2/2024

About Texas Immigration Law Council

Texas Immigration Law Council (TxILC) is a statewide nonprofit organization advancing immigrant and refugee rights through innovative legal strategies, advocacy, and systemic change.

We are launching a groundbreaking Economic Justice Initiative (EJI) that will fundamentally reshape how legal services reach noncitizen communities. EJI will mobilize a legal field team of 30 attorneys and non-attorneys to legal service organizations throughout Texas working in 2-year fellowship projects. EJI partners with Equal Justice Works to bring on three talented Fellows to join TxILC as they train and support the EJI team in the field. EJI goes beyond traditional direct representation because it will be among the first to implement Texas’s new licensed legal paraprofessional program. Through a combination of direct representation, new service delivery models, and technological solutions, we will help close the access to justice gap for noncitizens in Texas.

About Equal Justice Works

Equal Justice Works is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and is the nation’s largest facilitator of opportunities in public interest law. Equal Justice Works brings together an extensive network of law students, lawyers, community organizers, legal services organizations, and supporters to promote a lifelong commitment to public service and equal justice. The organization believes that a community of lawyers committed to public service can fulfill our nation’s promise of equal justice for all. Following their Fellowships, more than 85% of Equal Justice Works Fellows remain in public service positions, continuing to pursue equal justice for underserved communities.

Job Summary

The Equal Justice Works – Community Justice Worker Coordinator will play a vital role in TxILC’s groundbreaking initiative to transform noncitizen access to justice across Texas, utilizing Community Justice Workers (CJWs). CJWs are nonattorney legal advocates, some of whom will become licensed under new Supreme Court of Texas rules. The Fellow will coordinate EJI’s non-attorney field team, consisting of 15 CJWs placed at partner nonprofits throughout Texas, and will assist community organizations to adopt the CJW model. 

The Fellow will implement comprehensive training programs, create educational tools, and facilitate peer-to-peer learning among CJWs. A key responsibility includes building relationships with community-based organizations to recruit and train new CJWs. The Fellow will guide CJWs through the state licensure process and foster collaboration between CJWs, host organizations, and community partners to enhance legal service delivery for noncitizens facing challenges with legal issues such as employment, consumer rights, and housing. The Fellow will act as a sounding board for EJI CJWs as they ideate and troubleshoot their projects. 

The Fellow will be supervised by the EJI Director and will work closely in collaboration with the EJI Managing Attorneys and other members of the team. This position will be an Equal Justice Works Fellow and will participate in activities to enhance involvement in the Fellowship Program and further the mission of Equal Justice Works. 

Fellowship start date is flexible, from January 1 – April 1, 2025. 

The ideal candidate will be someone who has the relevant skills and experience, and who has worked with multicultural and multilingual immigrant communities. The candidate should be flexible and creative and have a passion for collaboration and innovation

Key Responsibilities

• Support a network of about 15 EJI CJWs based at legal service providers across Texas, providing guidance and facilitating peer-to-peer learning. 
• Collaborate with community organizations and advocates to recruit and train new CJWs. 
• Implement and help design educational tools for CJWs, including training programs for Court-Access Assistant and Licensed Legal Professional certification. ● Guide CJWs through state licensure processes and certification requirements. 
• Coordinate with EJI managing attorneys to provide guidance and support to the EJI legal field team with case and project challenges. 
• Actively contribute to and participate in Equal Justice Works Fellowship program activities (resource exchanges; webinars, peer-to-peer learning, and conference calls; and training events, including Equal Justice Works Leadership Development Training). 
• Contribute to required programmatic reporting and overall program evaluation.

Qualifications

TxILC is committed to making our Fellowships accessible to marginalized groups. If you do not possess one of the required or preferred skills, we will consider your paid and unpaid work in community organizing, advocacy, or legal experience in place of that qualification. 

• Must be located in Texas. 
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent, required. 
• Deep connection to impacted communities through personal or professional experience. 
• Commitment to social justice and economic justice, particularly in the context of immigrant rights. 
• Excellent attention to detail and commitment to follow-through. 
• Personal interest, passion, and commitment to leadership development of grassroots leaders and engaging new communities in social justice work. 
• Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing. 
• Demonstrate to be a hardworking, flexible, respectful team player that can work effectively in a collaborative, innovative, and client-centered work environment. 
• Willing to apply for licensure with the Supreme Court of Texas as a Court-Access Assistant or a Licensed Paraprofessional, including completing training courses and a background check. 
• Ability to work with people of varying viewpoints in a non-partisan manner. 
• Ability to respect and engage with diverse people, perspectives, and values, with the recognition that inclusive collaboration leads to stronger outcomes.  
• Personal interest, passion and commitment to leadership development of grassroots leaders and engaging new communities in social justice work 

Compensation & Benefits 

This two-year fellowship offers a competitive salary starting at $75,000-85,000 per year, commensurate with experience. Texas Immigration Law Council’s benefits and salaries are designed to support the needs of all employees and fellows, including outstanding insurance coverage, generous time-off policies, flexible work hours, 401k employer contributions, and ample professional growth opportunities.

To Apply:

Please submit a cover letter, a resume, and a list of at least three professional references to fellows@txilc.org. Subject line should indicate: “EJW CJW Fellow.” Please share how you heard about the position. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis until filled. Please apply by January 15 for priority consideration. Chispas Consulting, a Latina-own

The Texas Immigration Law Council does not discriminate against any person based on actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, ability, gender, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. Applicants committed to equity from all backgrounds, experiences, abilities, and identities, including those from underrepresented communities are encouraged to apply.