Lead Defensive Attorney

Who We Are Political Asylum Lawyers is a Houston-based immigration law firm focused on asylum cases. We help immigrants all over the United States secure their futures here through asylum, combining exceptional standards with deep respect for the human reality behind every case. The people we represent have already survived the unimaginable. They come to us during the most vulnerable moment of their lives, and we treat that responsibility with the seriousness it deserves. Our work changes lives. The standards we maintain, the discipline behind our work, and the way we show up every day can determine whether someone is able to stay safe and build a stable future in the United States. That is why we operate with integrity, urgency, and excellence, and why we expect every team member to take full ownership of their role. Everything we do is guided by our core values: integrity, excellence, accountability, teamwork and passion. Working here means:

• High-stakes responsibility: our work is of great consequence for our clients
• Deeply meaningful outcomes: our work changes lives for the better
• Emotionally demanding moments: resilience and maturity are essential
• High standards and constant growth: excellence and continuous improvement are expected
• Mission-driven teamwork: we’re passionate about helping immigrants secure their future in the United States through asylum, and we know that meeting our high standards requires each of us to take ownership, communicate proactively, and support one another

If you want a career where your skills and hard work create tangible change in the world, this is it. The Role We're seeking a Lead Defensive Attorney (Spanish-speaking) located in Orlando, Dallas or Houston. You will work from home, but must live within an hour’s drive of your city’s nondetained Immigration Court(s), as you will frequently appear there. You will serve as lead counsel in Immigration Court proceedings, shape litigation strategy for asylum cases, and provide final review of all defensive work product coming out of the firm. You will supervise junior attorneys, mentoring them to elevate advocacy standards across our team. This leadership position combines hands-on courtroom work with strategic oversight, quality control, and professional development responsibilities that directly impact our clients' safety and future. This position involves significant responsibility. Our work directly affects the safety and future of our clients, often under tight deadlines. We expect a high level of professionalism, leadership, and commitment to excellence. You'll work with Artificial Intelligence, including large language models and other software programs we use to work more efficiently in building the strongest cases possible for our clients. We follow structured workflows, and adherence to these processes is required. At the same time, this role calls for sound judgment, strategic thinking, and the ability to craft and strengthen legal arguments. Travel throughout the country is required; you should plan on up to two trips of one or two nights per month. Work hours generally align with a full-time schedule. You will track your time, but there are no billable hour requirements, and we do not promote excessive workweeks typical of many law firms.

Responsibilities

Your day-to-day responsibilities will vary based on the firm’s needs, but will include a combination of the following:

• Lead defensive litigation strategy across removal defense cases, including asylum, withholding of removal, and CAT claims, ensuring each case is positioned for the strongest possible outcome before the Immigration Courts
• Represent clients as lead counsel in Master Calendar and Individual Hearings—both virtual and in-person—after preparing clients to testify and ensuring strategic readiness on all procedural and factual issues
• Provide final review and clearance of all legal filings in defensive cases, ensuring accuracy, legal soundness, strategic coherence, and compliance with firm standards
• Draft and refine legal briefs and other filings, taking ownership of final work product quality while working with documents originated by junior attorneys or paralegals
• Mentor and develop attorneys through substantive guidance on legal analysis, persuasive writing, and courtroom advocacy, providing detailed feedback and training that builds their effectiveness before Immigration Courts
• Collaborate across legal teams to ensure cases move efficiently through established workflows while maintaining quality standards, working closely with paralegals, legal assistants, and other attorneys
• Leverage technology, including AI tools, to enhance work product efficiency and quality, adhering to structured workflows while exercising professional judgment to refine legal arguments and case strategy
• Travel to represent clients at Immigration Courts throughout the country, planning for up to two trips of one or two nights per month

Support the firm’s affirmative asylum team on a limited, as-needed basis, including through case preparation and virtual representation of clients in interviews with USCIS We're looking for professionals who combine technical competence with genuine passion for our mission. The ideal candidate brings:

• Alignment with the firm’s core values of integrity, excellence, accountability, teamwork and passion
• Deep, demonstrated commitment to helping immigrants secure their future in the United States through humanitarian relief
• Minimum three years, with at least 20 individual hearings completed, handling removal defense cases, including for asylum and related relief
• Spanish-language fluency for effective client communication
• Outstanding legal research, writing, and analytical skills with proven ability to craft persuasive arguments
• Demonstrated track record of supervising, mentoring, and providing substantive guidance to other attorneys
• Strong technological proficiency and willingness to use AI tools and structured workflows to enhance legal work
• Exceptional attention to detail with ability to perform at a high level without close supervision
• Proven ability to work under pressure, manage competing deadlines, and maintain quality standards in high-stakes situations
• Ability to thrive in a mission-driven environment that values excellence, integrity, and continuous improvement
• Residence within one hour's drive of the nondetained Immigration Court(s) in Orlando, Dallas, or Houston (remote work with frequent court appearances)

Compensation: $120,000 - $140,000 annually

• Insurance: 100% of premiums covered for top-notch health insurance, plus dental and vision insurance
• Retirement benefits: 401(k) with employer matching
• Generous time off: Four weeks of vacation annually, plus 11 U.S. federal holidays off
• Comprehensive onboarding and training program: we invest in bringing you up to speed on our systems, and are happy to provide funding and time for professional development opportunities
• Bar dues and continuing legal education fees: We cover your professional costs
• Career advancement paths: We often promote from within

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