Managing Attorney, National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC) Immigrant Legal Defense Project

5-5 yrs required

Full-time

No

and will include but is not limited to criminal history, education verification, and credit history. NIJC is an equal opportunity employer.

H1: Join NIJC as a Managing Attorney for the Immigrant Legal Defense Project
H2: Impact the Lives of Immigrants and Refugees as a Managing Attorney

Organization Overview:

NIJC provides direct legal services, policy reform, and public education for immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers.
NIJC is unique in blending individual client advocacy with broad-based systemic change.
NIJC is headquartered in Chicago, with offices in Indiana and Washington, .

Job Title: Managing Attorney, Immigrant Legal Defense Project

Salary: $82,500-$97,000 per year

Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, STD, LTD, Life Insurance, FSA, Commuter Benefits, 401k with company match

Location: Chicago, IL (currently remote due to COVID-19)

Job Type: Full Time

Job Description:

The National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC) is seeking a Managing Attorney to join their Immigrant Legal Defense Project (ILD). As a member of the ILD Supervisory Team, the Managing Attorney will oversee and provide legal services through the Immigration Court Helpdesk (ICH) at the Chicago Immigration Court. This position will also contribute to the work of the litigation and policy teams while supervising a legal team and ensuring the delivery of quality legal services for immigrants, asylees/asylum seekers, and refugees. The Managing Attorney will also have the opportunity to carry a small caseload.

Responsibilities:

Oversee, manage and provide legal services through the Immigration Court Helpdesk (ICH) at the Chicago Immigration Court.
Respond to individual legal needs and systemic issues impacting populations served by the ICH.
Supervise a legal team and ensure the delivery of quality legal services for immigrants, asylees/asylum seekers, and refugees.
Contribute to the work of the litigation and policy teams through the identification of issues and reform strategies.
Ensure impact and responsiveness within the ILD project.
Carry a small caseload.
Work with the Associate Director and ILD supervisory team to ensure the project is advancing impact given external and internal realities.
Manage at least one project within the NIJC program and ensure compliance with deliverables.
Ensure staff development on immigration issues and the implementation of best practices in the delivery of legal services.
Provide direct supervision and support to supervisors, staff, interns, and volunteers.
Conduct performance reviews and work with supervisees to develop measurable success objectives.
Evaluate supervisee objectives with actuals quarterly and provide quarterly reports.
Oversee community outreach and the creation of new outreach materials.
Identify issues that may be appropriate for advocacy and federal litigation.
Gather data, identify trends and emerging issues, and provide recommendations to inform strategic decisions and team modifications.
Perform case audits to evaluate cases in light of current law and ensure accurate data entry.
Ensure timely response to all inquiries, including requests for referrals, community outreach, and materials relating to the projects.
Provide limited direct representation to individuals in removal proceedings and in administrative applications for immigration relief.
Serve as NIJC representative on immigration legal services and provide trainings and outreach with community-based organizations, colleague agencies, elected officials, and national networks working on immigration.
Develop and assist in the implementation of trainings for staff, pro bono attorneys, and volunteers, community organizations, and immigration officers.
Assist in the recruitment, training, and support of pro bono attorneys.
Participate in trainings and conferences on management, as well as on substantive areas of the law.
Assist in drafting proposals and reports to funders, as well as monthly reports.
Ensure compliance with funder reporting requirements.
Identify and initiate potential coalitions and partnerships.
Advance an anti-racist organization that promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion.
React to change productively and handle other essential duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

JD; law license; minimum of five years of experience in immigration law and/or refugee law; and minimum of one year of supervisory experience.
Must have knowledge of immigration law, policies, and practice and their intersection with criminal law.
Experience in immigration court and preferably state and federal court.
Ability to read, speak and write in at least one non-English language.
Spanish language fluency is required, and speakers of additional languages are encouraged to apply.
Excellent oral and written communication skills.
Demonstrated competency in public speaking and strong interpersonal skills.
Demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.
Experience in analyzing the impact of laws on vulnerable populations and advocating for improved laws and policies.
Excellent legal research, writing, and argumentation skills.
Ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously, work independently, and collaborate effectively in a fast-paced environment.

Physical Demands:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear.
The employee is frequently required to stand, walk, sit, feel, and reach with hands and arms.
The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 5 pounds.

Work Environment:

The noise in the work environment is moderate.

Equal Opportunity Employer:

NIJC makes all hiring and employment decisions, and operates all programs, services, and functions without regard to race, receipt of an order of protection, creed, color, age, gender, gender identity, marital or parental status, religion, ancestry, national origin, amnesty, physical or mental disability, protected veterans status, genetic information, sexual orientation, immigrant status, political affiliation or belief, use of FMLA, VESSA, military, and family military rights, ex-offender status (depending on the offense and position to be filled), unfavorable military discharge, membership in an organization whose primary purpose is the protection of civil rights or improvement of living conditions and human relations, height, weight,

Not specified

Medical, Dental, Vision, STD, LTD, Life Insurance, FSA, Commuter Benefits, 401k with company match

Spanish language fluency required, additional languages encouraged

Legal Services Management, Supervision, Advocacy, Impact Litigation, Policy Reform, Public Education, Community Outreach, Training, Spanish Language Fluency, Microsoft Office

JD; law license

Submit application; undergo comprehensive background check

Qualification and Experience JD, Law License, 5+ years experience in immigration/refugee law, 1+ year supervisory experience

Legal