Managing Attorney (Immigration Removal Defense - Children)

Brief Description
Immigrant Defenders Law Center (“ImmDef”) is a next-generation, social justice law firm that provides high-quality representation and legal services to immigrants in Southern California and beyond. ImmDef was founded with the belief that no immigrant should be forced to face an unjust immigration system alone and our universal representation programs are a first step towards that goal. Learn more about us at www.immdef.org.

ImmDef represents thousands of adults, children and families annually who have multi-faceted, complex and urgent legal needs as they face our unjust immigration system. ImmDef is currently seeking a full-time Managing Attorney to join our team of fearless advocates providing creative and zealous representation to our clients. As a member of ImmDef’s management team, the Managing Attorney will join the largest non-profit, universal representation model deportation defense team in the state of California, and help develop and advance our mission-driven organization.

Our Managing Attorneys work collaboratively within our team of staff including directing attorneys, staff attorneys, paralegals, administrative support staff and case managers to provide client-centered, holistic representation. This is a rewarding and exciting position where the successful applicant will be engaged in cutting edge immigration litigation for individual clients with an overarching organizational goal of fighting for a more just immigration system. This position is within the Children's Representation Project and may be based in either Los Angeles or Riverside, CA.

Job Responsibilities

• Work collaboratively with ImmDef Directors, Directing Attorneys and other Managers across all ImmDef programs to move forward ImmDef’s mission;
• Mentor, supervise and provide support for a team of staff attorneys representing detained and recently released children and adults in their immigration removal proceedings and applications for immigration benefits;
• Monitor capacity and distribution of work through meeting regularly with attorneys in individual one-on-one meetings;
• Lead case review sessions and work collaboratively with staff to develop case strategies and litigation tactics;
• Provide guidance to staff attorneys to work as part of a team and in furtherance of the mission of the organization;
• Work to develop and implement policies, templates and procedures that increase effectiveness and efficiency within our representation work;
• Conduct performance evaluations, identify training needs and address personnel issues for direct reports;
• Keep abreast of changes in case, statutory, or regulatory law and changes in detention practices;
• Support attorney and legal staff professional development by coordinating the provision of ongoing legal trainings, and ensuring that changes in law, policy, and practice are reflected in ImmDef’s training and professional development resources;
• Foster and support a client-centered and mission-driven office culture;
• Build a team-centered client service model, and monitor issues related to services to manage on-going engagement and client expectations;
• Ensure compliance with ImmDef’s record-keeping, grant and funding, professional and ethical, and case management obligations;
• Participate in and supervise the program’s engagement in coalitions advocating for immigrants' rights, and management of stakeholder relationships;
• Provide fearless and zealous representation to clients on their own reduced caseload of deportation defense cases;
• Support recruitment efforts for staff openings within assigned program areas;
• Other duties as assigned by ImmDef leadership.

Requirements

• Juris Doctorate degree;
• Active California State Bar License or licensure from another state and, if required, willingness to "waive into" the CA Bar via the Multi-Jurisdictional Practice Program;
• A minimum of 4 years of experience in the practice of law;
• A minimum of 3 years of immigration removal defense specific experience;
• Strong case management, legal research, and legal writing skills;
• Willingness to zealously pursue new and untested legal theories;
• Demonstrated ability to take initiative and work under pressure;
• Commitment to working in a diverse professional environment;
• Passion for social justice for immigrants required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience representing children and families in guardianship, parentage, child custody, or dependency proceedings in California;
• Experience representing children, families, and adults in applications for asylum/WOR/CAT, special immigrant juvenile status, cancellation, waivers, adjustment of status, immigration consequences of criminal convictions, bond, humanitarian parole, post-conviction relief, habeas petitions, BIA appeals, motions to reopen, and/or naturalization before USCIS or EOIR;
• Experience representing adults in ICE detention or children in ORR custody;
• Experience representing immigrants with juvenile delinquency or criminal history;
• Knowledge of best practices in working with clients with mental competency issues, including those suffering from mental health challenges and children;
• Experience managing, teaching and mentoring staff;
• Ability to work collaboratively and to handle multiple demands in a sometimes hectic and busy environment;
• DACA Recipients encouraged to apply!

Language Proficiency

• Spanish language proficiency is strongly preferred, however those with fluency in other languages may be considered. Attorneys who do not speak Spanish may be required to participate in ImmDef's Spanish Immersion for Lawyers Project to learn Spanish on-the-job and achieve working proficiency.

We require COVID-19 vaccinations or weekly testing to be considered.

Summary

Schedule:

• ImmDef’s standard work schedule is 35 hours per week, or 70 hours per pay period, with flexible scheduling options including hybrid and compressed schedules that allow staff to take up to one day off per week without needing to use paid time off.
• Attorneys participating in the Spanish Immersion Project will be required to work 40 hours per week in order to participate in the Spanish classes as part of their billable work day.
• Hybrid Work Schedule: Staff in exempt positions at ImmDef are expected to be in the office a minimum of 3 days per week, with 2 days available to work remotely.

Professional Memberships:

• ImmDef provides attorneys with membership in the National Immigration Project of the National Lawyers Guild (NIPNLG) and American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), as well as $150 towards the professional association of their choice, and opportunities to attend conferences, trainings and seminars/webinars hosted internally and by partner organizations.
• ImmDef covers California Bar Dues (or equivalent in another jurisdiction) for all attorneys.

Holidays and Paid Time Off :

• 13 paid holidays
• 1-Week paid winter break between Christmas and New Years
• 15 vacation days per year
• 15 Sick Days per year

Health, Dental and Vision Insurance:

• ImmDef provides health coverage on the first of the month following 30 days on the job.
• We cover 100% of premiums for our base dental and vision plans for our staff members and 75% of base plan dental and vision premiums for their dependents. ImmDef also covers 94% of the base plan medical premiums for our staff and 69% of the base plan medical premiums for their dependents.

FSA and Dependent Care FSA:

• ImmDef offers FSA plans to help offset the costs of eligible health care expenses for you, your spouse, and your eligible dependents using pre-tax dollars
• We also offer Dependent Care FSA to pay for eligible dependent care services, such as preschool, summer day camp, before or after school programs, and child or adult daycare.
• Eligible for Parental Leave which includes six (6) weeks of ImmDef paid leave.

401(k) Retirement Savings Plan & Employer Matching:

• ImmDef staff are eligible to enroll in our 401(k) plans immediately upon hire, contributing pre-tax dollars towards their retirement goals
• After six months on staff, ImmDef will match 100% of contributions up to 3% of the employee’s salary
• Funds are vested immediately!

Public Service Loan Forgiveness:

• As a 501(c)3, full-time ImmDef staff with qualifying student loans are eligible for the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness.

Parking and Public Transportation Stipends:

• Staff members assigned to an office without free on-site parking are eligible to receive a parking stipend of up to $105 per month in actual accrued parking or transportation costs, paid through a pre-tax commuter benefit account.
• Staff in all offices are eligible to receive a public transportation stipend of up to $100 per month in actual accrued public transportation costs.

Cell Phone Stipends:

• ImmDef provides a $15 monthly cell phone stipend to staff members whose job duties require them to consistently work at sites outside of ImmDef offices, or travel between ImmDef worksites, and whose jobs require use of their personal cell phones or communications that cannot be accomplished with ImmDef-issued equipment.

Relocation Assistance for out-of-state new hires available for attorney positions.