Managing Attorney, Immigration Legal Services

The Managing Attorney will lead the Immigration Legal Services program in Dallas and Abilene, overseeing legal services for refugees and immigrants. This role involves supervising a team of legal professionals, managing program operations, collaborating with community partners, and advocating for humanitarian immigrants.

Responsibilities

• Oversee legal strategy through daily direct supervision of a team of legal practitioners, including attorneys and Department of Justice-accredited representatives
• Employ adaptive management techniques to provide regular individual supervision and support; mentor staff, set clear performance expectations and goals, give regular performance feedback, help prioritize workloads, help troubleshoot challenges, and maintain appropriate professional development plans
• Develop and monitor intake procedures, case acceptance policies, and caseload targets and limits
• Provide direct legal representation to a limited caseload of individuals where applicable, including on applications for with USCIS
• Actively co-facilitate and support grant opening, grant review, and grant closing meetings, and lead all aspects of grant cycle, including developing/implementing monitoring & evaluation plans
• Ensure program data is collected consistently, managed appropriately and reported timely, using IRC’s legal case management database and other relevant case management systems
• Ensure effective integration of internships and volunteers within programs
• Collaborate with other IRC program areas as appropriate to ensure client-centered service
• Establish, maintain and periodically refresh legal services program policies and procedures in collaboration with IRC’s Legal Services Technical Unit
• Oversee and/or conduct regular case file reviews (paper files and electronic case files) to ensure compliance with legal case management procedures
• Create and maintain a viable outreach strategy to cultivate and maintain strong relationships with community-based organizations, the private bar, and nonprofit legal providers; pursue program initiatives with partners that further goals and address unmet demand
• Serve on Senior Management Team/Leadership Team
• Partner with local leadership to secure resources that advance program goals, including supporting grant research, proposal development, fundraising efforts, and engagement with foundations, government agencies, and community stakeholders
• Work closely with the HQ Legal Services Technical Unit and field offices as part of IRC’s immigration network
• Serve as a strong advocate for humanitarian immigrants

Requirements

• Law degree (JD or LLM) from an ABA-accredited U.S. institution and member in good standing of any state bar
• 5 years’ experience or more providing direct representation in immigration court and before USCIS to asylum applicants and other immigrants seeking relief from removal
• At least 2 years of experience providing supervision to attorneys and/or DOJ accredited representatives in a legal services context
• Program management experience preferred
• Experience with affirmative applications before USCIS (eg, adjustment of status, naturalization, I-130s)
• Strong legal supervision skills and superb legal judgment
• Ability to oversee and provide supervision on a reasonably high case volume and work under time pressure
• Experience organizing and facilitating immigration workshops and immigration information sessions
• Experience overseeing annual budgets and leading fundraising efforts, including identifying funding opportunities, managing grant processes, and building relationships with donors and community partners
• Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills
• Bilingual in one or more languages preferred (eg, Spanish, French, Arabic)
• Deep commitment to working with humanitarian immigrants
• Trauma-informed and sensitive listening and communication skills
• Desire to join a team working to protect due process and immigrant rights
• Must have ability to travel frequently in and around the service area to engage with clients and community partners

Skills

• Immigration Law
• Legal Representation
• USCIS Applications
• Asylum Legislation
• Legal Supervision
• Programme Management
• Case Management
• Immigration Court Litigation
• Adjustment of Status
• Naturalization Applications
• I-130 Petitions
• Budget Management
• Grant Management
• Fundraising
• Workshop Facilitation
• Community Engagement
• Trauma-Informed Communication
• Legal Judgment
• Donor Relations

Languages

English