Managing Attorney - Immigration Legal Services

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

JOB OVERVIEW:

IRC seeks a Managing Attorney to lead Immigration Legal Services program in Dallas and Abilene.  Residing in one of these locations is mandatory and requires travel to other office on a consistent basis. The Managing Attorney will oversee immigration legal services at IRC’s longstanding immigration legal services program, which provides low-cost immigration legal services to refugees, immigrants and other community members in their family reunification, adjustment of status and naturalization applications before USCIS.

The Managing Attorney will bring not only legal expertise and a passion for this area of work, but also the ability to motivate and mentor a team of legal professionals in a dynamic and fast-paced environment. The position will work in close collaboration with a range of community partners and the Legal Services Technical Unit (TU) at IRC’s headquarters, which oversees IRC’s 24 legal service programs across the US.

MAJOR 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.

KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS:

• Position Reports to: Executive Director of Texas, Position liaises closely with HQ Legal Services Technical Unit.

• Position Directly Supervises: 1 staff attorney, 1 Immigration Program Manager, 2 DOJ Accredited Representatives, 1 legal assistant and interns.

JOB 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; and

• Must have ability to travel frequently in and around the service area to engage with clients and community partners.

Compensation: ($90K-$92K). Ranges are based on various factors including the labor market, job type, internal equity, and budget.  Exact offers are calibrated by work location, individual candidate experience and skills relative to the defined job requirements

Professional Standards: All International Rescue Committee workers must adhere to the core values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. Our Standards are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Safeguarding, Conflicts of Interest, Fiscal Integrity, and Reporting Wrongdoing and Protection from Retaliation. IRC is committed to take all necessary preventive measures and create an environment where people feel safe, and to take all necessary actions and corrective measures when harm occurs. IRC builds teams of professionals who promote critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity to deliver the best possible services to our clients.

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Benefits: IRC offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package. Highlights include 10 paid sick leave, 10 U.S. holidays, 20-25 generous paid time off based on role and tenure, medical insurance starting at $163/month, dental starting at $6.50/month, and vision starting at $5/month, flexible spending accounts (healthcare, dependent care, and commuter), a 403(b) retirement savings plan with employer match (immediate vesting) along with a non-elective employer contribution based on age and years of service (3-year vesting), disability and life insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offering confidential counseling and support services for employees and their families.

Equal Opportunity Employer: IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

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