Managing Attorney, Children's Program

Amica Center for Immigrant Rights•Washington, DC

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Amica Center for Immigrant Rights fights for the rights, safety, and unity of immigrant communities. The Children’s Program provides legal orientation and screening to detained migrant children in the Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia region. It also offers free legal services to children released from Office of Refugee Resettlement custody to the greater capitol region. This role is a highly collaborative work environment committed to providing high-quality, trauma-informed legal and social services and a culture of professional growth and support for staff. Supervisors in our program share a commitment to teaching, mentorship, and work life balance. A Managing Attorney in the Children’s Program works collaboratively with staff and leadership to ensure that clients receive high-quality legal services while detained and after release to our local area, provide direct legal services to unaccompanied immigrant children, supervise and train staff attorneys and paralegals, work with program leadership to ensure contractual and grant compliance, and implement long-term plans for the program.

Requirements

JD and at least five (5) years of relevant experience in immigration law.
Management and supervision experience.
Written and oral Spanish proficiency.
Must be licensed to practice law in Maryland or Virginia, eligible to waive into either bar, or willing to sit for the next scheduled bar exam.
The candidate is expected to travel for work-related business. As a result, the candidate must possess a valid driver's license and be comfortable operating a vehicle upon hiring.
Favorable results on background check including driving record, Child Protective Registry, and state and federal criminal records, required.
Committed to principles of equity and inclusion.
Ability to work in a hybrid work environment and fulfill job responsibilities in-person as required.
Legal Proficiency: The Managing Attorney utilizes their expertise in immigration law and procedures to provide high quality, innovative, client-centered, and culturally competent representation.
The Managing Attorney stays abreast of developments in the law and ensures that their supervisees are trained in new legal developments.
The Managing Attorney competently supervises direct reports and paralegals on legal strategy, research, writing, and client relationships.
Client and Programmatic Proficiency: The Managing Attorney contributes to the effective management of the program's shelter, client, and in-office obligations to ensure that clients receive zealous representation, funding obligations are met, and that the program collaborates effectively within the organization and with peer groups.
The employee proficiently manages their and their supervisees’ caseloads and skillfully supervises junior staff, ensuring that they perform job duties and are supported in their professional growth.
Administrative: The Managing Attorney ensures that all administrative aspects of their and their supervisees’ work are carried out without managerial intervention, including timekeeping, file upkeep, database entries, etc.

Nice To Haves

Experience working with child clients preferred.

Responsibilities

Manage caseload of full legal representation of clients in removal proceedings before the local immigration courts, USCIS, and state courts in the following types of case: Asylum, Withholding of Removal, protection under the Convention against Torture, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, U-Visas, and T-Visas.
Provide expert mentoring to pro bono attorneys from area law firms handling children’s cases.
Provide supervision and training to attorneys on full representation and pro bono cases, including (i) case strategy, (ii) trial preparation, and (iii) caseload management.
Manage potential client follow-up after intake, including sponsor intake, assessment of legal relief and case placement with in-house or pro bono attorneys.
Support the program’s efforts to remain abreast of new developments in the law and to train staff on the law.
Work with program leadership to set long-term program goals and ensure contractual compliance.
Support the team to ensure smooth operations of weekly visits to several local government detention centers. This includes ensuring that all children receive a Know Your Rights presentation and intake.
Assist other program staff in completion of their workload during high-work/low- bandwidth periods.
Work with other Amica Center programs to ensure cross-program information and strategy sharing.
Oversee the timely and accurate entry of case information into shared databases.
Participate in stakeholder relationship activities with community groups, government agencies, detention center staff, and other legal service providers.
Participate in internal Amica Center committees and working groups, including as a member of an organizational leadership team, to lend a voice to the growth and strategy of the organization.