Supervising Attorney, Children's Protection Project, NIJC

National Immigrant Justice Center • Chicago, IL

5d • Onsite

About The Position

The National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC) seeks an energetic, visionary, and committed supervising attorney to join our Children's Protection Project in our Chicago office. The team provides legal representation and counseling to detained and non-detained unaccompanied immigrant children before U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) and the Chicago Immigration Court. The Children's Protection Project also advocates for clients before other government administrative agencies and before other service agencies, as appropriate. In this role, the supervisor will manage a team of attorneys, paralegals, and interns ensuring high-quality legal services, support casework, and oversee intake of unaccompanied immigrant children detained in the custody of the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR). The supervisor will collaborate with other teams, including management, litigation, policy, and communications.

Requirements

• Juris Doctorate
• Law license
• Three years of experience in immigration law
• Experience working with detained unaccompanied immigrant children
• Fluency in spoken and written Spanish is required.
• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.

Nice To Haves

• License to practice law in Illinois is preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct supervision and support to Children's Project staff attorneys, paralegals, interns and volunteers as assigned.
• Collaborate with the Children's Project supervisory team to build a strong team and oversee the team's projects.
• Ensure timely case preparation, including case opening process, preparing filings, trial preparation, appeals, case closures, and other case management practices.
• Provide recommendations based on case trends to inform project-based strategic decisions.
• Maintain and develop strategic partnerships with key stakeholders.
• Conduct factual and legal research.
• Provide legal representation to children in immigration proceedings, including before an immigration officer, an immigration judge, and in federal court, as appropriate.
• Draft correspondence and documents, including applications, briefs and reports.
• Improve delivery of legal services, including use of technology to improve efficiency.
• Train lawyers and non-lawyers in the field of immigration law as it relates to children.
• Conduct legal presentations regarding law and case(s) to NIJC staff, stakeholders, and members of the immigrant community.
• Maintain accurate, thorough and timely records.
• Advance an anti-racist organization that promotes diversity, equity and inclusion.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager