Supervising Attorney, Immigration Detained Removal Defense - Immigration Law Unit

The Legal Aid Society • New York, NY

5h

About The Position

The Legal Aid Society’s Civil Practice is seeking a Supervising Attorney for our
citywide Immigration Law Unit (ILU) to assist with our detained removal defense
project.

As part of an initiative called the New York Immigrant Family Unity Project
(NYIFUP), ILU represents detained clients in removal and bond proceedings before
the Immigration Court, the Board of Immigration Appeals, related proceedings
before the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) and,
when appropriate, in Family Court proceedings. NYIFUP is the nation’s first
universal representation program for immigrants detained by Immigration and
Customs Enforcement (ICE) and is a collaboration between Legal Aid, Brooklyn
Defender Services, and The Bronx Defenders. ILU also represents NYIFUP clients
who are released from custody and continue to meet income eligibility
requirements.

The Immigration Law Unit of The Legal Aid Society is a recognized leader in the
delivery of legal services to immigrants in all five boroughs of New York City
and surrounding counties within the New York District of the USCIS. The Unit
provides low-income New Yorkers with free comprehensive immigration services
ranging from deportation defense to adjustment of status to legal permanent
residence and citizenship applications. The Unit specializes in the intersection
between immigration and criminal law and works collaboratively with all practice
areas to serve the society’s diverse immigrant clients through a comprehensive
service model. Unit staff represent immigrants before USCIS, immigration judges
in removal proceedings, and the Board of Immigration Appeals, as well as in
federal court on habeas corpus petitions, petitions for review, administrative
and judicial appeals, and other matters.

Requirements

• Admission to NYS Bar preferred, but will consider those who are admitted to any state bar and qualified to practice federal immigration law
• At least 5 years of experience in immigration law
• Experience in a wide variety of immigration legal matters, both affirmative and removal defense-related
• Experience litigating cases in Immigration Court and before the Board of Immigration Appeals
• Experience representing detained non-citizens
• Demonstrated commitment and experience in public interest law and civil legal services
• Excellent oral and written advocacy skills
• Ability to work in a team setting including strong communication and follow-up skills
• Experience working in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to manage relationships and effectively communicate with ILU management team and other Civil Practice administrative staff
• Highly self-motivated and able to work independently

Nice To Haves

• Proficiency in Spanish is desirable, but not required
• Knowledge of the intersection of immigration and criminal law preferred

Responsibilities

• Ensure accountability and maintenance of practice standards
• Assist in coordinating and supervising the Unit’s New York Immigrant Family Unity Project (NYIFUP)
• Assist in the direct supervision and mentoring of staff attorneys, paralegals and volunteers working with detained and non-detained immigrants in removal proceedings
• Assist in monitoring and maintaining a high standard of representation and client service
• Analyze legal issues, develop legal strategy, and supervise implementation of legal strategies
• Develop skills and knowledge of staff members
• Work with ILU and other Civil Practice administrative staff to ensure that ILU case matters are timely updated with data required for grants management
• Foster and encourage teamwork and communication
• Represent the Civil Practice and Legal Aid in the community
• Other duties as assigned
• Schedule employee hours, assign work, approve time off and remote work schedule requests following the guidance of LAS policy and procedures
• Manage and coordinate staffing changes, i.e. processing separations, requesting new job postings, hires, coordination of leaves and accommodations
• Attend management meetings, participate in management trainings, and utilize current employment policies, practices and guidance as provided by management and Human Resources
• Conduct management and supervision practices that affirmatively support equity and inclusion in the workplace
• Supervise direct reports in setting performance standards, provide routine feedback as well as coaching/counseling, and issue disciplinary action as needed
• Identify and provide training and development opportunities and ensure mandatory trainings are completed
• Participate in continuous professional development
• Continuously learn about forms of bias in the workplace and demonstrate affirmative behaviors that support an inclusive work environment
• Other duties as assigned

Benefits

• health insurance
• paid vacation
• disability
• life insurance
• qualified employer for the purposes of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness
• assistance from New York state to assist with loan repayments, depending on years of practice

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees