Supervising Attorney Asylum Project NIJC

About NIJC

The National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC) advances human rights and due process for immigrants refugees and asylum seekers through direct legal services impact litigation advocacy and public education. Headquartered in Chicago with offices in Washington DC Indiana and San Diego NIJCs team of 100 attorneys paralegals and professionals along with 2000 pro bono attorneys is at the forefront of immigration reform.

Summary:

NIJC seeks a human rights/immigration attorney with at least three years of experience to join our nationally recognized team as a supervising attorney. In this role the supervisor will manage a team of lawyers paralegals and/or coordinators ensure high-quality legal services support casework and oversee intake of individuals and their families. The supervisor will collaborate with other teams including management litigation policy and communications.

Attorneys in NIJCs Asylum Project represent detained and non-detained asylum seekers especially those facing removal. Successful candidates will work independently and collaboratively locally and nationally demonstrating meticulous attention to detail clear communication and effective time management.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Conducts preliminary intake interview gathers all relevant facts and makes legal assessments. Assesses income eligibility and makes appropriate referrals for those individuals not eligible for Organization services.
• Develops and implements complex case strategies in consultation with supervisor.
• Supervises attorneys coordinators and paralegals as required by the departments needs.
• Prepares cases for interview or hearing including drafting legal papers conducting client advocacy presenting evidence etc. in accordance with the Code of Professional Responsibility for the legal profession.
• Provides limited scope legal orientation legal advice hearing preparation and document preparation for pro se individuals. Carries a volume of work as required by the department.
• Has in-depth knowledge of legal and other resources.
• Provides technical support to NIJC staff and pro bono counsel assigned to complex NIJC cases.
• Remains current on immigration law policies and procedures. Remains current on implications of criminal and civil law as it applies to the representation of immigrants.
• Develops and maintains professional relationships with EOIR DHS U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) government and social service organizations and community organizations as necessary. Interprets immigration and department policies and programs to the public including public speaking and media interviews in conjunction with NIJCs communications team.
• Maintains complete and accurate client records. Prepares timely statistical reports. Conducts quarterly case audits for Supervisor presentation and review.
• Participates in training on immigration procedures as assigned by the Supervisor. May conduct training sessions and form materials.
• Identifies trends and recurring legal and social concerns. Recommends strategies for solutions and other needed advocacy.
• Assists managing attorney in developing internal procedures and best practices and implementing those procedures within the project.
• Participates in periodic evaluative reviews and/or in-house and external staff training to ensure that she/he understands and continues to adhere to such standards.
• Advances an anti-racist organization that promotes diversity equity and inclusion
• Reacts to change and manages other essential duties as assigned.

Skills and Competencies

• Maintains complete and accurate client records conducting periodic case audits.
• Strong writing skills including the ability to simplify complicated concepts for a nonspecialist audience.
• Participates in training on immigration procedures as assigned by the Supervisor. May conduct training sessions and develop materials assigned by the Supervisor.
• Identifies trends and recurring legal and social concerns. Recommends strategies for solutions and other needed advocacy.
• Ability to thrive in fast-paced environments and adapt quickly to change.
• Self-motivated and committed to immigrant advocacy.
• Ability to build and maintain productive relationships with colleagues internally and outside of the organization.
• Meticulous attention to detail clear communication and effective time management.
• Excellent public speaking and interpersonal skills.

Qualifications:

• Education and/or Experience:A law degree (JD) license to practice law and a minimum of three years experience with a preference in immigration and/or human rights law; self-motivated and committed to civil liberties advocacy; ability to represent individuals in complex cases and to formulate and implement sophisticated legal strategies; demonstrated ability to work cooperatively on a variety of projects with lawyers other staff members and diverse community organizations and coalitions.
• Language Skills:High proficiency or fluency in Spanish . Excellent writing and analytical skills; Ability to communicate effectively in legal and non-legal settings with a wide range of individuals and organizations. Ability to read analyze and interpret professional journals technical procedures or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports business correspondence and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers clients customers and the public.
• Reasoning Ability: 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.
• Computer Skills: Proficient in Microsoft 365.

How to Apply

Please Include:

1. Your resume
2. A brief cover letter that highlights your interest in this role why the work resonates with you and any experience that connects to NIJCs mission and the responsibilities of the position.

Physical Abilities Statement

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Must be able to remain in a stationary position 50% of the time.
• The person in this position occasionally needs to move about the inside of the office to access filing cabinets office machinery etc.
• Constantly operates a computer and other office productivity machinery such as a copy machine.

It is the policy of NIJC not to discriminate against any applicant for employment or any employee because of age color sex disability national origin race religion or veteran compliance with federal law all persons hired will be to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.

For any technical issues please contact

Required Experience:

IC