Immigrant Defenders Law Center (“ImmDef”) is a next-generation, social justice law firm that provides high-quality representation and legal services to immigrants in Southern California and beyond. ImmDef was founded with the belief that no immigrant should be forced to face an unjust immigration system alone and our universal representation programs are a first step towards that goal. Learn more about us at www.immdef.org.
ImmDef represents thousands of adults, children and families annually who have multi-faceted, complex and urgent legal needs as they face our unjust immigration system.?ImmDef is currently seeking full-time Directing Attorney to join our team of fearless advocates providing creative and zealous representation to our clients. As a member of ImmDef’s management team, the Directing Attorney will join the largest non-profit, universal representation model deportation defense team in the state of California, and help develop and advance our mission-driven organization.
Our Directing Attorneys work collaboratively within our team of staff including the executive leadership team, managing and staff attorneys, paralegals, administrative support staff and case managers to provide client-centered, holistic representation. This is a rewarding and exciting position where the successful applicant will be engaged in cutting edge immigration litigation for individual clients with an overarching organizational goal of fighting for a more just immigration system.
Job responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:
o Work collaboratively with ImmDef Directors, Directing Attorneys and Managers across all ImmDef programs;
o Provide direct supervision to Managing Attorneys and other legal and program staff;
o Mentor, supervise and provide support for a team of attorneys representing detained and recently released children and adults in their immigration removal proceedings and applications for immigration benefits;
o Work collaboratively with staff to develop case strategies and litigation tactics;
o Keep abreast of changes in case, statutory, or regulatory law and changes in detention practices;
o Support attorney and legal staff professional development by coordinating the provision of ongoing legal trainings, and ensuring that changes in law, policy, and practice are reflected in ImmDef’s training and professional development resources;
o Foster and support a client-centered and mission-driven office culture;
o Build a team-centered client service model, and monitor issues related to services to manage on-going engagement and client expectations
o Work to develop and implement policies and procedures that increase effectiveness and efficiency within our representation work;
o Ensure compliance with ImmDef’s record-keeping, grant and funding, professional and ethical, and case management obligations;
o Help further develop and maintain uniform internal policies and procedures for representation of ImmDef’s clients;
o Oversee projects, assist with contract reporting requirements, and maintain relationships with funders to increase the sustainability and growth of the legal services program;
o Participate in and supervise the program’s engagement in coalitions advocating for immigrants' rights, and management of stakeholder relationships;
o Provide fearless and zealous representation to clients on their own reduced caseload of deportation defense cases;
o Support recruitment efforts for staff openings within assigned program areas.
o Other duties as assigned by ImmDef’s Legal Services Directors and Executive Director.
We require COVID-19 vaccinations or weekly testing to be considered.
Must submit Cover Letter to be considered. ImmDef is currently recruiting staff attorneys to work within several programs. If you have a preference as to which program you would like to be considered for, please indicate this in your cover letter. You can learn more about our programs at www.immdef.org. While there is a preference for some positions to be based in our Los Angeles office, ImmDef will consider candidates who desire to be based one of our other offices: Riverside or Santa Ana.
ImmDef believes in second chances. As an organization, we will rely on individualized assessments in the hiring of those with past criminal convictions. We encourage all qualified applicants to apply for a position fighting for our immigrant communities!
Immigrant Defenders Law Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Due to the large number of applicants, we are unable to respond to every applicant and will only contact those who are invited to interview for the position.
• Summary
Summary of Benefits:
Schedule:
o ImmDef’s standard work schedule is 35 hours per week, or 70 hours per pay period, with flexible scheduling options including hybrid and compressed schedules that allow staff to take up to one day off per week without needing to use paid time off.
o Hybrid Work Schedule: Staff in exempt positions at ImmDef are expected to be in the office a minimum of 3 days per week, with 2 days available to work remotely.
Professional Memberships:
o ImmDef provides attorneys with membership in the National Immigration Project of the National Lawyers Guild (NIPNLG), as well as $150 towards the professional association of their choice, and opportunities to attend conferences, trainings and seminars/webinars hosted internally and by partner organizations.
o ImmDef also provides Directing Attorneys with AILA membership and AILAlink subscriptions.
o ImmDef covers California Bar Dues (or equivalent in another jurisdiction) for all attorneys.
Holidays and Paid Time Off :
o 13 paid holidays
o 1-Week paid winter break between Christmas and New Years
o 15 vacation days per year
o 15 Sick Days per year
Health, Dental and Vision Insurance:
o ImmDef provides health coverage on the first of the month following 30 days on the job.
o We cover 100% of premiums for our base dental and vision plans for our staff members and 75% of base plan dental and vision premiums for their dependents. ImmDef also covers 98% of the base plan medical premiums for our staff and 73% of the base plan medical premiums for their dependents.
FSA and Dependent Care FSA:
o ImmDef offers FSA plans to help offset the costs of eligible health care expenses for you, your spouse, and your eligible dependents using pre-tax dollars
o We also offer Dependent Care FSA to pay for eligible dependent care services, such as preschool, summer day camp, before or after school programs, and child or adult daycare.
o Eligible for Parental Leave which includes six (6) weeks of ImmDef paid leave.
401(k) Retirement Savings Plan & Employer Matching:
o ImmDef staff are eligible to enroll in our 401(k) plans immediately upon hire, contributing pre-tax dollars towards their retirement goals
o After six months on staff, ImmDef will match 100% of contributions up to 3% of the employee’s salary
o Funds are vested immediately!
Public Service Loan Forgiveness:
o As a 501(c)3, full-time ImmDef staff with qualifying student loans are eligible for the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness
Parking and Public Transportation Stipends:
o Staff members assigned to an office without free on-site parking are eligible to receive a parking stipend of up to $100 per month in actual accrued parking or transportation costs.
o Staff in all offices are eligible to receive a public transportation stipend of up to $100 per month in actual accrued public transportation costs.
Cell Phone Stipends:
o ImmDef provides a $15 monthly cell phone stipend to staff members whose job duties require them to consistently work at sites outside of ImmDef offices, or travel between ImmDef worksites, and whose jobs require use of their personal cell phones or communications that cannot be accomplished with ImmDef-issued equipment.
Relocation Assistance for out-of-state new hires available for attorney positions.
• Additional Information
o Cover Letter:
Required
• Requirements
Requirements:
o Juris Doctorate degree;
o Active California State Bar License or licensure from another state and, if required, willingness to "waive into" the CA Bar via the Multi-Jurisdictional Practice Program;
o A minimum of 5 years experience in the practice of law, with at least 2 years of management experience, and minimum 2 years of immigration removal defense specific experience;
o Experience managing, teaching and mentoring staff is required;
o Strong case management, legal research, and legal writing skills;
o Willingness to zealously pursue new and untested legal theories;
o Demonstrated ability to take initiative and work under pressure;
o Passion for social justice for immigrants required.
Preferred Qualifications
o Experience representing adults in ICE detention or children in ORR custody is a plus;
o Experience representing children and families in guardianship, parentage, child custody, or dependency proceedings in California is a plus;
o Experience representing unaccompanied minors and/or adults in applications before USCIS, including applications for special immigrant juvenile status and asylum, is a plus;
o Experience representing immigrants with juvenile delinquency or criminal history is a plus;
o Ability to work collaboratively and to handle multiple demands in a sometimes hectic and busy environment;
o DACA Recipients encouraged to apply!
Language Proficiency
o Spanish language proficiency is strongly preferred, however those with fluency in other languages may be considered;
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