Supervising Attorney, Children’s Legal Services

JOB OVERVIEW:

IRC seeks a Supervising Attorney to launch IRC’s children’s legal services in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Supervising Attorney is an experienced immigration lawyer who will focus on supervision, direct representation, and supporting the development of a new program funded by the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), providing legal services for unaccompanied children, including representation in immigration court, before USCIS, and in state court proceedings. The Supervising Attorney will bring several years’ experience representing asylum seekers, including youth and unaccompanied minors, superb legal judgment and legal ethics, an ability to work independently while recognizing the value of collaboration and cross-referencing with other experts, and a passion for this area of work. The position will work in collaboration with community partners and will be part of the IRC headquarters’ Children’s Legal Services unit and report to the Director of Children’s Legal Services.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide Know Your Rights (KYR) presentations and pro se (“self-help”) legal services to unaccompanied children once a week at the Las Vegas Immigration Court.
• Conduct and oversee intakes with child clients, identify immigration relief such as SIJS, asylum, VAWA, U-visa, T-visa, etc., and provide direct representation for unaccompanied children released to sponsors in the Las Vegas area before USCIS and the immigration court.
• Initiate state court proceedings for children who are eligible for special immigrant juvenile status.
• Provide legal trainings and technical case assistance to in-house staff, and other stakeholders and community partners as needed to maximize effective legal services to immigrant children.
• Coordinate closely within IRC’s multidisciplinary teams to identify needs and facilitate referrals to services offered in-house and through partnerships with external providers.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge and expertise of changing asylum and immigration policies as they relate to children through regular trainings and peer-to-peer consultation.
• Serve as a strong advocate for humanitarian immigrants.
• Participate in community-based coalitions related to immigrant rights and children.
• Conduct regular internal case file reviews (paper files and electronic case files) to ensure compliance with IRC Immigration Program Policies as well as any donor requirements.
• As a senior staff member, support effective quality assurance systems and processes for course correction.

Data Management & Reporting

• Ensure client and program data is collected consistently, managed appropriately, and reported accurately in accordance with program reporting requirements set by IRC and the funder.
• Support accurate and timely completion of all program reports as required by funding sources, headquarters, and other partners.
• Track monthly and quarterly performance using Lolly Law and ensure all client work is documented in Lolly Law.

Community Outreach

• Represent IRC at immigration-related meetings and events in the community; including by giving presentations.
• Assist with outreach strategy as necessary.

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

• Law degree (JD or LLM) from an ABA-accredited U.S. institution and member in good standing of the Nevada bar;
• At least 5 years’ experience providing direct representation in immigration court and/or before USCIS to asylum applicants and other immigrants seeking humanitarian relief;
• At least 2 years’ experience providing direct representation before Nevada state courts in furtherance of SIJS petitions;
• Experience providing legal services to unaccompanied children and/or working with children required;
• Effectively manages times and priorities, ensuring tasks are complete and deadlines are met;
• Demonstrates ability to take the lead, identify opportunities, and work independently in remote environment;
• Excellent research, writing, analytical, and organizational skills and excellent legal judgment;
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both orally in a courtroom setting and in writing;
• Bilingual in Spanish/English required;
• Evidence of capacity to be a strong team member in a highly collaborative multidisciplinary environment;
• Deep commitment to immigrant rights and working with humanitarian immigrants;
• Trauma-informed and sensitive listening and communication skills;
• Personal integrity in handling ethically complex and confidential situations;
• Strong computer literacy, research and analysis skills;
• Must be willing and able to travel frequently in and around the service area to attend hearings and interviews and engage with clients and community partners;
• Must be willing to submit to an extensive background check including FBI, statewide child welfare and sex offender registry checks.

Working Environment***:***

• A combination of remote work, and ‘field’ time within the service delivery area to perform the above outlined responsibilities. Will be required to travel at least once a week to the Las Vegas Immigration Court. All client meetings must be conducted in person. May require occasional weekend and/or evening work, flexible working hours may be permitted on a case by case basis.

Compensation: Posted pay ranges apply to US-based candidates. Ranges are based on various factors including the labor market, job type, internal equity, and budget. Exact offers are calibrated by work location, individual candidate experience and skills relative to the defined job requirements.

Equal Opportunity Employer: We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

US Benefits: The IRC offers a comprehensive and highly competitive set of benefits. All US employees are eligible for sick time, a 403b retirement savings plans: up to 4.5% immediately vested matching contribution, plus an 3-7% additional IRC contribution, and an Employee Assistance Program which is available to our staff and their families to support in times of crisis and mental health struggles.

In addition, full-time employees are eligible for 10 US paid holidays, 20-25 paid time off days, disability & life insurance, medical, dental, and vision insurance (employee contribution starting at $135, $7, and $5 per month respectively) and FSA for healthcare, childcare, and commuter costs. Part-time employees are eligible for a proportionate amount of paid time off. These additional benefits apply to employees who work at least 6 months within a 12 month time period.