Supervising Attorney, Immigration Law Unit – Non-Detained Removal Defense Team

The Immigration Law Unit (ILU) in The Legal Aid Society’s Civil Practice is a recognized leader in providing high-quality representation to non-citizens in all five boroughs of New York City and surrounding counties. Our staff of almost 100 attorneys, social workers, and paralegals across six different projects and initiatives works collaboratively to provide client-centered, interdisciplinary, and comprehensive legal services.

 

The ILU is seeking a Supervising Attorney to work in its Non-Detained Removal Defense team. The Supervising Attorney will assist in coordinating and supervising the Unit’s Immigrant Opportunity Initiatives (IOI) Program, which handles both affirmative and defensive immigration matters. The IOI program provides low-income New Yorkers with free comprehensive immigration services ranging from removal defense to asylum to affirmative applications before U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA), and in family court proceedings on Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) motions.

 

The Supervising Attorney will be involved in day-to-day operations and will work closely with the Attorney- in-Charge, the Deputy Attorney-in-Charge, and other Supervising Attorneys to train, supervise, and mentor staff. The Supervising Attorney will participate in Practice-wide management discussions and decision-making.

 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

 

 Immigration Legal Support and Oversight

• Assist in the direct supervision and mentoring of staff attorneys, paralegals, and volunteers who work predominantly with non-detained immigrants in removal proceedings, including but not limited to immigrants with criminal convictions, asylum seekers, adults with children, and unaccompanied minors, as well as with affirmative immigration benefits applications before USCIS
• 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

• Train and mentor staff members
• Foster and encourage teamwork and communication
• Assist with the development and implementation of programs
• Assist with the funding for and reporting on programs
• Respond to client, community and staff concerns
• Provide individualized consultation to other Society staff
• Engage in policy advocacy
• Maintain a reasonable caseload

 

Team Development and Supervision

• Schedule employee hours, assign work, approve time off and remote work schedule requests following the guidance of LAS policy and procedures.
• 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.

 

Professional Development and Other Duties as Assigned

• 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

 

QUALIFICATIONS

Required qualifications:

• Admission to New York State Bar

• Minimum of five years of immigration legal practice preferred

 

Preferred qualifications:

• Proficiency in languages other than English is desirable, but not required

 

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

 

Position Based Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: