Supervising Attorney, Immigration Services

Position Title: Supervising Attorney

Organization: Jewish Family Service of San Diego

Department: Immigration Legal Services

Position Type: Full-Time (37.5+ hours/week), Exempt

Work Setting: Onsite

Reports To: Managing Attorney

Pay Range: $84,000 to $88,000/year

Total Compensation:  

In addition to standard pay, compensation for this position includes:

• Comprehensive, low-cost healthcare coverage for employees
• Generous employer 401(k) contributions
• Employer-covered life insurance

Time Away from Work:

Being able to take time away from work is critical in bringing your best self to work. Time off benefits for this position include:

• Paid vacation time and sick leave
• 15 paid holidays, including Federal and Jewish holidays (as long as the holiday lands on a normal scheduled work day), and floating holidays
• 2 Wellness Days to be taken any time during the year to support employees’ mental wellness

Position Overview:

Jewish Family Service of San Diego (JFS) is one of four refugee resettlement agencies in San Diego County, a Department of Justice Recognized organization, and a core partner of the San Diego Rapid Response Network (SDRRN) - a group of 40+ immigrant rights and social service organizations, attorneys and community leaders who educate, protect and assist immigrant individuals and families – including refugees and asylum seekers – with legal support and social services. JFS has a large Immigration Legal Services Department (ILSD) where it not only coordinates the legal services for SDRRN, but also has a large team of lawyers, DOJ accredited representatives, and support staff working on a wide range of services for low-income and vulnerable immigrants in San Diego and Imperial counties. This position will work within the ILSD team at JFS. The ILSD team specializes in removal defense, family-based petitions and applications, administrative relief, naturalization, and humanitarian relief.  The ILSD team has experience and regularly practices immigration law before Department of Homeland Security (DHS), such as with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Border Patrol (BP) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), as well as before the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) at the San Diego, Otay Mesa and Imperial Immigration Courts and Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA), and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.  The ILSD team also represents clients in relevant immigration matters before San Diego Superior Court on simple post-conviction relief and probate guardianship matters. The ILSD is also the legal service provider which coordinates the Higher Education Legal Services (HELS) program at 2 CA State Universities – San Diego State and CSU San Marcos, in addition to 9 community colleges in San Diego and Imperial counties.

The Supervising Immigration Attorney will be responsible for overseeing the program and casework of the attorneys and DOJ accredited representatives of the Higher Education Legal Services program in addition to providing direct representation for clients in immigration cases before the USCIS and representation in probate court while helping to support the broader efforts of the ILSD. Representation in immigration court and supervision of attorneys and representatives on cases in immigration court may be required.

Responsibilities:  

Under the supervision of Managing Attorney, the Supervising Immigration Attorney of the Higher Education Legal Services program will be responsible to:

• Provide direct legal representation to JFS-ILSD clients in immigration cases, including representation before the various DHS agencies (USCIS, CBP, BP, and ICE), EOIR, and related federal and state courts, while helping to support the broader efforts of the JFS-ILSD team and maintain an excellent track record of providing immigration legal services
• Supervision and review of the legal work of attorneys, DOJ accredited representatives and support staff who provide direct assistance and legal representation in defensive and affirmative cases, including appeals
• Develop procedures and guidance in coordination with Managing Attorney and Department Directors to promote the JFS-ILSD mission and protect Higher Education Legal Services potential clients and clients from legal malpractice
• Design, oversee and provide accurate legal orientation, presentations and education regarding a range of immigration and rights issues and other legal problems faced by members of the low-income immigrant communities in San Diego County