Temporary Senior Attorney, Hartford, CT

About KIND 
Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) is a global leader in the protection of unaccompanied and separated children who are forcibly displaced from their countries of origin. Launched in 2008, KIND champions a world in which every child’s rights and well-being are protected throughout their journey to safety.  Building on its extensive programming and successful model in the United States, KIND is expanding in the Americas and Europe to bring its experience to bear in working with unaccompanied and separated children. Our work focuses on addressing the legal and mental health needs of this population; building strong partnerships and engaging in training and capacity strengthening with governments, NGOs, and the private sector; and advocating for systemic and pragmatic reforms to advance the rights of unaccompanied and separated children.
Position Summary   KIND seeks a Senior Attorney to provide senior-level expertise and leadership in the provision of legal services by KIND attorneys and pro bono partners to detained unaccompanied children facing removal proceedings. This role will serve as a thoughtful leader and expert advisor on complex and novel legal issues for internal and external stakeholders. As needed, supervise Staff Attorneys, Senior Paralegals, and other non-attorney staff. The Senior Attorney will report to the Supervising Attorney.   This position is contingent upon continued funding.

Essential Functions

• Oversees a team of attorneys and paralegals to ensure the provision of high-quality intakes and legal orientations for unaccompanied children residing in immigration detention facilities.
• Reviews intakes by detained team and make determinations regarding eligibility for immigration relief.
• Liaisons with shelter staff and other stakeholders as needed to maximize efficient and effective services to detained children.
• Once children are released locally from detention, based on caseloads and experience, funding streams, and institutional priorities, performs hybrid mentoring and direct legal representation functions, including providing zealous legal advocacy to KIND’s clients in direct representation cases, as well as providing robust consultation and technical assistance to pro bono attorneys who have accepted a KIND case. Percentage of mentoring and direct representation caseloads will be determined by management in the Legal Services component.
• As needed, represents a smaller docket of children in their applications for relief who do not have reunification options and must remain longer in detention.
• Performs ordinary functions of legal counsel providing direct representation, including legal research and formulating the legal strategy for the case; conducting client interviews; appearing before immigration and/or state court or agencies, and drafting and filing court pleadings and applications for benefits.
• Assists the Managing Attorney to monitor daily arrivals, transfers, and discharges of immigrant children housed in ORR facilities in relevant jurisdiction(s).
• Oversees or conducts drafting of eligibility letters for children to be transferred outside of relevant jurisdiction(s) for long term foster care determinations.
• Oversees or conduct assembly of court packages as needed, dependent on Immigration Court practices in local jurisdiction.
• Assists the Managing Attorney in the completion of program reports, as needed, for partners and other stakeholders.
• Assists Supervising Attorney in overseeing data management, ensuring data integrity through regular case audits and technical fluency with KIND’s case management systems.
• Under the direction of the Supervising Attorney, coordinates in-house and volunteer pro bono case placements.
• In coordination with KIND’s Training and Technical Assistance Team and the local office Senior Attorneys, as needed, help develop pro bono training resources and local training curriculum, including sample filings and guidance packets. With supervision, present trainings to pro bono attorneys and community groups.
• Represents KIND at local coalitions, courts, and agencies.
• Supervises attorneys, supports staff, law student interns and volunteers.

Qualifications and Requirements

• J.D. and admitted to the local state bar (If not admitted to local state bar, must sit for bar exam or start waiver to be admitted within 6 months and be able to be admitted within one year of employment).
• Must be fully bilingual in both English and Spanish (for direct communication with the children we serve and their caregivers, the majority of whom are Spanish speaking)..
• Minimum of 4 years of experience practicing immigration law, which should include representation of clients in humanitarian immigration claims such as asylum, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, U v