Overview
The 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. Our staff is comprised of advocates and activists from the immigrant rights community who collectively have decades of experience fighting for the rights of immigrants in Southern California and beyond. Our organization was founded with the belief that no immigrant should be forced to go into court alone, and we see our universal representation programs as a first step towards that goal. Learn more about us at www.immdef.org.
ImmDef seeks a full-time Directing Attorney to focus on our legal representation programs for adults, children and families. As a member of ImmDef’s leadership team, the Directing Attorney will have the opportunity to help develop and advance our mission-driven organization.
Responsibilities of this position include but are not limited to:
· Work collaboratively with ImmDef Directors, Directing Attorneys and Managers across all ImmDef programs;
· Provide direct supervision to Managing Attorneys and other legal and program staff;
· 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;
· Work collaboratively with staff to develop case strategies and litigation tactics;
· Keep abreast of changes in case, statutory, or regulatory law and changes in detention practices;
· 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;
· Foster and support a client-centered and mission-driven office culture;
· Build a team-centered client service model, and monitor issues related to services to manage on-going engagement and client expectations
· Work to develop and implement policies and procedures that increase effectiveness and efficiency within our representation work;
· Ensure compliance with ImmDef’s record-keeping, grant and funding, professional and ethical, and case management obligations;
· Help further develop and maintain uniform internal policies and procedures for representation of ImmDef’s clients;
· Oversee projects, assist with contract reporting requirements, and maintain relationships with funders to increase the sustainability and growth of the legal services program;
· Participate in and supervise the program’s engagement in coalitions advocating for immigrants’ rights, and management of stakeholder relationships;
· Provide fearless and zealous representation to clients on their own reduced caseload of deportation defense cases;
· Support recruitment efforts for staff openings within assigned program areas.
· Other duties as assigned by ImmDef’s Legal Services Directors and Executive Director.