Position Overview
The Senior Attorney is a highly skilled and experienced immigration attorney with strong legal judgment and a passion for holistic client representation and growing and supporting a strong legal team. This person oversees and performs a wide range of legal services withing the Immigration and Citizenship program, including consultations and representation before USCIS, and occasionally EOIR, to support neighbors and ensure high-quality, compliant legal representation. The Senior Attorney works in close collaboration with the Program Director to provide quality legal representation and lead day-to-day supervision of legal staff.
They are an effective communicator who can convey complex legal information to clients and colleagues alike. Success measures for this role include sound legal judgment, effective mentorship, initiative, and the ability to support data-informed strategies, including tracking of grant-funded metrics, to strengthen program protocols and improve outcomes.
This role drives a positive staff culture and seeks to problem solve as a strong collaborator with other leaders and team members including attorneys, DOJ accredited representatives, social workers, and program staff. Fluency in English and Spanish is strongly preferred.
Essential Functions
- Provides trauma informed and culturally competent direct legal representation to individuals before USCIS, EOIR, the BIA, and other immigration agencies. This includes but is not limited to consultations, case screening, application preparation, filing and follow-up, and appearing before USCIS, EOIR, and/or state court as needed.
- Keeps current with changes in immigration law and policy.
- Supervises and provides guidance to staff attorneys, DOJ accredited representatives, and legal fellows.
- Supports the Program Director in monitoring grant-funded case metrics and assessing workload and compliance
- matters.
- Supports the Program Director with all required reporting, including creating and co-presenting regular reports on key program metrics and outcomes to stakeholders, including Program Leadership.
- Conducts community consultations and screening events including citizenship workshops to assess eligibility for assistance and advises neighbors on options, risks, and likely outcomes.
- Maintains accurate and organized case files and case management data to support grant reporting and compliance requirements.
- Works well as part of a cohesive team and supports colleagues while working to serve the best interests of the clients.
- Leads or co-leads in the design and implementation of internal trainings, case-review protocols, and quality assurance practices and protocols.
- Supports program community outreach events, trainings, and know your rights presentations as needed.
- Ensures that staff are meeting performance objectives, and that leaders are taking appropriate actions to address performance deficiencies in an effective and timely manner.
- Supports director in creating staff development processes for staff members.
- Creates and maintains a culture of trust and positive staff morale.
- Performs other duties as assigned
- Complies with all policies and standards
Qualifications
EDUCATION
J.D. from an ABA accredited law school, required
Work Experience
3+ Years experience in substantive immigration law including direct representation in complex humanitarian relief and/or removal defense. Experience in supervising, training, or mentoring attorneys, DOJ accredited representatives, or law students.
Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities
- Excellent written and oral communication and interpersonal skills. (Advanced)
- Strong management and leadership skills. (Advanced)
- Strong legal research, writing skills, and oral advocacy skills. (Advanced)
- Strong organizational skills and ability to manage competing priorities across a supervisory and direct representation role. (Advanced)
- Ability to work with grant-funded legal services and familiarity with funder compliance and reporting expectations. (Advanced)
- Ability to develop internal protocols and training materials for the legal team. (Advanced)
- Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. (Advanced)
- Ability to use various computer systems. (Advanced)
- Ability to define realistic, specific goals and objectives and to prioritize objectives. (Advanced)
- Ability to use a systematic approach in solving problems through analysis of the problem and evaluation of alternate solutions. (Advanced)
- Ability to work with survivors of trauma, crime, or domestic violence. (Advanced)
LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS
- License to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction. Texas license preferred
- License must be active and in good standing
LANGUAGES
Bilingual (English/Spanish) strongly preferred
