Supervising Attorney

JOB OVERVIEW:

IRC seeks a Supervising Attorney, Children’s Legal Services, to join the IRC Washington office in SeaTac. The Supervising Attorney is an experienced immigration lawyer who will focus on supervision, direct representation, and supporting the development of a new unaccompanied children’s legal services program funded by the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR). This program will provide legal services for released unaccompanied children, including representation in the Seattle Immigration Court, before USCIS, and in state court proceedings. The Supervising Attorney will bring several years’ experience representing asylum seekers, preferably including youth and unaccompanied minors, superb legal judgment and legal ethics, an ability to work independently while recognizing the value of collaboration and cross-referencing with other experts, and a passion for this area of work. The position will work in collaboration with community partners and will be part of the Children’s Legal Services Community of Practice, led by IRC’s Immigration Technical Unit (TU) at IRC’s headquarters, which supports IRC’s 24 legal service programs across the US.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Supervise one legal assistant at IRC WA’s SeaTac office and one attorney and one legal assistant at IRC WA’s Spokane office, serving released unaccompanied child clients located within the Seattle Immigration Court jurisdiction. Legal services will focus on state court representation for Special Immigrant Juvenile classification, asylum, trafficking victim visas, and removal defense.
• Oversee the set up of Children’s Legal Services’ systems within IRC Washington’s Spokane office, including secure client filing and record keeping systems, and child friendly meeting spaces.
• Train and mentor Children’s Legal Services staff in state court, immigration court, and USCIS legal processes and procedures.
• Conduct and oversee intakes with child clients, identify immigration relief such as SIJ classification, asylum, VAWA, U-visa, T-visa, etc. Provide direct representation for unaccompanied children released to sponsors in Pierce, King, and Snohomish counties before USCIS and the immigration court.
• Initiate state court proceedings for children who are eligible for Special Immigrant Juvenile classification.
• Provide legal trainings and technical case assistance to in-house staff, and other stakeholders and community partners as needed to maximize effective legal services to immigrant children.
• Coordinate closely within IRC’s multidisciplinary teams to identify needs and facilitate referrals to services offered in-house and through partnerships with external providers.
• Ensure client and program data is collected consistently, managed appropriately, and reported accurately in accordance with program reporting requirements set by IRC and the funder.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge and expertise of changing asylum and immigration policies as they relate to children through regular trainings and peer-to-peer consultation.
• Serve as a strong advocate for humanitarian immigrants.
• Participate in community-based coalitions related to immigrant rights.
• In coordination with the Managing Attorney, conduct regular internal case file reviews (paper files and electronic case files) to ensure compliance with IRC Immigration Program Policies as well as any donor requirements.
• As a senior staff member, support effective quality assurance systems and processes for course correction.

Direct Legal Representation

• Conduct and oversee intakes with child clients, identify immigration relief such as SIJ classification, asylum, VAWA, U-visa, T-visa, etc. Provide direct representation for unaccompanied children released to sponsors in Pierce, King, and Snohomish counties before USCIS and the immigration court.
• Initiate state court proceedings for children who are eligible for Special Immigrant Juvenile classification.
• Provide legal trainings and technical case assistance to in-house staff, and other stakeholders and community partners as needed to maximize effective legal services to immigrant children.
• Coordinate closely within IRC’s multidisciplinary teams to identify needs and facilitate referrals to services offered in-house and through partnerships with external providers.

Program Supervision

• Ensure client and program data is collected consistently, managed appropriately, and reported accurately in accordance with program reporting requirements set by IRC and the funder.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge and expertise of changing asylum and immigration policies as they relate to children through regular trainings and peer-to-peer consultation.
• Serve as a strong advocate for humanitarian immigrants.
• Participate in community-based coalitions related to immigrant rights.
• In coordination with the Managing Attorney, conduct regular internal case file reviews (paper files and electronic case files) to ensure compliance with IRC Immigration Program Policies as well as any donor requirements.
• As a senior staff member, support effective quality assurance systems and processes for course correction.

Data Management & Reporting

• Support accurate and timely completion of all program reports as required by funding sources, headquarters, and other partners.
• Track monthly and quarterly performance using Lolly Law and ensure all client work is documented in Lolly Law.

Community Outreach

• Represent IRC at immigration-related meetings and events in the community; including by giving presentations.
• Assist with outreach strategy as necessary.

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

• Law degree (JD or LLM) from an ABA-accredited U.S. institution and member in good standing of the Washington State bar;
• At least 5 years’ experience providing direct representation in immigration court and/or before USCIS to asylum applicants and other immigrants seeking humanitarian relief;
• At least 2 years’ experience providing direct representation before state courts in furtherance of SIJ classification petitions;
• Bilingual in Spanish/English required;
• Experience providing legal services to unaccompanied children and/or working with children preferred;
• Lived experience with the immigration legal system highly desired, but not required;
• Excellent research, writing, analytical, and organizational skills and excellent legal judgment;
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both orally in a courtroom setting and in writing;
• Evidence of capacity to be a strong team member in a highly collaborative multidisciplinary environment;
• Deep commitment to immigrant rights and working with humanitarian immigrants;
• Trauma-informed and sensitive listening and communication skills;
• Personal integrity in handling ethically complex and confidential situations;
• Commitment to anti-racism and ongoing learning;
• Strong computer literacy, research and analysis skills;
• Must be willing and able to travel frequently in and around the service area to attend hearings and interviews and engage with clients and community partners;
• Must be willing to travel to IRC Washington’s Spokane office a few times per year to meet with program staff.

Position Start Date: The position is scheduled to start on September 30, 2024, and is contingent upon the approval of funding.

Working Environment***:***

• Hybrid office environment with some remote work and occasional participation in community outreach and legal assistance events.
• May require occasional weekend and/or evening work, flexible working hours may be permitted on a case- by-case basis.
• If applicant chooses to work a hybrid work schedule, applicant must have a home or alternate workspace they can effectively complete their work from during regularly scheduled hours.

Compensation: Posted pay ranges apply to US-based candidates. Ranges are based on various factors including the labor market, job type, internal equity, and budget. Exact offers are calibrated by work location, individual candidate experience and skills relative to the defined job requirements.

Equal Opportunity Employer: We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

US Benefits: The IRC offers a comprehensive and highly competitive set of benefits. All US employees are eligible for sick time, a 403b retirement savings plans: up to 4.5% immediately vested matching contribution, plus an 3-7% additional IRC contribution, and an Employee Assistance Program which is available to our staff and their families to support in times of crisis and mental health struggles.

In addition, full-time employees are eligible for 10 US paid holidays, 20-25 paid time off days, disability & life insurance, medical, dental, and vision insurance (employee contribution starting at $135, $7, and $5 per month respectively) and FSA for healthcare, childcare, and commuter costs. Part-time employees are eligible for a proportionate amount of paid time off. These additional benefits apply to employees who work at least 6 months within a 12 month time period.