Managing Attorney, Children’s Legal Services

IRC Background: The mission of the International Rescue Committee (IRC) is to help people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover and gain control of their future. Founded in 1933, the IRC has a presence in over 40 countries and 28 offices in the United States; the IRC leads the way from harm to home. IRC opened an office in Des Moines in July 2022 and provides a continuum of services including refugee resettlement, intensive case management, employment and economic empowerment services, health and wellness programming, and education support to refugee and immigrant families in Iowa State. IRC Iowa is committed to providing trauma-informed, equitable, and accessible services and maintaining and evolving a diverse, inclusive, and supportive workplace.

JOB OVERVIEW:

IRC Iowa seeks a Managing Attorney to lead its newly launched program to provide legal representation to unaccompanied children released from the custody of the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR).

The Managing Attorney, Children’s Legal Services will launch and oversee a new program, funded by the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), providing legal services for unaccompanied children, including representation in immigration court, before the USCIS Asylum Office, and in state court proceedings. The Managing Attorney will bring not only legal expertise and a passion for this area of work, but also the ability to motivate and mentor a team of legal professionals in a dynamic and fast-paced, multi-disciplinary environment. The position will work in collaboration with community partners and will be part of IRC’s Removal Defense Community of Practice, led by IRC’s Legal Services Technical Unit (TU) at IRC’s headquarters, which supports IRC’s 24 legal service programs across the US.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Oversee legal strategy through daily direct supervision of a small team of legal practitioners, including a Children’s Staff Attorney and Legal Assistant, with potential to grow the team to meet ongoing unmet demand for children’s immigration legal services.
• Provide direct legal representation to a limited caseload of unaccompanied children in immigration court, before the Board of Immigration Appeals, and/or before USCIS where applicable, including on applications for asylum, relief under the Convention of Torture and withholding of removal, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS), U-visas, T-visas, and adjustment of status. Initiate proceedings in state court for child clients as needed.
• Develop and monitor intake procedures in accordance with the program operating plan developed with the funder.
• Employ adaptive management techniques to provide regular individual supervision and support; mentor staff, set clear performance expectations and goals, give regular performance feedback, help prioritize workloads, help troubleshoot challenges, and maintain appropriate professional development plans.
• Engage regularly with the Acacia Center for Justice, the contractor and funding organization for this program, and identify technical assistance and training needs for program staff.
• Ensure program data is collected consistently, managed appropriately and reported timely, using IRC’s legal case management database and other relevant case management systems.
• Ensure effective integration of internships and volunteers within programs.
• Collaborate with other IRC program areas as appropriate to ensure client-centered service.
• Establish, maintain, and periodically refresh legal services program policies and procedures in collaboration with IRC’s Legal Services Technical Unit; oversee and/or conduct regular case file reviews (paper files and electronic case files) to ensure compliance with legal case management procedures.
• Create and maintain a viable outreach strategy to cultivate and maintain strong relationships with community-based organizations, the private bar, and nonprofit legal providers; pursue program initiatives with partners that further goals and address unmet demand.
• Serve as an in-house expert on US immigration law by updating internal IRC colleagues on changes in immigration law affecting IRC’s clients as needed.
• Contribute to IRC Iowa’s Senior Management Team and work effectively across programs to further IRC’s mission. Contribute to and support office-wide Strategic Action Plan.
• Work closely with the HQ Legal Services Technical Unit and other program offices as part of IRC’s immigration network.
• Serve as a strong advocate for humanitarian immigrants.

KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS:

Position Reports to: IRC IowaDeputy Director for Programs. Position liaises closely with HQ Legal Services Technical Unit.

Position Directly Supervises: Children’s Staff Attorney, Legal Assistant.

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

• Law degree (JD or LLM) from an ABA-accredited U.S. institution and admission to Iowa state bar (or willingness to seek admission to [location] state bar);
• 5 years’ experience or more providing direct representation in immigration court and before USCIS to unaccompanied minors, asylum applicants and other immigrants seeking relief from removal;
• Fluency in Spanish strongly preferred.
• Experience working with children and/or other survivors of trauma
• Strong legal supervision skills and superb legal judgment;
• Ability to oversee and provide supervision on a reasonably high case volume and work under time pressure;
• Experience organizing and facilitating immigration workshops and immigration information sessions;
• Program and grant management experience;
• Ability to understand and implement programming that meets federal funding compliance requirements;
• Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills;
• Bilingual in Spanish/English, required;
• Deep commitment to working with humanitarian immigrants;
• Trauma-informed and sensitive listening and communication skills;
• Desire to join a team working to protect due process and immigrant rights;
• Commitment to anti-racism and ongoing learning; and
• Ability and willingness to travel frequently in and around the service area to attend hearings and interviews and engage with clients and community partners.

Working Environment***:***

• Standard office environment with occasional participation in community outreach and legal assistance events. Hybrid, flexible work options available.
• May require occasional weekend and/or evening work.

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.

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusivity: IRC is committed to building a diverse organization and a climate of inclusivity. We strongly encourage applications from candidates who can demonstrate that they can contribute to this goal.

Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances.

Professional Standards: The IRC and IRC staff must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way – Global Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti-Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

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: We offer a comprehensive and highly competitive set of benefits. In the US, these include: 10 sick days, 10 US holidays, 20-25 paid time off days (depending on role and tenure), medical insurance starting at $145 per month, dental starting at $7 per month, and vision starting at $5 per month, FSA for healthcare, childcare, and commuter costs, a 403b retirement savings plans with up to 4.5% immediately vested matching contribution, plus a 3-7% base IRC contribution (3 year vesting), disability & life insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program which is available to our staff and their families to support counseling and care in times of crisis and mental health struggles.

Source : Relief Web