Supervising Attorney, Children's Legal Services

Creating a digital safety net for Unaccompanied Children

Signpost is a digitally enabled responsive information service that supports and empowers populations in crisis, including asylum-seekers, migrants, and people who have experienced violence. IRC launched the Signpost ImportaMí program in September 2021 to reach unaccompanied migrant and asylum-seeking children who are at risk of falling through the cracks, vulnerable to receiving in absentia removal orders (due to missing their hearing), or missed opportunities to secure lawful immigration status, as well as to exploitation, trafficking, or social exclusion. Since the start of ImportaMí, the need for legal consultations and legal services referrals from unaccompanied children across the country, have increased because:

- children may be released from a shelter without receiving a Know Your Presentation or access to legal referrals, - children may often live in more remote or rural areas where access to quality legal services may be limited, or they must travel long distances to meet with an attorney who speaks their language; - Children from Afghanistan, Ukraine, and other countries have unique legal options and may require additional support and resources.

SCOPE OF WORK

The Supervising Attorney will lead a newly launched national program to provide initial legal services (legal screenings and Know Your Rights) to unaccompanied children released from the custody of the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR). The Supervising 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.

Additionally, this role will oversee a team of intake specialists providing virtual legal assistance to unaccompanied children who are particularly vulnerable and may have more limited access to legal assistance, including children processed through Influx Care Facilities (ICF), Unaccompanied Afghan Minors (UAMs), and Unaccompanied Ukrainian Minors (UUMs). These children often have not received a Know Your Rights presentation, are more likely to face placement disruptions with sponsors, and may have more complicated legal case postures or limited legal relief options. The Supervising Attorney will help oversee the expansion and implementation of post-release legal services for unaccompanied children, collaborate with the ImportaMí Outreach and Content Program Manager to establish an outreach and engagement model that can be shared with partners, and collaborate with Legal Service Providers (LSPs) and pro bono networks to increase placement of children with legal counsel.

The Supervising Attorney is responsible for supervision of initial legal services provided by Intake Specialists, while potentially carrying a small caseload. The Supervising Attorney shall review client intakes and make assessments as to legal remedies available to each child. The Supervising Attorney is expected to have experience representing unaccompanied children in proceedings before the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), US Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS), and have the skills necessary to supervise a national remote team.

Major Responsibilities:

Program Development & Leadership

- Collaborate with the Project Director in the development and implementation of a strategic plan for expanded legal services to include post-release services, incorporating unaccompanied children and partner feedback, to increase responsiveness of services, increase sustainability, and improve service delivery through Signpost platforms. - Develop impactful partnerships with national and local pro bono providers and networks to increase placement of unaccompanied children with legal counsel.

Program and Staff Supervision

- Oversee the provision of Know Your Rights presentations and legal intakes by Immigration Intake Specialists for unaccompanied children who have been released from influx care facilities. - Review intakes to identify potential relief and ensure quality, appropriate data management, and follow up on legal services referrals. - Ensure staff adhere to the IRC Immigration Program Policies Manual, including through regular mentorship, direct observations of key client service activities (e.g., legal screenings and Know Your Rights presentations), and by ensuring staff receive frequent, ongoing relevant (internal and external) legal training, including on legal ethics. - Ensure all team members, interns and volunteers have a clear understanding of what activities constitute the unauthorized practice of law and how these boundaries should be applied in a virtual, high-volume legal service model. - Collaborate with the Outreach and Content Development team to ensure legal resources and legal-focused responses shared with unaccompanied children by Digital Community Liaisons (DCLs) are accurate and consistent. - Promote and develop a high functioning, collaborative team and ensure effective integration of internships and volunteers within programs; collaborate with other IRC program areas as appropriate to ensure client-centered service. - Develop a professional development plan for team members, including options to pursue Department of Justice (DOJ) accreditation. - Oversee and/or conduct regular internal case file reviews to ensure compliance with IRC Immigration Program Policies as well as any donor requirements. - Develop/maintain effective quality assurance systems and processes for course correction.

Data Management & Reporting

- Track monthly and quarterly performance and ensure all client work is maintained securely and tracked in relevant databases (including Unaccompanied Children Legal Services Database). - Track budget spending for relevant ICF and special population program expenses, including against grants and other revenue sources and coordinate as needed with the Project Director.

Job Requirements:

- Law degree (JD or LLM) from an ABA-accredited U.S. institution and admission to any state bar;

- Minimum of 3 to 5 years of experience providing direct representation before EOIR or the asylum office to asylum applicants and other immigrants seeking humanitarian relief. Experience with SIJS predicate orders and state court, preferred. - At least 1 year of experience providing supervision in a legal services context, including removal defense, and program management. - Demonstrated ability to develop and cultivate partnerships in furtherance of program development goals. - Demonstrated understanding of fiscal management and reporting required. - Excellent English written and oral communication skills, including presentation skills. - Proficiency in Spanish required. - Ability and passion to train and mentor staff with less experience on immigration legal issues. - Ability and passion to strengthen programs through best practices and innovative approaches. - Proven understanding of legal ethics standards and ability to instruct others on core principles of legal professional conduct. - Excellent organizational and time management skills - Ability to be flexible and work well under pressure in a fast-paced team environment. - Previous multi-cultural experience and proven ability to communicate well with people from diverse backgrounds strongly preferred. - Proven ability to work effectively as a member of a team and to exercise independent judgment responsibly.

Certificates or Licenses:

- Department of Justice accreditation with the IRC required or admission to any state bar. If neither accreditation nor bar admission is currently held, must pursue, and timely obtain accreditation.

Internal and External Relationships

- The Supervising Attorney will be line-managed by the Project Director. - They will supervise the Immigration Intake Specialists and Immigration Casework and Special Projects Coordinator. - They will work closely with IRC’s immigration teams and relevant partners to ensure legal accuracy. - They will liaise with IRC child protection experts, and Signpost’s Global Team

Working Environment:

- Remote position. May require occasional weekend and/or evening work.

The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, 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.

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 requirement

COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement: In accordance with IRC’s duty to provide and maintain a workplace that is free of known hazards and our commitment to safeguard the health of our employees, clients, and communities, IRC requires new hires to furnish proof of vaccination against COVID-19 in order to be considered for any in-office or hybrid positions. All IRC US offices require full vaccination to attend any in-office functions (e.g., meetings, trainings).

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.

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.

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