Managing Attorney, Immigration Legal Services

Job Posting Organization:
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is a humanitarian organization that was founded in 193

• Its mission is to help people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their future. The IRC operates in more than 40 countries and in 26 U.S. cities, providing essential services to those in need. The Resettlement, Asylum and Integration (RAI) department of the IRC creates opportunities for refugees and other vulnerable migrants to thrive in the U.S., serving nearly 50,000 individuals each year through a diverse portfolio of programs aimed at achieving outcomes in five key impact areas: Health, Safety, Economic Wellbeing, Education, and Power.

Job Overview:
The IRC is seeking a Managing Attorney to lead its Immigration Legal Services program in Dallas and Abilene. This position requires the candidate to reside in one of these locations and entails regular travel between the two offices. The Managing Attorney will oversee the immigration legal services provided by IRC’s established program, which offers low-cost legal assistance to refugees, immigrants, and community members in matters such as family reunification, adjustment of status, and naturalization applications before USCIS. The ideal candidate will possess not only legal expertise but also the ability to inspire and mentor a team of legal professionals in a dynamic and fast-paced environment. The role involves close collaboration with various community partners and the Legal Services Technical Unit at IRC’s headquarters, which supervises IRC’s 24 legal service programs across the United States.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Managing Attorney will be responsible for overseeing the legal strategy of the immigration legal services program through direct supervision of a team of legal practitioners, including attorneys and Department of Justice-accredited representatives. Key responsibilities include employing adaptive management techniques to provide regular individual supervision and support to staff, mentoring team members, setting clear performance expectations and goals, providing regular performance feedback, assisting in workload prioritization, troubleshooting challenges, and maintaining professional development plans. The Managing Attorney will also develop and monitor intake procedures, case acceptance policies, and caseload targets and limits. Additionally, the role involves providing direct legal representation to a limited caseload of individuals, co-facilitating grant meetings, leading all aspects of the grant cycle, ensuring consistent data collection and management, integrating internships and volunteers into the program, collaborating with other IRC program areas, establishing and maintaining outreach strategies, and advocating for humanitarian immigrants.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a law degree (JD or LLM) from an ABA-accredited U.S. institution and be a member in good standing of any state bar. A minimum of 5 years of experience providing direct representation in immigration court and before USCIS for asylum applicants and other immigrants seeking relief from removal is required. At least 2 years of supervisory experience over attorneys and/or DOJ accredited representatives in a legal services context is also necessary. Program management experience is preferred. Candidates should have experience with affirmative applications before USCIS, strong legal supervision skills, and the ability to manage a high case volume under time pressure. Experience in organizing immigration workshops and overseeing annual budgets is advantageous, along with outstanding communication and interpersonal skills.

Educational Background:
The position requires a law degree (JD or LLM) from an ABA-accredited institution. This educational background is essential for understanding the complexities of immigration law and providing effective legal representation to clients.

Experience:
The ideal candidate should have at least 5 years of experience in providing direct representation in immigration matters, particularly in immigration court and before USCIS. Additionally, a minimum of 2 years of supervisory experience in a legal services context is required, demonstrating the ability to lead and mentor a team effectively. Experience in program management and working with diverse populations is also beneficial.

Languages:
Bilingual proficiency in one or more languages is preferred, with Spanish, French, and Arabic being particularly valuable. This language capability will enhance communication with clients from diverse backgrounds and improve service delivery.

Additional Notes:
The position offers a competitive compensation range of $90K-$92K, which is determined based on various factors including the labor market, job type, internal equity, and budget considerations. The exact offer will be calibrated based on the work location and the individual candidate's experience and skills relative to the defined job requirements. The IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer and considers all applicants based on merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Interested candidates are encouraged to apply through the IRC careers page.