The International Rescue Committee (IRC) helps 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 is at work today in more than 40 countries and in 26 U.S. cities. The IRC’s Resettlement, Asylum and Integration (RAI) department creates opportunities for refugees and other vulnerable migrants to survive and thrive in the US. RAI serves nearly 50,000 individuals each year in the US through a diverse portfolio of programs aimed at achieving outcomes in five impact areas: Health, Safety, Economic Wellbeing, Education, and Power.
IRC's immigration legal services program serves more than 14,000 individuals in 23 sites throughout the U.S. each year, providing accessible and critical legal representation and advice to immigrants and their families in order to acquire the highest level of immigration status available, keep families together, access their full rights, and successfully integrate in the U.S.
JOB OVERVIEW:
This is a limited-term, full-time position.
The Managing Attorney will oversee local immigration legal services for Afghan evacuees through a new partnership with USCRI (U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants) in the Western region of the United States. This partnership seeks to provide Afghans who arrived to the US via Operation Allies Welcome (OAW) with access to competent counsel through a combination of direct representation and a formal referral system to legal service providers and private attorneys. IRC is a lead agency responding to the Afghan evacuation and serves tens of thousands of Afghan individuals across the U.S.
The Managing Attorney will bring not only legal expertise in representing asylum seekers 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 environment, while collaborating with a range of community and pro bono partners. The position will work in close collaboration the Legal Services Technical Unit (TU) at IRC’s headquarters, which oversees IRC’s 24 legal service programs across the US.
MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Oversee legal strategy through daily direct supervision of a team of legal practitioners and support staff, which may include attorneys, Department of Justice-accredited representatives, and Legal Assistants providing services to Afghan evacuees.
• 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.
• Develop and monitor intake procedures, case acceptance policies, and caseload targets and limits.
• Provide direct legal representation to Afghan evacuees before the USCIS including on applications for asylum, Special Immigrant Visas (SIV), Adjustment of Status, Temporary Protected Status (TPS), and potentially before the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR).
• Actively co-facilitate and support grant opening, grant review, and grant closing meetings, and lead all aspects of grant cycle, including developing/implementing monitoring & evaluation plans.
• 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 interns 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.
• Serve on Senior Management Team/Leadership Team [may have different names depending on office] 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 field offices as part of IRC’s immigration network.
• Serve as a strong advocate for humanitarian immigrants.
KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS:
Position Reports to: Community and Integration Program Manager, Salt Lake City office. Position liaises closely with HQ Legal Services Technical Unit.
Position Directly Supervises: 1 staff attorney, and 1 Legal Assistant.
JOB REQUIREMENTS:
• Law degree (JD or LLM) from an ABA-accredited U.S. institution and admission to any state bar;
• 5 years’ experience or more providing direct representation in immigration court and before USCIS to asylum applicants and other immigrants seeking relief from removal. Prior experience working with Afghan evacuees preferred;
• Experience with affirmative applications before USCIS (eg, adjustment of status, naturalization, I-130s);
• 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;
• Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills;
• Bilingual in one or more languages of the population preferred (eg, Dari, Pashto);
• 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.
• The position is contingent upon successful completion of a Federal e-QIP Tier 2 background check.
Work Environment: Hybrid - Ability to work remote one day a week.
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.
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 candidates who are selected for interview to furnish proof of vaccination against COVID-19 in order to be considered for this position.
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 $120 per month, dental starting at $7 per month, and vision starting at $5 per month, FSA for healthcare and commuter costs, a 403b retirement savings plans with immediately vested matching, 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.
