The Immigrants’ Rights/International Human Rights Clinic at Seton Hall University School of Law in Newark, New Jersey, is seeking to hire an experienced attorney to serve as the Managing Attorney for the Detention and Deportation Defense Initiative (DDDI). The Managing Attorney will work with Professor Lori A. Nessel, Director of the Immigrants’ Rights/International Human Rights Clinic, and practitioners-in-residence, post-graduate immigration detention fellows, clinical faculty, and staff. This is a year-round non-teaching position, contingent on renewed funding.

The Immigrants’ Rights/International Human Rights Clinic is part of the Center for Social Justice, home to most of the Law School’s clinical and experiential programs. The Clinic is one of four partners in an exciting and innovative project, funded by the state of New Jersey, to provide legal representation to detained noncitizens. Seton Hall Law’s immigration detention project currently encompasses three full-time attorneys, two full-time paralegals, law students, and one faculty member Director.

Seton Hall University School of Law is just a block from Newark Penn Station, a short train ride or drive from New York City.

Duties and Responsibilities:

The ultimate goal of the project is to provide universal representation to noncitizens detained in New Jersey. The Managing Attorney will represent detained noncitizens before the immigration court and Board of Immigration Appeals and in habeas petitions and appeals in various federal courts across the country. The Managing Attorney will also oversee DDDI operations, including case assignment, hiring, professional development of the office staff, contracting and invoicing, and budgeting – with the support of the Administrative Director of the Center of Social Justice; will engage in advocacy alongside partner organizations and attend stakeholder meetings; and will supervise the attorneys and law student interns providing assistance with the Initiative. The caseload for the position will be reduced to take into account these managerial duties.

Required Qualifications:

Position requirements:

A law degree;

At least five years’ experience representing immigrants, preferably detained noncitizens, before the immigration courts, Board of Immigration Appeals, and/or the federal courts;

Outstanding organizational skills;

Managerial and/or supervisory experience;

Ability to work independently and as part of a team; and

Strong written and oral communication skills

Desired Qualifications:

Fluency in another language, particularly Spanish, is a plus, though not required.

Licenses and Certificates:

Membership in a bar of any state and in good standing (NJ bar membership or willingness to become a member of the NJ bar is desired).

Salary Range:

96,000 - 132,000

Exempt/Nonexempt: Exempt

Physical Demands: General Office Environment

Special Instructions to Applicants:

List of 3 references.

Benefits Information: 

Full Time Benefits

Life today is complex. That’s why Seton Hall University offers a comprehensive package of benefits and programs to help you simplify and enrich your life.

These benefits are important elements of your total university compensation package. Benefits include but are not limited to bundled medical, prescription, and vision insurance, dental insurance, and life insurance, and retirement plan. More information is available at https://www.shu.edu/human-resources/benefits.html. 

Seton Hall University is located in South Orange, New Jersey, 14 miles from New York City. It is the oldest Catholic diocesan institution of higher education in the United States and is home to about 6,300 undergraduate and 3,700 graduate students. A vibrant and culturally inclusive community, Seton Hall pursues academic excellence and ethical development in a collaborative environment and prepares its students to be servant leaders in their professional and community lives. Seton Hall University is an equal opportunity employer. It honors diverse perspectives and welcomes employees from all faith traditions. In turn, its employees respect Catholic beliefs and values,?engage in servant leadership, and support the University’s mission as a Catholic institution of higher education.

About Seton Hall University

Seton Hall University is a major Catholic university. In a diverse and collaborative environment it focuses on academic and ethical development. Seton Hall students are prepared to be leaders in their professional and community lives in a global society and are challenged by outstanding faculty, an evolving technologically advanced setting and values-centered curricula.

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