Legal Director

Safe Passage Project; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading nonprofit organization in New York is seeking a Legal Director to provide strategic leadership and manage the Legal Department. This role involves overseeing legal services for immigrant children, fostering collaboration among interdisciplinary teams, and shaping organizational policies. The ideal candidate will possess extensive legal expertise, particularly in immigration law, and demonstrate effective leadership and strong communication skills.

Benefits

Flexible work schedule

Open Paid Time Off

Medical plans with premium coverage

Employer-sponsored retirement

12 weeks of Paid Family Leave

Yearly Professional Development Stipend

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience as an attorney.
• 7+ years as an immigration lawyer, supervising other attorneys.
• Experience working with immigrant youth preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee the Legal Department’s management and legal strategy.
• Supervise staff and provide mentorship to pro bono attorneys.
• Maintain a small caseload representing minors in immigration cases.

Skills

Leadership

Project Management

Communication

Problem Solving

Collaboration

Multitasking

Education

J.D. degree

Admission to the New York State Bar

Tools

Salesforce

Job description

About Safe Passage Project:
Safe Passage Project (SPP) is a highly focused nonprofit immigration legal services organization that provides free lawyers to immigrant children facing deportation. Founded in 2013, SPP has grown to include 50+ employees, two offices, and an annual budget of over $6 million. It manages over 1,400 open cases a year.

To date, SPP has supported more than 3,000 young people in NYC and Long Island. The New York Immigration Courts, some of the busiest immigration courts in the US, have more than 15,000 juveniles on their dockets, many of whom are fleeing trauma in their countries of origin such as gang violence and recruitment, abuse, and sexual assault. Immigrant children are not afforded free legal representation by the government, regardless of their age. As a result, more than half of immigrant children in immigration proceedings must go to court without the aid of a lawyer. Among unaccompanied children with legal representation, immigration court data shows that 90% are allowed to remain in the United States, whereas less than 15% of unrepresented children are allowed to stay. This is where Safe Passage Project steps in, both through providing immigrant youth with direct representation by staff attorneys and through a robust network of pro bono attorneys who SPP attorneys train, mentor, and supervise.

Job Summary:
Reporting directly to the Executive Director, the Legal Director provides strategic leadership and day-to-day management of the Legal Department working closely with the Executive Director and Managing Attorneys to guide the vision and execution of the legal team's work. This role collaborates across interdisciplinary teams, including legal services, social work, and pro bono partnerships, to ensure integrated, client-centered support.

As a key member of the leadership team, the Legal Director plays a critical role in shaping organizational policies and legal strategies. They will oversee legal department meetings, supervise staff, work closely on managing and overseeing government contracts, and serve as the hiring manager for all legal team positions. The Legal Director represents the organization externally, building partnerships and promoting the mission to inspire and engage the broader community.

Essential Responsibilities:

• In partnership with the Executive Director, lead and oversee the Legal Department’s management, internal policy, composition, and legal strategy.
• Oversee the Legal Department in the provision of high-quality legal services to all of our clients and mentorship to pro bono attorneys.
• Support Managing Attorneys and Supervising Attorneys with supervisory, strategic, and management of staff and all case matters.
• Lead and oversee all case management, including case assignments and internal distribution of cases.
• Organize, manage, and supervise Safe Passage Project’s legal screenings, including supervision of Operations Associates. In conjunction with the Operations Associates, recruit and train volunteer attorneys and translators for legal screenings.
• Liaise with outside partners in the legal community regarding client referrals, legal screenings, and general needs for our services.
• In collaboration with the Managing Attorney of Policy and Advocacy, create policies related to pro bono engagement and communication.
• Lead, manage, and oversee all government contracts compliance and supervise Government Grants & Compliance Manager.
• Support in prospecting and securing government-related funding.
• Supervise and provide detailed reporting statistics on each case mentored and represented directly by the Safe Passage Project’s legal team.
• Serve as Hiring Manager for the Legal Department, overseeing recruitment, onboarding, and department staffing.
• Oversee all legal operations and administration to ensure the smooth functioning of the Legal Department.
• Maintain a small caseload representing minors in their immigration cases.
• Performs additional functions and responsibilities as assigned by the Executive Director.

Qualifications: The strongest candidates for this position will have most, though likely not all, of the following qualifications and characteristics:

• J.D. degree and admission to the New York State Bar.
• Ten (10) or more years of experience as an attorney, with seven (7) years experience as an immigration lawyer, providing legal services to immigrants, and at least four (4) years of experience supervising other attorneys and support staff.
• Experience working with immigrant youth and/or with diverse communities (preferred).
• Demonstrated effective and authentic leadership, with the ability to provide management/leadership training and coaching to managers and supervisors, critically assess challenges, and propose and implement solutions with appropriate consultation and transparency to leadership; exercises excellent professional judgment.
• Strong ability to engage and collaborate with internal and external stakeholders, including participation in local coalitions and maintaining multifaceted relationships with diverse partners.
• Excellent multitasking and project management skills, with a proven ability to manage complex projects efficiently in a fast-paced environment.
• Exceptional written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong organizational, time management, and record-keeping abilities.
• Demonstrated discretion and sound judgment in handling sensitive and confidential information.
• Proven adaptability and proactive problem-solving skills, with flexibility to navigate a dynamic work environment.
• Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively on an interdisciplinary team in a fast-paced environment;
• Spanish language skills (preferred);
• Strong database and computer skills; experience with Salesforce preferred.
• An understanding of how to work with vulnerable populations using trauma-centered practices or willingness to learn and incorporate such practices in your work.
• A demonstrated ability to understand, communicate with, and effectively interact with people across cultures, as well as sensitivity to and knowledge of the various dimensions of diversity, including gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age, disability, and socioeconomic status.
• A commitment to the work of Safe Passage Project and readiness to grow and learn with the Safe Passage Project team.

Compensation and Benefits:
Safe Passage Project offers a competitive salary in the range of $140,000- $160,000 annually and offers the following benefits:

• A hybrid work environment, staff currently work from our office 1 day a week.
• Open Paid Time Off
• Medical plans (which includes 1 plan that has 100% premium coverage).
• Dental plans, Vision plans, and telehealth services.
• Employer-sponsored retirement savings plan- we provide up to 6% employer match of your 401(k) contributions
• Leave of Absence Programs
• 12 weeks of Paid Family Leave along with Unpaid Leave of Absence
• Short-term disability (STD) & Long-term disability (LTD) Coverage
• Flexible spending accounts (FSA) and Health savings accounts (HSA)
• Commuter benefits (Transit & Parking)
• Voluntary Life Insurance plan
• Health Advocate to aid employees and their covered family members in navigating healthcare and insurance-related issues
• Yearly Professional Development Stipend
• Time off from December 24th to January 1st
• Home Office Stipend
• Paid Holidays
• Flexible work schedule
• Loan Forgiveness: Safe Passage Project is a qualified employer for the purposes of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness

Safe Passage Project is an equal-opportunity employer. Women, people of color, LGBTQ people, veterans, and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

For more information on Safe Passage Project, please visit www.safepassageproject.org.