Managing Attorney

Dallas Bar; Dallas (TX); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Church World Service seeks a licensed attorney to lead the Legal Services Department in Dallas. The role focuses on supervising staff, reviewing cases, and providing robust representation on humanitarian immigration matters before DHS, the Immigration Courts, and the BIA, with emphasis on refugees and asylum seekers.

You will train staff, develop pro bono initiatives, and support grant renewals while ensuring timely, thorough advocacy for vulnerable clients.

Qualifications

• JD degree and bar license in good standing in the state of employment.
• 3 to 5 years of immigration law experience.
• Experience with refugees, asylum representation, and vulnerable populations.

Responsibilities

• Supervises legal work and staff; assigns and reviews cases.
• Provides legal representation in immigration matters before DHS, the Immigration Courts, and the BIA.
• Represents the program at meetings and speaking engagements relevant to responsibilities.
• Develops and coordinates pro bono attorney projects for the Legal Services program.
• Gathers data, prepares reports, and writes grant renewals.
• Conducts legal research and prepares filings and ancillary immigration papers.

Skills

Immigration law

Legal research

Client advocacy

Education

JD degree

Bar admission

Job description

Purpose

This position is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Legal Services Department including supervision of program staff and case review. The incumbent also provides legal representation on a variety of humanitarian immigration matters before DHS, the Immigration Courts, and the BIA with special focus on refugees, asylum seekers, and parolees.

Responsibilities

• Supervises legal work and staff/interns of the Legal Services team. Assigns and reviews cases.
• Supervises the provision of core services including legal screenings and Know Your Rights.
• Assists the Regional Director in meeting program requirements including tracking data, preparing reports, and writing grant renewals.
• Provides in-house training to staff across legal programs.
• Develops and coordinates pro bono attorney project for the Legal Services program.
• Ensures adequate representation for legal caseload at USCIS and EOIR, including but not limited to: Immigration Interviews; Asylum Hearings; Master Calendar Hearings; Motions to change venue, re-calendar, terminate and suppress; and submission of briefs to the Board of Immigration Appeals.
• Negotiates with USCIS officers and Supervisors at local District Office or Service Centers to rectify problems faced by clients.
• Conducts legal research to support filed immigration applications. Drafts supplemental statements, rebuttals to Notices of Intent to Deny and Requests for Evidence; prepares and files immigration applications and motions; prepares other ancillary immigration papers, including Freedom of Information Act requests.
• Properly manages client appointments and professional duties to ensure thorough and professional representation of client interests.
• Provides guidance in local and national advocacy efforts on behalf of immigrants, refugees, entrants and asylum seekers.
• Provides legal and programmatic information for the development of grant applications and new programs on behalf of CWS.
• Informs of complaints, issues and/or problems for timely investigation and resolution.
• Represents the program at meetings and speaking engagements relevant to the responsibilities of the position.
• Undertakes other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• JD degree required.
• License in good standing in the state in which incumbent will be working.
• 3 to 5 years' experience in immigration law.
• Experience with refugees, asylum representation, and working with vulnerable populations.

Other Skills: Ability to work cooperatively with other staff in a fast-paced work environment. Membership in the state Bar of where incumbent will be working. Driver's license in good standing required as well as personal vehicle for frequent, reimbursable local travel.