Senior Attorney, Children's Program

Shelby American, Inc.; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 60,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player in legal advocacy seeks a Senior Attorney for its Children's Program. This role involves providing high-quality legal services to unaccompanied immigrant children, ensuring they receive culturally competent representation. The position emphasizes collaboration, mentorship, and a commitment to equity and inclusion within a supportive work environment. Candidates should possess a JD, relevant experience in immigration law, and a passion for advocating for vulnerable populations. Join a dedicated team making a significant impact in the lives of children in need of legal assistance.

Qualifications

• JD with 3+ years in immigration law, especially with child clients.
• Experience in supervising staff and mentoring pro bono attorneys.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal services to detained and released immigrant children.
• Supervise paralegals and interns, managing a full caseload.
• Conduct legal intakes and KYR presentations in detention centers.

Skills

Immigration Law

Client Advocacy

Cultural Competency

Spanish Fluency

Mentorship

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Tools

Legal Databases

Job description

Description

The Amica Center for Immigrant Rights (formerly known as CAIR Coalition) is the only non-profit organization in the Washington, D.C. area that is exclusively focused on providing legal assistance to adult and child immigrants detained by the government in the Capital Region.

The Children’s Program provides legal orientation and screening to detained migrant children in the Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia region. We also offer free legal services to children released from Office of Refugee Resettlement custody to the greater capitol region.

Our Work Environment

Amica Center’s Children’s Program is a highly collaborative work environment. We are committed to providing high-quality, trauma-informed legal and social services and a culture of professional growth and support for staff. Although aspects of our work are completed in smaller teams, we work towards integrated and client-focused services across the program by embracing interconnectivity. We strive to create systems that provide structure while fostering innovation and adaptability. Supervisors in our program share a commitment to teaching, mentorship, and work life balance.

Position Summary

A Senior Attorney in the Children’s Program works collaboratively with staff and leadership to:

• Ensure clients receive high-quality, culturally competent legal services while detained and after release;
• Participate in, and assist with the coordination of, visits to detention centers for the purpose of conducting legal intakes and Know Your Rights (KYR) presentations to detained children;
• Provide direct legal services to unaccompanied immigrant children;
• Mentor pro bono attorneys providing legal services to unaccompanied immigrant children;
• Supervise paralegals, interns, and staff attorneys (depending on experience level); and
• Promote a team culture of equity and inclusion.

General Duties and Responsibilities

Representation:

• Manage a caseload including representation of both detained and released clients. This includes representation before the local immigration courts, USCIS, and state courts in the following types of cases: Asylum, Withholding of Removal, protection under the Convention against Torture, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, U visas, and T visas.
• Participate in legal screenings and follow-up interviews to determine eligibility for legal relief and facilitation of case placement with in-house or pro bono attorneys.
• Support the program’s efforts to remain abreast of new developments in the law and to train staff on immigration and relevant aspects of family law.
• Supervise paralegals, interns, and staff attorneys on aspects of case work. Supervision of other attorneys is dependent on experience.
• Provide expert mentoring to pro bono attorneys from law firms handling children’s immigration cases.
• Undertake own administrative tasks, including casework (e.g., preparation and submission of filings, file maintenance, and record keeping), and social services referrals.

Organizational Services:

• Assist program leadership with the implementation of long-term program plans and contract / grant compliance.
• Facilitate and/or participate in regular facility visits for the purpose of conducting legal intakes and KYR presentations for detained children.
• Ensure a smooth operation of administrative aspects of the program such as processing referrals and the internal case placement process.
• Ensure the timely and accurate entry of case information into shared databases.
• Assist other program staff in completion of their workload during high-work/low-bandwidth periods.
• Participate in stakeholder relationship activities, including training and meetings with community groups, government agencies, detention center staff, and other legal service providers.
• Engage with internal Amica Center committees and working groups to participate in the growth and strategy of the organization.

Competencies Required:

Legal Proficiency: The Senior Attorney demonstrates a solid understanding of legal concepts, allowing them to provide competent and client-centered services with limited supervision. The Senior Attorney effectively advocates through written and oral work with limited input from supervisors. The Senior Attorney has experience litigating and preparing for hearings or interviews for clients with limited supervision. The Senior Attorney competently supervises aspects of the work of staff attorneys, paralegals, and interns on client relationships and legal strategy, research, and writing. The Senior Attorney demonstrates cultural competency and trauma-informed practices.

Client and Programmatic Proficiency: The Senior Attorney competently handles, and supervises, all required programmatic obligations (including KYRs, legal intakes, follow-up interviewing, case placements, direct representation services, and pro bono mentorship) with limited supervision. The Senior Attorney independently manages a full caseload of in-house and pro bono mentoring cases to allow for appropriate prioritization and thoughtful use of time and resources. The Senior Attorney supervises junior staff to ensure programmatic efficiency and efficacy. The Senior Attorney exercises sound judgment and decision-making skills and identifies when issues must be elevated to leadership.

Administrative: The Senior Attorney ensures that all administrative aspects of their position, and that of their supervisees, are carried out without managerial intervention, including timekeeping, file maintenance, database entries, etc.

Qualifications Required:

• JD and at least three (3) years' relevant experience in immigration law (SIJS experience a plus).
• Experience working with child clients preferred.
• Prior supervision experience preferred but not required.
• Written and oral Spanish fluency.
• Must be licensed to practice law in Maryland or Virginia, eligible to waive into the Maryland or Virginia bar, or willing to sit for the next scheduled bar exam.
• It is expected that the candidate will need to travel for work-related business. As a result, the candidate must possess a valid driver's license and be comfortable operating a vehicle upon hiring. This role requires travel, but qualified individuals with disabilities may be accommodated in a reasonable manner under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
• Commitment to principles of equity and inclusion.
• Favorable results on background check including driving record, Child Protection Registry, and state and federal criminal records.
• Ability to work in a hybrid work environment fulfill job responsibilities in-person as required.