Senior Attorney, Children's Program

National Legal Aid & Defender Association; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 67,000 - 77,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading organization focused on immigrant rights seeks a Senior Attorney for its Children's Program. This role involves providing high-quality legal services to detained migrant children, mentoring staff, and ensuring compliance with legal standards. Candidates should have a strong background in immigration law and a commitment to equity and inclusion. The position offers a collaborative work environment and opportunities for professional growth.

Benefits

Free gym access

Flexible working hours

Pre-tax commuter benefits

Subsidized health, dental, and vision insurance

Annual data reimbursement

Life insurance

Flexible Spending Account

403(b) retirement account

Paid Time Off

Qualifications

• Experience in immigration law and family law.
• Supervision of legal assistants and interns.

Responsibilities

• Manage a caseload including representation before immigration courts.
• Conduct legal intakes and Know Your Rights presentations.
• Mentor pro bono attorneys.

Skills

Culturally Competent Legal Services

Mentorship

Team Culture of Equity and Inclusion

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Job description

Join to apply for the Senior Attorney, Children's Program role at National Legal Aid & Defender Association

Position Description:

The Capital Area Immigrants' Rights (CAIR) Coalition is now Amica Center for Immigrant Rights (Amica Center for short). Click here to learn more about our new name. Since our founding in 1999, we have grown significantly and added new services to support immigrants in detention. Recently, CAIR Coalition has outgrown our name, expanding beyond our initial services and geographic boundaries. Amica is the Latin word for friend, and that echoes the way we approach what we do. Just as friends stand with one another, Amica Center stands with our clients to achieve the safety, stability, and opportunity we all deserve.

Our Work Environment

The Children's Program (DUCs) provides legal orientation and screening to detained migrant children in the Maryland and Virginia region. We also offer free legal services to children released from Office of Refugee Resettlement custody to the greater Washington/DC Baltimore region.

DUCs 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 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 legal assistants, 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 legal assistants, 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 recordkeeping), 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.
• Engages with internal Amica Center committees and working groups to participate in the growth and strategy of the organization.

[1] This list is illustrative and not intended to be a complete classification of all job functions or tasks.

Additional Role-Specific Details

Position Type

Full-time, Exempt

Reports To

Assigned Managing Attorney or Program Director

Hiring Timeline

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis

Salary

$67,800-$76,850 but a higher salary may be offered to candidates with 4+ years of directly relevant experience.

Location and/or Travel Requirements

This position will be based at the Washington, D.C. or Baltimore, M.D. Office. Due to business related travel expectations, it is recommended candidates live within 30-miles of their assigned primary office.

Telework

Amica Center operates a hybrid work environment. Most staff are required to work at least one day per week in-office, but some roles require more office/on-site attendance or travel.

COVID-19 Vaccination

All employees are required to be fully vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19. To be fully vaccinated means having completed the full dosages required for the type of vaccine obtained as designated by the CDC. If boosters are subsequently recommended by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) then employees will be required to receive the booster within thirty (30) days of their eligibility to access the boosters.

Benefits

Amica Center benefits package includes:

• Free gym access located in Washington, D.C or Baltimore, MD (dependent on employee's primary office)
• Flexible working hours after successful completion of trainings and with approval of supervisor
• Pre-tax commuter benefits for those living in the DMV
• Subsidized health, dental insurance, and vision insurance (Amica Center pays a very high rate of the insurance package, for which we can provide additional information)
• An annual data reimbursement of $300
• life insurance valued at $50,000, as well as long and short term disability
• the option to set up a Flexible Spending Account
• High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) with a one-time employer contribution of $350 to the Health Savings Account (HSA)
• the option to set up a 403(b) account (the equivalent of a 401(k) account for non-profits) which the organization has the option, for all employees on an annual basis, to match at a certain percentage after one year of continuous employment

Paid Time Off Includes

• 23 personal days per calendar year
• Up to 20 days of sick time per calendar year
• 7 hours of volunteer time off
• Federal holidays
• Winter break closure
• 12 weeks of parental leave

At Amica Center, we embrace the fact that talented individuals come from diverse backgrounds and life experiences. We believe that diversity in all dimensions of the organization supports and bolsters the innovative thinking essential to our success. Amica Center values your unique perspectives, skills, and potential, and we are committed to providing equal opportunities for growth and development. If you are passionate about Amica Center mission and are excited to contribute your talents to our team, we encourage you to submit your application. Candidates from traditionally underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply. If you are a candidate with a disability and require accommodations to apply for this position, please contact us at [e-mail].

EEO Statement

Amica Center is an equal opportunity employer. In accordance with anti-discrimination law, it is the purpose of this policy to effectuate these principles and mandates. Amica Center prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type and affords equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Amica Center conforms to the spirit as well as to the letter of all applicable laws and regulations. To learn more about our anti-racist statement click here.

How To Apply

Submit your resume, a cover letter that explains your interest in this role, and a writing sample with your Paylocity application.