Supervising Attorney, Immigrant Legal Defense

National Immigrant Justice Center; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

The National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC) is looking for a dedicated supervising attorney in Chicago. This role involves overseeing a team that provides legal representation to immigrants and ensures high-quality legal services.

The ideal candidate will have a Juris Doctorate, a law license, and at least 3 years of experience in immigration law, along with fluency in Spanish. NIJC promotes a diverse and inclusive workplace.

Qualifications

• Must have fluency in spoken and written Spanish for client communications.
• Requires ability to analyze the impact of laws on vulnerable populations.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently while collaborating effectively.

Responsibilities

• Supervise legal services and oversee staff providing legal services.
• Conduct legal research and provide representation in immigration proceedings.
• Ensure timely case preparation and maintain accurate case records.

Skills

Ability to thrive in fast-paced environments

Oral advocacy and communication skills

Cultural awareness and anti-racist advocacy

Education

Juris Doctorate; law license

3 years of experience in immigration law

Tools

Microsoft Office applications

Job description

About NIJC

The National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC) advances human rights and due process for immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers through direct legal services, impact litigation, advocacy, and public education. Headquartered in Chicago with offices in Washington, DC, Indiana, and San Diego, NIJC’s team of over 100 attorneys, paralegals, and professionals, along with 2,000 pro bono attorneys, is at the forefront of immigration reform.

Job Summary

NIJC seeks an energetic, visionary, and committed supervising attorney to join our Immigrant Legal Defense Project in our Chicago office. The team provides legal representation and counseling to immigrants appearing before the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Department of State (DOS), and, if appropriate, before the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) and the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA).

In this role, the supervising attorney will supervise a team of attorneys, paralegals, and interns to ensure high‑quality legal services, as well as the ongoing training and professional development of team members. The supervisor will collaborate with other teams, including management, litigation, policy, and communications.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Supervises legal services and oversees paralegals, attorneys, interns, and support staff providing legal services including the development of case strategy, preparation, and representation before governmental agencies.
• Ensure accurate data entry by paralegals, attorneys, and interns.
• Oversees and reviews legal intakes; makes legal assessments and determinations regarding representation. Ensure timely case preparation, including case opening process, preparing filings, trial preparation, appeals, case closures, and other case management practices.
• Works with a supervisory team to build a strong team and oversee the team's projects. Provides recommendations based on case trends to inform project‑based strategic decisions. Maintains and develops strategic partnerships with key stakeholders.
• Conducts factual and legal research.
• Provides legal representation to immigrants in immigration proceedings, including before an immigration officer, an immigration judge, and before the Board of Immigration Appeals as appropriate.
• Drafts correspondence and documents, including applications, briefs, and reports.
• Improves delivery of legal services, including the use of technology to improve efficiency. Trains lawyers and non‑lawyers in immigration law.
• Conducts legal presentations regarding law and case(s) to NIJC staff and members of the immigrant community. Maintains accurate, thorough, and timely records.
• Identifies trends and emerging issues and responds to issues.
• Maintains current knowledge regarding immigration laws, policies, and procedures. Advances an anti‑racist organization that promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion. Reacts to change productively and handles other essential duties as assigned.

Skills and Competencies

• Ability to thrive in fast‑paced environments and adapt quickly to change.
• Effectively manages cases ensuring accuracy, efficiency and timely decision‑making in a fast‑paced, deadline‑driven environment.
• Stays up to date on current knowledge regarding immigration laws, policies, and procedures.
• Ability to analyze the impact of laws on vulnerable populations and advocate for improved laws and policies.
• Exhibits sound, independent legal judgment, and the ability to work autonomously while maintaining strong collaborative relationships with teammates, supervisors, and cross‑functional teams.
• Demonstrates sound judgment when navigating complex, trauma‑informed cases, ensuring ethical decision‑making and high‑quality legal advocacy.
• Strong oral advocacy and communication skills, with the ability to effectively represent before immigration agencies, immigration courts, and, when appropriate, federal courts.
• Adept at delivering trainings and presentations, conveying complex legal concepts to diverse audiences including legal practitioners, community partners, and impacted immigrant communities.
• Demonstrates cultural awareness and actively contributes to an anti‑racist, inclusive organizational culture.

Qualifications

• Education and/or Experience: Juris Doctorate; law license; and three years of experience in immigration law.
• Language Skills: This position requires regular communication with clients in Spanish. Fluency in spoken and written Spanish is required.
• Reasoning Ability: Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
• Technology Knowledge/Skills: Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.

Physical Abilities Statement

• Must be able to remain in a stationary position 50% of the time.
• The person in this position occasionally needs to move about the inside of the office to access filing cabinets, office machinery, etc.
• Constantly operating a computer and other office productivity machinery, such as a copy machine.

It is the policy of NIJC not to discriminate against any applicant for employment, or any employee because of age, color, sex, disability, national origin, race, religion, or veteran status. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.