Supervising Attorney- Immigrant Rights

The Opportunity 

Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Asian Law Caucus (ALC) seeks an experienced attorney and advocate to join its Immigrant Rights (IR) Program. The Supervising Attorney will supervise a team that includes attorneys to bring about systems change through an integrated approach combining direct services, coalition building, impact litigation, and strategic advocacy. The Supervising Attorney must be able to utilize, integrate, and implement legal, policy, and advocacy strategies on issues and campaigns to protect immigrant and refugee communities from detention and deportation and build toward a humane immigration system that keeps families and communities together. They will supervise attorneys on a wide range of legal matters before the immigration court system and federal courts.

The IR Supervising Attorney will also work with staff across the organization and collaborate with our Criminal Justice Reform program on cross-issue initiatives and campaigns. The ideal candidate is attuned to and has deep expertise in criminal legal issues and is committed to building leadership and power with and for impacted communities. Experience working with people who are formerly incarcerated and/or directly impacted by the criminal legal system is highly desired. The IR Supervising Attorney should bring a leadership style that is grounded in principles of equity and inclusion and can partner with ALC’s leadership and staff to build connectivity and cohesion across the organization. This position is temporarily supervised by the Director of Programs.

The Organization 

ALC is the nation’s first legal organization focusing on advancing and defending the civil rights of Asian and Pacific Islander (API) communities, including Arab and Middle Eastern communities. Since 1972, ALC has preserved affordable housing in San Francisco’s Chinatown, litigated high-profile civil rights cases, advocated for the passage of landmark policy changes, and provided an array of services, including community education, advocacy, and direct client representation to further the rights of low-income immigrants and communities of color. Current program areas include Housing Rights, Immigrant Rights, Community Safety, National Security & Civil Rights, Workers’ Rights, and Voting Rights.

Primary Responsibilities

• Supervise the Immigrant Rights’ legal team to provide direct legal services to low-income API immigrants and oversee legal casework and client management, including contesting aggravated felony and other criminal-immigration charges, habeas actions seeking release from ICE detention, and constitutional challenges to ICE enforcement practices
• Provide high-quality direct legal services on the issues above 
• Work with attorneys and Litigation Director to staff ongoing litigation and identify new opportunities, legal theories, and claims to challenge civil rights abuses in the immigration system 
• Help to develop and implement the short and long-term goals of the IR Program
• In collaboration with other staff, develop advocacy strategies to address the impacts of the existing immigration systems on API immigrant communities and other immigrant communities of color
• Work with Community Advocacy staff on community engagement strategies 
• Collaborate with Communications staff to develop stories with ALC clients and their communities and execute narrative-shifting strategies
• Collaborate and coordinate with relevant programs on work that intersects with the immigration system
• Establish and deepen relationships with grassroots partners, advocacy organizations, and other stakeholders
• Participate in regular one-on-one supervision check-in meetings, staff meetings, program team meetings, and other organization meetings, as requested
• Perform administrative duties, such as performance reviews, fund reporting, and grant management
• Perform other duties as needed

All ALC staff are expected to participate in regular check-in meetings with their supervisor/supervisees, staff meetings, team meetings, and other organization meetings, as required. This includes two (2) annual retreats, an anniversary celebration dinner, and meetings as needed in the San Francisco Bay area. 

The above statements are not intended to encompass all functions of the position; rather, they are intended to provide a general framework of the requirements of the position. Job incumbents may be required to perform other functions not specifically addressed in this posting.

Qualifications

• JD and Bar Membership is required, preferably with the California State Bar
• Minimum one year of experience supervising staff 
• Substantive experience with immigration issues and a minimum of five (5) years' related legal services or state/federal court litigation experience, ideally with familiarity in practicing in a nonprofit organization
• Significant removal defense for people with criminal convictions and federal court experience is highly desired
• Familiarity with the intersection of immigration status and other issues, such as national security, employment and housing, is a plus
• Demonstrated leadership and ability to work independently and in collaboration with other attorneys, community advocates, and community-based organizations
• Demonstrated commitment to building power for and with grassroots communities
• Experience working with API and AMEMSA (Arab, Middle Eastern, Muslim, and South Asian) community members impacted by the immigration legal system is highly desired
• A trusted colleague who works effectively within a nonprofit management team toward organizational goals and objectives
• Excellent research, analytical, written, and oral communication skills
• Non-English language skills (i.e. Asian languages or Spanish) desirable but not required

ALC’s comprehensive benefits package includes generous vacation and paid holidays; medical, dental, disability, and life insurance coverage (ALC pays 100% of premiums for employees and 75% for qualified dependents); a flexible spending account (FSA); and a 401K retirement plan with employer non-elective contribution and match.

Interested candidates should submit via email the following to jobs@advancingjustice-alc.org by July 1, 2024:

1. Cover letter addressing your interest in the position
2. Resume
3. Writing sample (no more than ten (10) pages)
4. Three professional references

Please indicate “Supervising Attorney - Immigrant Rights” in the subject line