Supervising Attorney, Children's Protection Project, NIJC

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 100 attorneys, paralegals and professionals, along with 2,000 pro bono attorneys, is at the forefront of immigration reform.

Summary:

NIJC seeks an energetic, visionary, and committed supervising attorney to join our Children's Protection Project in our Chicago office. The team provides legal representation and counseling to detained and non-detained unaccompanied immigrant children before U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) and the Chicago Immigration Court. The Children's Protection Project also advocate for clients before other government administrative agencies and before other service agencies, as appropriate.

In this role, the supervisor will manage a team of attorneys, paralegals, and interns ensuring high-quality legal services, support casework, and oversee intake of unaccompanied immigrant children detained in the custody of the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR). The supervisor will collaborate with other teams, including management, litigation, policy, and communications.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide direct supervision and support to Children's Project staff attorneys, paralegals, interns and volunteers as assigned.
• Collaborate with the Children's Project supervisory team to build a strong team and oversee the team's projects
• Ensure timely case preparation, including case opening process, preparing filings, trial preparation, appeals, case closures, and other case management practices
• Provide recommendations based on case trends to inform project-based strategic decisions
• Maintain and develop strategic partnerships with key stakeholders
• Conduct factual and legal research.
• Provide legal representation to children in immigration proceedings, including before an immigration officer, an immigration judge, and in federal court, as appropriate.
• Draft correspondence and documents, including applications, briefs and reports.
• Improve delivery of legal services, including use of technology to improve efficiency
• Train lawyers and non-lawyers in the field of immigration law as it relates to children.
• Conduct legal presentations regarding law and case(s) to NIJC staff, stakeholders, and members of the immigrant community.
• Maintain accurate, thorough and timely records.
• Advance an anti-racist organization that promotes diversity, equity and inclusion

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 law and 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 involving children, ensuring ethical decision-making and high-quality legal advocacy.
• Strong oral advocacy and communication skills, with the ability to effectively represent children 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:

To perform this role successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required.

• Education and/or Experience: Juris Doctorate; law license; three years of experience in immigration law; and experience working with detained unaccompanied immigrant children. License to practice law in Illinois is preferred but not required.
• 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.

How to Apply

Please Include:

1. Your resume
2. A compelling cover letter, including the following:
   1. Why you are interested in this specific role and in working for NIJC
   2. How your unique skills and experience will enable you to make a significant impact on our team and help us achieve our mission.
   3. A specific, brief example of a project or accomplishment from your past that best demonstrates your relevant qualifications.

Physical Abilities Statement:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this role. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Must be able to remain in a stationary position for 50% of the time.
• This position occasionally requires moving about the inside of the office to access filing cabinets, office machinery, etc.
• Constantly operates 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 based on age, color, sex, disability, national origin, race, religion, or veteran status

By submitting your application, you acknowledge and consent to undergo a comprehensive background check as part of the employment process. This background check will be conducted in compliance with applicable state and federal laws.

Insurance: Medical, Dental, Vision, STD, LTD Other Benefits: PTO, Sick Days, Personal Days, 11 Company Holidays, Parental Leave, FSA, HSA, Commuter Benefits