Detention Director (Attorney)

The Agency:

Americans for Immigrant Justice (AI Justice), an award-winning not-for-profit legal services organization founded in 1996 to protect and promote the basic human rights of immigrants, has a multicultural and a multilingual staff. AI Justice has represented clients from around the world and is recognized as a powerful advocate and national leader for immigrants' rights. AI Justice works closely with traditional civil rights groups as well as grassroots organizations and local, state, and national government officials to affect positive change in immigration policies.

Supervisor: The Detention Program Director reports to the Managing Director of Programs.

The Detention Program:

The Detention Program provides representation, case assistance, and intakes to individuals detained in ICE custody in Florida. Our Program advocates for the just and humane treatment of all and believes that no human is illegal or should be separated from their family and support systems. Our Program advocates for all immigrants in custody and does not discriminate on any basis.

Job Summary:

AIJ seeks a passionate attorney to lead as Director of the Detention Program. Program Director supervises staff attorneys, paralegals, and Detention Hotline operations. Position also includes direct case representation, and monitoring and visiting facilities and Know Your Rights presentations to individuals in detention. The Director also oversees efforts to expand pro bono engagement of detained immigrants, and advocate for the fair and humane treatment of all people in ICE custody.

Responsibilities and Core Duties/Daily Activities:

The Detention Program Director shall:

• Mentor, support, and train Detention Program staff on complex immigration work in the detained removal defense context.
• Assist attorneys in daily case management tasks for existing and prospective clients, including reviewing consultation, answering questions regularly, and being available to strategize and soundboard.
• Supervise and manage caseloads and work of attorneys through regular, recurring meetings.
• Meet weekly with Program to review cases and debrief.
• Strategize with staff around relief eligibility, options for release from detention.
• Review draft submissions and provide constructive and useful feedback to staff.
• Monitor quality control and consistency across the Detention Hotline; provide guidance to paralegals with prospective clients; assist with triage of Hotline issues.
• Supervise and manage attorney-paralegal dynamics, paralegal workflow, and paralegal to attorney communication flow.
• Support on strategizing with issues relating to gathering documentation, supporting documents, evidence, criminal history documents, and other evidence for USCIS and Immigration Court submissions.
• Periodic review of Legal Server and Programmatic compliance with Protocols both agency and Program-wide.

Other Activities and Responsibilities:

• Recommend training opportunities for staff to deepen and broaden their legal skills, client skills, and knowledge of immigration systems and immigration law.
• Participating in regularly scheduled meetings, calls, and in-person meetings with stakeholders.
• Attend supervisor trainings and improve supervisory skills and leadership development.
• Collaborate with other Program Directors and agency Leadership to develop skills of attorney practitioners ranging from technical trainings to substantive law review.
• Establish and fortify relationships with community partners, coalitions, private bar, criminal defense bar, government agencies (including oversight agencies); legislative bodies, and community organizations.
• Work closely with the Managing Director of Programs, Senior Advisor, Executive Director, Grant Coordinator, and development staff to prepare grant applications; ensure compliance with grant requirements and county, state and federal contracts; and prepare narrative and other reports as required by funding agencies.
• Supervise, delegate, and review the work of law students, interns, and volunteers so that their work is helpful to AI Justice and results in a beneficial learning experience for them.
• Travel to detention centers to conduct intakes, interview clients, gather documentation to report conditions of confinement, draft applications and statements, tour facilities, and
• Observe/attend hearings, and represent clients.
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned.

Essential Skills:

• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• The ideal candidate for this position will be professional, flexible, friendly, empathetic, responsible, and familiar with supervisory roles and power dynamics.
• Comfortable working in a collaborative, fast-paced environment.
• Flexible to the varying needs of staff as to supervision and what staff may need to succeed. Flexible to the pace of detention work and the nature of detained removal defense.
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office 365 suite and Legal Server database systems preferred, but not required.

Other Requirements:

• Minimum years of experience representing immigrants in the removal context, strongly preferred in the detained removal context. Removal defense experience must include extensive experience with individual merits hearings. Preference for experience with agency and federal appeals, and district court.
• Directly impacted people and those with personal experience in the U.S. immigration system are highly encouraged to apply.
• Extensive experience supervising attorneys and support staff.
• Licensed to practice law in any state – Florida Bar preferred but not required.
• Fluent in Spanish or Haitian Kreyol preferred but not required
• Experience representing clients at the intersection of criminal and immigration law.
• Strong writing, research and analytical skills; strong communication and group leadership skills.
• Excellent presentation skills for community outreach, education, and training.
• Experience working managing and mentoring volunteers and pro bono attorneys.
• Background check is mandatory for all applicants. The background check includes FBI, statewide repository, and sex offender registry review.
• Valid Driver's license and reliable transportation needed.
• Experience in public interest law, particularly immigration law, preferred.

Compensation & Benefits:

Salary commensurate with experience. Salary range is $125,000 - $150,000 per year.

AI Justice offers a comprehensive benefits package, including excellent health, vision, dental, and life insurance coverage; 15 paid days of vacation leave; 13 paid holidays; 10 paid health days; 1 personal day. AIJ also offers annual Health Savings Account benefits. After one year of employment, staff are entitled to paid parental leave and up to 3% matching employer contribution to 403(b) retirement plan. Vacation and health leave increases after two- and five year anniversaries. Paid sabbatical available at five years.

How To Apply:

Submit cover letter, resume, and 3 references to careers@aijustice.org. Please write DETENTION PROGRAM DIRECTOR in the subject line.

Interviews: Top candidates will be invited to interview.

Application Deadline: Open until filled.

Location: Hybrid position, Florida residency required. Travel required to Miami Dade and Broward Counties. Some travel throughout Florida and outside of Florida may be required for conferences, case representation, and other site visits.