Immigration Legal Director

About La Raza Community Resource Center

La Raza Community Resource Center (www.larazacrc.org) (La Raza CRC) is a bilingual, multi-service non-profit organization dedicated to meeting the social service, immigration, educational, and leadership development needs of low-income families and individuals. La Raza Community Resource Center is located in the heart of the historic San Francisco Mission District, the vibrant cornerstone of San Francisco's Latine community. We have been serving the community for over 52 years. Our Social Services Program services include a food pantry, family counseling, educational workshops, support groups, rental assistance, and many other services. Our Immigration Program provides both affirmative family-based immigration services and removal defense. All of our legal and social services for San Francisco residents are pro bono. Together, our programs have evolved to serve our community as an essential destination for the basic needs of recent immigrant families.

Job Summary:

The Immigration Legal Director leads a team of two or more Immigration attorneys and three or more paralegals and will work under the supervision of the Executive Director. This role will require bilingual (English/Spanish) proficiency, possess the ability to work efficiently and independently, and will have great attention to detail as well as organizational skills. The Legal Director will be client-service oriented and feel comfortable working with vulnerable individuals including trauma survivors. Most of all, they will be strongly motivated to serve the immigrant community.

This role is expected to oversee the activities of the organization's legal department. The Legal Director will provide legal advice, interpretation, and guidance to senior management regarding contracts, state/federal regulatory requirements, intellectual property or trademark protection, and other organizational matters. The Legal Director will coordinate and review the work of internal or external legal staff. The Legal Director will provide competent and ethical client representation. This role requires a Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school and admittance to a state bar (California strongly preferred). The Legal Director may give input into developing the budget. Capable of resolving escalated issues arising from operations and requiring coordination with other departments. This is a full-time position (40 hours per week) with 3 days per week In-Office and 2 day remote.

Responsibilities:

• Representation:
  • Provide eligibility and risk assessment, full representation, limited liability services, and legal consultations to low income clients filing immigration applications, including but not limited to family-based petitions, U Visas, DACA, special immigrant juvenile status, naturalization, adjustments of status, asylum and related removal defense applications.
  • Ability to handle 10-15 removal defense cases.
• Maintain Legal Best Practices:
  • Comply with best practices for non-profit immigration law practice, including legal ramifications, fee collection, maintenance of client files and data for reporting requirements. Participate in regular peer review meetings and legal training.
  • Training new attorneys in all relevant aspects of immigration law including but not limited to intakes, drafting declarations, motion practice, brief writing, and oral arguments.
  • Tracking and reporting all grants associated with the legal department.
  • Support the Executive Director with grant writing opportunities for the legal department.Including staying abreast of new funding sources.
  • Attending relevant meetings with collaborative partners and representing La Raza CRC and its interests in those meetings.
  • Supervising all legal staff, with specific focus on ensuring their personal and professional growth within La Raza CRC.
  • Assisting the executive director in hiring decisions related to the legal department.
  • Remain in compliance with Minimum Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) requirement.
  • Fulfill Duty of Competence and Duty of Diligence Rules: Remaining abreast of changes in law and legal practice, staying current on statutes, case law, and procedural rules relevant to practice area. And, staying informed about client specific matters, deadlines, and new developments.
  • All other duties: Perform all other duties as needed and/or as directed by their supervisor.
• Workshops/Charlas:
  • Create and facilitate workshops and Charlas for community members with the topics including but not limited to:
    • Asylum, public charge, and immigration visas.

Required Qualifications:

• Education & Certification: Juris Doctor (J.D.) and current Bar Membership in good standing (California strongly preferred).
• 5 years or more of relevant experience as a Immigration Legal Director or other relevant role.
• 3 years or more experience in a managerial position.
• Excellent verbal and written communication in both English and Spanish.
• Proficiency with MS Office, especially Microsoft Word and Excel. Excellent data entry skills. and understanding of internet applications and database entry.
• Excellent attention to detail and ability to work well under a fast paced work environment.
• Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills.
• Ability to act independently and to identify and access resources to assist in preparing cases. Comfortable working with minimal supervision.
• Advanced legal research and writing skills.
• Very strong attention to detail and excellent organizational skills.
• Exceptional time management skills – ability to meet deadlines.
• Ability to act independently and exercise sound judgment.
• Commitment to serving immigrants and sensitivity to the needs of the low-income, culturally diverse immigrant community.
• Experience in developing and providing services to the target population preferred.
• Proficiency in a Windows/PC environment, and able to quickly become proficient in the use of La Raza CRC’s immigration law software and database.
• Knowledge of working with Google Suite and client management systems like Cerenade preferred.
• Comfortable with public speaking and advocacy under guidance of the Executive Director.

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee(s) incumbent in this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by their direct supervisor or any person authorized to give instructions or assignments. All duties and responsibilities are essential functions and requirements and are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. To perform this job successfully, the incumbents will possess the skills, aptitudes, and abilities to perform each duty proficiently. Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health or safety of themselves or others. The requirements listed in this document are the minimum levels of knowledge, skills, or abilities. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at will” relationship.

La Raza Community Resource Center (La Raza CRC) is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for any employee or applicant without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability or veteran status.

La Raza CRC also provides reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities or based on a sincerely held religious belief, in accordance with applicable laws. If you need to inquire about an accommodation, or need assistance with completing the application process, please email hr@larazacrc.org.

Benefits:

• Employer-paid Health insurance, with Vision including employer-paid primium coverage for dependents.
• Employer-paid Dental with Ortho, including 50% premium coverage for eligible dependents.
• Employer-paid Supplemental Vision, including 50% premium coverage for eligible dependents.
• Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA).
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• 403(b) retirement plan, with employer match up to 3% after 1 year of employment.
• Vacation: two (2) weeks per year increasing 50% every 2 years up to four (4) weeks.
• Sick Leave Including paid family time.
• Holidays: 14 paid per year (includes birthday), plus additional organizational holidays and paid wellness days.
• Daily Paid lunch hour = 35 hour work week.
• Paid Parental Leave (Per the San Francisco Paid Parental Leave Ordinance).
• Professional Development Opportunities.
• As a 501(c)(3) organization, we qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

MUST HAVE Excellent verbal and written communication in both English and Spanish