Senior Attorney, Immigration Impact Lab

Who We Are:

The Capital Area Immigrants’ Rights (CAIR) Coalition is now Amica Center for Immigrant Rights (“Amica Center” for short). Click here to learn more about our new name. Since our founding in 1999, we have grown significantly and added new services to support immigrants in detention. Recently, Amica Center has outgrown our name, expanding beyond our initial services and geographic boundaries.

“Amica” is the Latin word for “friend,” and that echoes the way we approach what we do. Just as friends stand with one another, Amica Center stands with our clients to achieve the safety, stability, and opportunity we all deserve.

We are the only non-profit organization in the Washington, D.C. area that is exclusively focused on providing legal assistance to adult and child immigrants detained by the government in the Capital Region and beyond.

Our Work Environment:

Amica Center’s Immigration Impact Lab is a highly collaborative work environment. Amica Center is committed to providing high-quality, trauma-informed legal and social services and a culture of professional growth and support for staff. Although aspects of our work are completed in smaller teams, we work towards integrated and client-focused services across the organization by embracing interconnectivity. We strive to create systems that provide structure while actively fostering innovation and adaptability.

Position Summary:

We are seeking a Senior Attorney to help lead the Immigration Impact Lab’s efforts to expand its impact litigation and referral systems in various circuits, particularly the Third, Fourth, and Eleventh Circuits. A Senior Attorney in the Immigration Impact Lab focuses on working with the appellate and federal litigation team to meet the Lab’s goals, including (i) conducting broad-based legal research, case development, and written pleadings involving a host of issues that touch on novel immigration claims; (ii) the provision of direct legal services to immigrants through appeals to the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) and federal circuit courts of appeals and litigation in the district court, (iii) working with pro bono attorneys through co-counseling, mentoring, and trainings, (iv) the supervision of staff attorneys, legal assistants, and interns, and (v) the management of program projects and contribution to program development efforts including fundraising and thought leadership opportunities such as media, panels, and webinars.

General Duties and Responsibilities [1]:

Representation:

• Supervise attorneys, interns, and potentially legal assistants on the implementation of Lab goals and cases.
• Work on federal impact litigation, including habeas petitions and appeals and taking on the following tasks:
• Identify and develop potential affirmative impact litigation efforts.
• Conduct legal research.
• Draft legal pleadings for filing in federal courts and/or immigration agencies.
• Represent clients at the BIA, federal circuit courts of appeals, and federal district courts and/or draft amicus briefs.
• Investigate and collect information to support federal court litigation.
• Lead, both internally at Amica Center and externally with co-counsel and other stakeholders, at least one large-scale litigation effort per year such as a class action or circuit court case of national importance.
• Manage program projects supporting impact litigation.
• Assist management and staff of other programs to (i) create innovative arguments and strategies for direct legal representations of detained clients, (ii) identify novel issues for appeals and impact litigation, and (iii) preserve issues for appeal.
• Manage a caseload of in-house cases and pro bono co-counseling and mentorship cases to ensure timely and high-quality filings.
• Provide technical legal assistance to other advocates on a variety of legal issues affecting immigrants at risk of detention and deportation, including the intersection of criminal and immigration law.
• Mentor and co-counsel with teams of pro bono law firm and other nonprofit organization attorneys through the life of cases.
• Educate pro bono attorneys and other advocates through trainings and panels, development and maintenance of practice advisories and other legal resources, litigation coordination, and outreach.
• Implement the programmatic priorities of Amica Center's Immigration Impact Lab, including implementing program projects and supervising, and mentor other Amica Center staff on complex litigation and appeals.

Organizational Services:

• Assist program management on the implementation of long-term plans and strategy.
• Ensure the input and accuracy of data and case information into shared databases in a timely fashion.
• Participate in stakeholder relationship activities, including in-person and telephonic meetings with community groups, governmental bodies and representatives, and other legal service providers.
• Conduct trainings and stakeholder meetings.
• Engage with internal Amica Center committees and working groups to lend a voice to the growth and strategy of the organization.
• Undertake own administrative functions, including for casework (e.g., preparation of all aspects of filings). Amica Center attorneys do not have dedicated paralegals for assistance on cases and non-attorney staff time is dedicated to client-facing tasks (e.g., jail visits, pro se assistance).

[1] This list is illustrative and not intended to be a complete classification of all job functions or tasks.

What Else You Should Know:

Position Type:

Exempt, Full-Time

Reports to:

Managing Attorney

Supervisory Responsibility:

This role will involve the supervision of one or several staff members.

Timeline:

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Start date is TBD.

Salary [2]

$67,800-$110,000

[2] In 2018 Amica Center implemented a compensation framework to be more straightforward, transparent, and provide assurance of internal equity. The compensation model we use is based on an individual's position and years of relevant work experience to avoid salary discrepancies and to reduce the risk of racial, gender, or other forms of bias affecting a candidate's salary.

Location

This position is based from Washington, DC. Due to business related travel expectations, it is recommended candidates live within 30-miles of their assigned primary office.

Telework

Amica Center operates a hybrid work environment where staff are required to work at least one day per week in-office, but some roles require more office/on-site attendance or travel.

COVID-19 Vaccination:

All employees are required to be fully vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19. To be fully vaccinated means having completed the full dosages required for the type of vaccine obtained as designated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If boosters are subsequently recommended by the CDC, then employees will be required to receive the booster within thirty (30) days of eligibility.

Benefits:

• Amica Center’s benefits package includes:
• Free gym access located in Washington, D.C (dependent on employee’s primary office)
• Flexible working hours after successful completion of trainings and with approval of supervisor
• Pre-tax commuter benefits for those living in the DMV
• Subsidized health, dental insurance, and vision insurance (Amica Center pays a very high rate of the insurance package, for which we can provide additional information)
• Life Insurance valued at $50,000, as well as long- and short-term disability
• The option to set up a Flexible Spending Account
• High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) with a one-time employer contribution of $350 to the Health Savings Account (HSA)
• The option to set up a 403(b) savings account (the equivalent of a 401(k) account for non-profit organizations) which the organization has the option, for all employees on an annual basis, to match at a certain percentage after one year of continuous employment

Paid time off includes:

• 23 Personal Days per calendar year
• Up to 20 days of Sick Time per calendar year
• 7 hours of Volunteer Time Off per calendar year
• Federal holidays
• Paid winter break closure around the end of each year
• 12 weeks of parental leave

How to Apply:

Submit your resume, a cover letter that explains your interest in the position, and a writing sample with your Paylocity application.

At Amica Center, we embrace the fact that talented individuals come from diverse backgrounds and life experiences. We believe that diversity in all dimensions of the organization supports and bolsters the innovative thinking essential to our success. Amica Center values your unique perspectives, skills, and potential, and we are committed to providing equal opportunities for growth and development. If you are passionate about Amica Center's mission and are excited to contribute your talents to our team, we encourage you to submit your application. Candidates from traditionally underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply. If you are a candidate with a disability and require accommodations to apply for this position, please contact us at HR@amicacenter.org.

EEO Statement

Amica Center for Immigrants’ Rights is an equal opportunity employer. In accordance with anti-discrimination law, this policy's purpose is to effectuate these principles and mandates. Amica Center prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type and affords equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Amica Center conforms to the spirit as well as to the letter of all applicable laws and regulations.

Anti-Racism Statement:

https://amicacenter.org/becoming-anti-racist/

Competencies Required:

Legal Proficiency

The Senior Attorney demonstrates a solid understanding of legal concepts at a level that allows them to provide services to clients with limited supervision. The Senior Attorney clearly and skillfully employs the law in written and oral presentations and assists junior staff in doing the same. The Senior Attorney has taken on multiple hearings or interviews for clients with limited supervision. The Senior Attorney is able to competently supervise Staff Attorneys, fellows, and interns on client interaction matters and legal strategy, research, and writing. The Senior Attorney demonstrates cultural competency and trauma-informed practices.

Client and Programmatic Proficiency

The Senior Attorney competently handles and supervises all required programmatic obligations (follow-up, brief drafting, filings, consultations, trainings, etc.). The Senior Attorney manages their in-house and pro bono mentoring caseload to allow for proper prioritization and thoughtful use of time and resources. The Senior Attorney supervises junior staff to ensure programmatic efficiency and efficacy. The Senior Attorney exercises sound judgment and decision-making skills and identifies when issues must be elevated to management.

Administrative

The Senior Attorney ensures that all administrative aspects of their position (and of their supervisees’), attendant to the provision of services to clients, are carried out without managerial intervention, including timekeeping, file upkeep, database upkeep, etc.).

Qualifications Required:

• JD and at least 2 years of experience in federal appellate and/or district court litigation.
• Excellent legal research and writing skills.
• Dedication to immigrants’ rights.
• Creative, entrepreneurial thinking, a willingness to think outside the box and innovate, and a self-starter attitude.
• Demonstrated ability to identify and successfully implement innovative litigation approaches.
• Demonstrated ability to adapt to changing priorities, strategies, and circumstances.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Admitted to practice law in Virginia or willing to sit for the next scheduled Virginia bar exam if necessary. Admitted in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or willing to be admitted.
• Experience supervising attorneys and building systems.
• Immigration law experience.
• Preference is given to Spanish speaking candidates.

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