Immigration Legal Director

Position Title: Immigration Legal Director (Bilingual Spanish /English)

Position Type: Salaried Exempt; Full-Time; In-Office 4 days per week, 1 day remote

Reports to: Executive Director

Direct Reports: Yes

Salary Range: $95,000.00- $110,000.00

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. 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 4 days per week In-Office and 1 day remote.

Responsibilities:

• Case Management:
  • 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.
  • Attending relevant meetings with collaborative partners and representing LRCRC 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.
  • 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 LRCRC’s immigration law software and database.