The Legal Aid Society's Civil Practice is seeking a Supervising Attorney to work in the Law Reform and Immigration Law Unit's Federal Practice. The Supervising Attorney will supervise the representation of low-income clients before the U.S. District Courts and the Courts of Appeals to safeguard immigrants' due process and liberty rights and ensure that immigration laws are accurately interpreted and fairly applied. The Supervising Attorney will also participate in regular Second Circuit working group meetings with other providers and practitioners to discuss current issues pending before the Second Circuit.
The Immigration Law Unit is a recognized leader in the delivery of high quality legal services to immigrants in New York City and surrounding counties. The Unit provides low-income New Yorkers with free comprehensive immigration services which include, but are not limited to, detained and non-detained deportation defense for unaccompanied minors and adults, affirmative applications before U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), and representation before administrative, district and federal appeals courts. The Unit specializes in the intersection between immigration and criminal laws and works collaboratively with all practice areas to serve the Society's diverse immigrant clients through a comprehensive service model. Unit staff represents immigrants before USICS, the immigration courts, the Board of Immigration Appeals and the federal courts on habeas corpus petitions and petitions for review and on administrative and judicial appeals. The Law Reform Unit is co-counsel with ILU on cases concerning the children separated from their parents at the border and the denial of special immigrant juvenile status and has been working on issues involving immigration and public benefits including public charge. LRU and ILU are exploring issues around ICE in the Courts as well as video conferencing at Varick Street. The Immigration Law Unit is comprised of three distinct practices for immigrants who are detained, affirmative benefits and immigrant youth and is located in Lower Manhattan.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES
* Develop and
conduct litigation at the Board of Immigration Appeals, the U.S. Courts
of Appeals for the Second and Third Circuits, and in federal district
courts
* Identify unsettled legal issues of significance to the
Society's immigrant clients and locate cases that could be litigated
before the relevant courts for the purpose of establishing favorable
precedent on their behalf
* Identify systemic problems faced by the Society's immigrant clients that could be addressed through affirmative litigation
*
Collaborate with practitioners throughout the country to develop and
participate in national litigation and law reform projects related to
federal immigration policy
* Track case law developments related to immigration law and policy in the federal courts
* Work with pro bono counsel on assigned pro bono cases
* Assist in coordinating and supervising federal immigration matters
*
Assist in the direct supervision and mentoring of staff attorneys,
paralegals and volunteers working with detained and non-detained
immigrants in removal proceedings
* Assist in monitoring and maintaining a high standard of representation and client service
* Maintain a reasonable caseload
* Analyze legal issues, develop legal strategy and supervise implementation of legal strategies
* Foster and encourage teamwork and communication
* Develop skills and knowledge of staff members
* Assist with the development and implementation of programs
* Assist with the funding for and reporting on programs
* Respond to client, community and staff concerns
SECONDARY DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES
* Provide individualized consultation to staff attorneys
*
Develop competence within the Immigration Law Unit to litigate
immigration-related cases in federal district and circuit courts
* Develop pro se and pro bono lawyer resource materials and trainings on a range of federal court issues
* Engage in policy advocacy
* Other duties as assigned