Managing Attorney, Detained Adult Program-Direct Representation

Description

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 

The Detained Adult Program (DAP) works with hundreds of adults who are detained by ICE each year, providing information, support, and legal representation. We provide trauma-sensitive, person-centered services, and deeply value the autonomy of the people we work with in detention as they navigate the fundamentally inhumane immigration system. DAP provides legal representation to detained immigrants regardless of their criminal history and immigration procedural postures.

Amica Center’s Detained Adult Program is a highly collaborative work environment. Each team lead works directly with a focused team, but all colleagues are interconnected through, for example, case workshops or staff-run committees.

DAP staff are a source of expertise in the highly complex and ever-changing immigration system. They have persisted through administration changes, policy shifts, and attacks on the rights and freedoms of immigrants through project-focused cohorts that arise to address challenges or to brainstorm and implement affirmative strategies.

General Duties and Responsibilities [1] 

Supervision: 

• Directly supervise Senior Staff Attorneys, Staff Attorneys, and other staff as needed. 
• Provide oversight and mentoring to staff and senior attorneys and paralegals on direct representation cases, including supervision and assistance of (i) case strategy, including researching, engaging, and preparing experts on health, behavioral health, and country conditions, (ii) trial preparation, and (iii) case load management. 
• Support direct reports in conducting individual intakes and client meetings, including trial preparation, with immigrants at the detention facilities. 
• Provide oversight and mentoring to staff and senior attorneys and paralegals on the preparation of Post Release Plans and social service plans, in coordination with social services staff.
• Support direct reports in their supervision of staff attorneys and paralegals.
• Ensure everyone in management structure is complying with all organizational and grant required metrics, data tracking, file management, etc.

Representation: 

• This is largely a non-representational role. Generally, candidates will be expected to handle a minimal caseload aligned with their professional development goals. For candidates whose professional development goals include continued representation of detained individuals, some amount of direct representation is possible. 
• Provide expert mentoring to outside attorneys representing detained immigrants on a pro bono basis.
• On occasion, conduct individual intakes and client meetings, including trial preparation, with immigrants at the detention facilities. 

 Organizational Services: 

• Provide oversight and management of significant aspects of the program, including grant management and tracking, in coordination with the program directors, deputy program directors, and other managers. 
• Work with program management to set long-term program plans. 
• With other Managing Attorneys and program leadership to ensure that the program is kept abreast of new developments in the law and that junior staff are adequality trained on the law. 
• Interface with leadership of other Amica Center programs to ensure cross-program information and strategy sharing. 
• Take part in stakeholder relationship activities, including in-person and remote meetings with community groups, governmental bodies and representatives, detention center staff, and other legal service providers.
• Oversee the inputting and accuracy of data and case information into shared databases in a timely fashion for oneself and program staff in your supervision matrix.
• Assist other program staff in completion of their workload during high-work/low-bandwidth periods. 

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

Additional Role-Specific Details 

Position Type

Full-time, Exempt

Reports To

Deputy Program Director for the Detained Adult Program

Supervisory Responsibility

Directly supervises a limited number of staff on a direct representation team (usually senior staff and/or staff carrying out key program functions, including attorneys, paralegals, and administrative staff), and provides overall leadership and back-up support to the team's other supervisors.

Hiring Timeline

Applications will be accepted until January 5, 2025.

Salary [2]

$81,000 - $109,800

[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 and/or Travel Requirements

This position will be based at the Washington, D.C. or Baltimore, M.D. Office. Due to business related travel expectations, it is recommended candidates live within 30-miles of their assigned primary office. Outstanding remote candidates are encouraged to apply and may be considered. 

Telework

Amica Center operates a hybrid work environment. Most 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 CDC. If boosters are subsequently recommended by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) then employees will be required to receive the booster within thirty (30) days of their eligibility to access the boosters.

Benefits 

Amica Center’s benefits package includes: 

• Free gym access located in Washington, D.C or Baltimore, MD (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);
• Work issued cell phone provided to all client-facing employees;
• 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); and
• The option to set up a 403(b) account (the equivalent of a 401(k) account for non-profits) 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
• 13 Federal holidays
• Winter break closure
• 12 weeks of parental leave 

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

The Amica Center for Immigrant Rights (Amica Center) is an equal opportunity employer. In accordance with anti-discrimination law, it is the purpose of this policy 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:

To learn more about our anti-racism statement click here. 

How to Apply  

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

Requirements

Competencies Required

Legal Proficiency 

The employee demonstrates a mastery of immigration law and legal procedure and can deploy innovative and thoughtful approaches to assisting clients. The employee stays abreast of developments in the law and ensures that their supervisees are trained in new developments. 

Client and Programmatic Proficiency

The employee proficiently helps to manage all programmatic obligations. The employee proficiently manages their work load and the caseloads of the staff they supervise. The employee skillfully supervises their staff and ensures that staff are in a position to grow professionally. 

Administrative

The employee ensures that all administrative aspects of their position (and their supervisees’ positions), 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 active license to practice law in any US state or jurisdiction; 
• At least 5 years of relevant experience in immigration law, including removal defense and detention; 
• At least 3 years of supervision experience; preference for relevant experience in project management;
• Written and oral Spanish proficiency required; fluency strongly preferred; 
• It is expected that the candidate will need to travel for work-related business. As a result, the candidate must possess a valid driver's license and be comfortable operating a vehicle upon hiring. This role requires travel, but qualified individuals with disabilities may be accommodated in a reasonable manner under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Salary : $81,000 - $109,800