Description:
Description:Immigrant Defenders Law Center ("ImmDef") is a next-generation social justice law firm that provides high-quality representation and legal services to immigrants in Southern California and beyond. ImmDef was founded with the belief that no immigrant should be forced to face an unjust immigration system alone, and our universal representation programs are a first step toward that goal. Learn more about us at www.immdef.org.
ImmDef represents thousands of children, adults, and families each year who face complex and urgent legal challenges within an unjust immigration system. ImmDef seeks a committed, experienced, and mission-driven attorney leader to serve as Managing Attorney focused on Appellate Advocacy and Complex Children's Litigation.
This position will be based within ImmDef's Children's Representation Project (CRP) and will lead the development and growth of the program's appellate and post-order practice. The Managing Attorney will supervise and support attorneys representing unaccompanied children and immigrant youth in removal proceedings and related affirmative immigration matters, while providing advanced expertise on Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) litigation, motions practice, and federal court matters.
The Managing Attorney will work closely with CRP leadership to ensure that children and youth have access to effective representation at every stage of their cases, including appeals and post-order proceedings. The position will also collaborate with ImmDef's Litigation & Advocacy team on strategic litigation, federal court matters, and emerging legal issues impacting children and immigrant youth.
As a member of ImmDef's management team, the Managing Attorney will help build sustainable appellate capacity within CRP through mentorship, training, systems development, and direct representation of complex and high-impact cases. Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
Children's Appellate & Complex Litigation Leadership
- Lead and coordinate appellate, post-order, and complex litigation work related to representing unaccompanied children and immigrant youth.
- Serve as the primary resource on BIA appeals, motions practice, federal appellate litigation, and emerging legal issues affecting unaccompanied children and immigrant youth.
- Evaluate potential appellate cases and assist in identifying issues appropriate for litigation before the BIA and federal courts.
- Develop organization-wide systems for appellate case referrals, review, consultation, and tracking.
- Monitor trends and developments in BIA and federal court decisions and disseminate updates to legal staff.
- Monitor policy developments, enforcement initiatives, and legal challenges affecting unaccompanied children and ensure timely dissemination of guidance and best practices.
- Collaborate with program leadership to identify cases that present novel legal issues or strategic litigation opportunities.
- Work closely with the Director of Litigation & Advocacy to advance ImmDef's litigation priorities and legal strategy.
Litigation Support, Mentorship & Technical Assistance
- Mentor and support attorneys representing unaccompanied children and immigrant youth in removal proceedings and related affirmative immigration matters.
- Provide guidance on appeals and complex litigation involving asylum, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS), adjustment of status, trafficking-related relief, and other humanitarian protections available to children and youth.
- Provide consultation and co-counsel support on complex appellate matters.
- Conduct appellate case reviews and strategy sessions.
- Assist attorneys in developing records and preserving issues for appeal in children's cases before the Immigration Court, USCIS, and related state court proceedings.
- Review and provide feedback on appellate briefs, motions, and other legal filings.
- Develop model legal arguments, templates, practice advisories, and litigation resources.
- Promote high-quality, trauma-informed, and client-centered representation through legal mentorship and strategic guidance.
Direct Representation:
- Maintain a caseload of complex, precedent-setting, or high-impact matters involving unaccompanied children and immigrant youth.
- Represent clients before the Board of Immigration Appeals and, where appropriate, in federal court proceedings.
- Litigate Petitions for Review and related matters before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
- Represent or assist clients in motions to reopen, motions to reconsider, stays of removal, and other post-order relief.
- Collaborate with ImmDef's Litigation & Advocacy attorneys, outside co-counsel, pro bono attorneys, and litigation partners on strategic litigation and federal court matters affecting children and immigrant youth.
Training & Capacity Building
- Lead the development of long-term appellate capacity by training, mentoring, and supporting child-focused attorneys to independently handle appeals and post-order litigation.
- Design, coordinate, and facilitate organization-wide trainings on appellate advocacy and advanced removal defense issues.
- Develop advanced training materials for attorneys engaged in appellate practice.
- Ensure that ImmDef's litigation resources, template banks, and training materials reflect current law and best practices.
- Build appellate expertise across ImmDef programs so that knowledge and skills are shared broadly throughout the organization.
- Build a culture in which appellate advocacy is integrated into children's representation practice rather than concentrated within a separate litigation unit.
Systems Development & Knowledge Management
- Develop and maintain children's-appellate practice resources, including brief banks, research repositories, training materials, practice advisories, and templates related to representation of unaccompanied children and immigrant youth.
- Create systems for tracking pending appeals and associated deadlines.
- Support continuous improvement of appellate workflows and internal litigation processes.
- Assist in developing data collection and reporting systems related to appellate work.
External Advocacy & Partnerships
- Participate in litigation coalitions, stakeholder meetings, and advocacy efforts related to removal defense and appellate practice.
- Build and maintain relationships with organizations, coalitions, pro bono partners, and subject matter experts focused on the rights of unaccompanied children and immigrant youth.
- Coordinate with external partners on strategic litigation opportunities, amicus briefs, training initiatives, and appellate support.
- Assist with development of pro se and self-help appellate resources for immigrants and community partners when appropriate.
Team Leadership & Organizational Contribution
- Collaborate closely with ImmDef Directors, Directing Attorneys, Managing Attorneys, Program Managers, and other stakeholders to advance organizational goals and litigation priorities.
- Supervise, mentor, and support appellate staff assigned to the appellate advocacy practice, including paralegals, legal support staff, fellows, interns, or other team members.
- Support hiring, onboarding, training, performance management, and professional development efforts for appellate team members and other assigned staff.
- Foster a collaborative, mission-driven, and innovative legal culture that promotes knowledge sharing, mentorship, and professional growth across programs.
- Work to ensure that appellate expertise, resources, and litigation knowledge are distributed broadly throughout the organization rather than concentrated within a single individual or team.
- Collaborate with program leadership to assess staffing needs, workload distribution, and resource allocation for appellate and strategic litigation matters.
- Perform other duties as assigned by ImmDef leadership.
Requirements:
- Juris Doctorate degree, or foreign law degree and L.L.M;
- Active California State Bar License or licensure from another U.S. jurisdiction and, if required, willingness to "waive into" the CA Bar via the Multi-Jurisdictional Practice Program;
- Minimum 5 years of immigration legal practice.
- Minimum 3 years of immigration removal defense or related appellate experience.
- Passion for social justice for immigrants required.
Preferred Experience:
- Significant experience litigating appeals before the Board of Immigration Appeals.
- Demonstrated excellence in legal research, legal writing, and appellate advocacy.
- Experience mentoring, training, or supervising attorneys.
- Strong project management and organizational skills.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and work collaboratively across programs.
- Passion for social justice for immigrants.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Significant experience representing unaccompanied children and immigrant youth.
- Experience with SIJS, asylum, adjustment of status, and humanitarian protections for children.
- Experience supervisi
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