Managing Attorney - Detained (Hybrid)

Description:

About KIND:
Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) is a global leader in the protection of unaccompanied and separated children who are forcibly displaced from their countries of origin. Launched in 2008, KIND champions a world in which every child's rights and well-being are protected throughout their journey to safety.

Building on its extensive programming and successful model in the United States, KIND is expanding in the Americas and Europe to bring its experience to bear in working with unaccompanied and separated children. Our work focuses on addressing the legal and mental health needs of this population; building strong partnerships and engaging in training and capacity strengthening with governments, NGOs, and the private sector; and advocating for systemic and pragmatic reforms to advance the rights of unaccompanied and separated children.

Position Summary:
KIND seeks a Managing Attorney, New York - Detained to provide senior-level expertise and program management in the provision of legal services by KIND attorneys and pro bono partners to unaccompanied children in Office of Refugee Resettlement custody in Washington State. As needed, the Managing Attorney will supervise Staff Attorneys, Senior Paralegals, Paralegals, and program staff. The Managing Attorney, New York - Detained will report to the Managing Director, New York.

This position is contingent upon continued funding

Essential Functions:

• Provides both mentoring to KIND pro bono attorneys and direct legal representation to KIND clients:
• In the pro bono mentoring function, provide robust consultation and technical assistance to pro bono attorneys who have accepted a KIND case.
• In the direct representation function, perform ordinary functions of legal counsel including legal research and formulating the legal strategy for the case; conducting client interviews; appearing before immigration and/or state courts or agencies, and drafting and filing court pleadings and applications for benefits.
• Supervises and leads Detained Program staff in the relevant jurisdiction(s), in consultation with the Managing Director, including:
• Programs oversight, supervising casework, managing caseloads and other assignments, promoting, and advising supervisees on professional growth, conducting employee performance evaluations, meeting regularly with each supervisee, and providing consistent and effective supervision to ensure high-quality legal work and achievement of deliverables.
• Serves as an organizational leader, advisor, and resident expert on the special needs of detained children, and the tailored provision of services in the detained context.
• Liaisons with shelter staff and other stakeholders as needed to maximize efficient and effective services to detained children. Maintain ORR and other stakeholder relations.
• Participates in local coalitions of various stakeholders supporting unaccompanied immigrant children.
• Monitors daily arrivals, transfers, and discharges of immigrant children housed in local ORR facilities.
• Oversees the timely and high-quality provision of legal orientation presentations and intakes of children upon arrival at ORR shelters.
• Reviews intakes by the detained team and makes a determination regarding eligibility for immigration relief.
• Provides referrals for children to be transferred out of state for long-term foster care placement.
• Oversees the preparation and organization of the monthly detained juvenile docket in Immigration Court.
• Collaborates with Managing Director to determine in-house and volunteer pro bono case placements.
• Develops and implements effective recruitment, mentoring, and case placement strategies to increase pro bono representation of unaccompanied immigrant children with support from the Senior Director for Pro Bono Partnerships and local field office staff.
• Provides legal skills training and technical case assistance to in-house staff, pro bono attorneys, or other stakeholders, in coordination with field office colleagues and KIND's Training and Technical Assistance Team.
• In coordination with local field office staff responsible for pro bono training and mentoring, assist with the development of resources, local training curriculum, sample filings, and guidance packets.
• Assists with development and conducting of a local and national KIND training for both staff and external partners and stakeholders.
• Represents KIND at local coalitions, courts, and agencies.
• Participates in and lead local and national KIND meetings, committees, retreats, and events.
• Supports the Managing Director to develop and implement management strategies to meet ambitious programmatic and funding deliverables, including staff recruitment and development-support functions, employee engagement, and quality control of KIND's legal services delivery.
• Oversees data management, ensuring data integrity through regular case audits, technical fluency with KIND's case management systems, and oversight of data upkeep and accuracy by supervisees.
• In collaboration with the Managing Director, leads and manages large and complex programs, including oversight and drafting of grant reports, metrics oversight, and assisting in the drafting of funding proposals as needed.

Qualifications and Requirements:

• J.D. and admitted to state bar.
• Must be fully fluent in English and Spanish. (for direct communication with the children we serve and their caregivers, the majority of whom are Spanish speaking).
• Minimum of 6 years of experience practicing immigration law, which should include representation of clients in humanitarian immigration claims such as asylum, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, U visas, and T visas.
• Minimum of 4 years of experience working with children, preferably immigrant and refugee children, and/or working with survivors of abuse, human trafficking, or other trauma.
• Experience working with law firm attorneys and or other legal volunteers.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience supervising attorneys and non-attorney staff.
• Minimum of 2 years of experience in program management, including experience such as project management, tracking deliverables, hiring, planning, and development.
• Minimum of 2 years of experience working in a detained setting if the position is over a detained program.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English and Spanish.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (such as Teams, Excel, etc.).
• Ability to work collaboratively and multi-task in our KIND environment, managing numerous priorities and emerging opportunities.
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to work on multiple projects in a deadline-oriented environment; ability to prioritize tasks and delegate as appropriate.
• Ability to multitask and work with a sense of urgency in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
• Committed to practicing and supporting wellbeing and a work-home life balance.
• Experience working and communicating in a remote environment preferred but not required.

$101,292 - $126,615 a year

Our Benefits:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance with KIND paying 100% of the employee only portion of the premium for one of the three medical plan options, dental, and vision.
• Pre-tax flexible spending account (FSA) for both medical and dependent care.
• Pre-tax transit and parking spending account.
• Employer-paid life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment insurance.
• Employer-paid short and long-term disability insurance.

For a complete list of benefits, please click here. (https://supportkind.org/resources/benefits-discover-the-perks-of-working-for-kind/)

Our Focus on Wellness
KIND recognizes that our ability to help our clients starts with helping our team members. KIND has prioritized wellness for employees through Mindfulness and Wellness Trainings, Wellness Platforms, Employee Assistance and Resilience Programs, Time Away and Office Wellness Activities.

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