Closing Date: 20th August, 2026

Description:

Deadline is 3:00 PM EST for Date Listed
Aug 20, 2026

Job Description:
The Legal Aid Society's Civil Practice is seeking a Supervising Attorney to join the citywide Immigration Law Unit's Non-Detained Removal Defense team.

The Immigration Law Unit (ILU) in The Legal Aid Society's Civil Practice is a recognized leader in providing high-quality representation to non-citizens in all five boroughs of New York City and surrounding counties. Our staff of almost 100 attorneys, social workers, and paralegals across seven different projects and initiatives work collaboratively to provide client-centered, interdisciplinary, and comprehensive legal services.

The Supervising Attorney will assist in coordinating and supervising ILU's Immigrant Opportunity Initiatives (IOI) Program, which handles both affirmative and defensive immigration matters. The IOI program provides low-income New Yorkers with free comprehensive immigration services ranging from removal defense to asylum to affirmative applications before U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the Administrative Appeals Office (AAO), the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA), and in family court proceedings on Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) motions. As federal litigation is a growing need in immigration legal practice, the Supervising Attorney will also provide strategic guidance on immigration matters that may require litigation in federal district and circuit courts, including and not limited to, mandamus actions, writs of habeas corpus, and petitions for review.

The Supervising Attorney will be involved in day-to-day operations and will work closely with the Attorney-in-Charge, the Deputy Attorney-in-Charge, and other Supervising Attorneys to train, supervise, and mentor staff. The Supervising Attorney will participate in Practice-wide management discussions and decision-making.

Essential Duties/Responsibilities:
Immigration Legal Support and Oversight

Assist in the direct supervision and mentoring of staff attorneys, paralegal casehandlers, interns, and volunteers who work predominantly with non-detained immigrants in removal proceedings, including but not limited to immigrants with criminal convictions, asylum seekers, adults with children, and unaccompanied minors, as well as with affirmative immigration benefits applications before USCIS and the AAO
Provide strategic guidance on immigration matters, including appeals and cases that may require litigation in federal district and circuit courts
Assist in monitoring and maintaining a high standard of representation and client service
Analyze legal issues, develop legal strategy, and supervise implementation of legal strategies
Train and mentor staff members
Foster and encourage teamwork and communication
Assist with the development and implementation of programs
Assist with the funding for and reporting on programs
Respond to client, community and staff concerns
Provide individualized consultation to other Society staff
Engage in policy advocacy
Maintain a reasonable caseload

Team Development and Supervision

Schedule employee hours, assign work, approve time off and remote work schedule requests following the guidance of LAS policy and procedures
Attend management meetings, participate in management trainings, and utilize current employment policies, practices and guidance as provided by management and Human Resources
Conduct management and supervision practices that affirmatively support equity and inclusion in the workplace
Supervise direct reports in setting performance standards, provide routine feedback as well as coaching/counseling, and issue disciplinary action as needed
Identify and provide training and development opportunities and ensure mandatory trainings are completed

Professional Development and Other Duties as Assigned

Participate in continuous professional development
Continuously learn about forms of bias in the workplace and demonstrate affirmative behaviors that support an inclusive work environment
Other duties as assigned

Qualifications:
Required Qualifications:

Admission to New York State Bar. Must be eligible to immediately seek admission to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second and Third Circuits and U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
Minimum of three years of legal practice

Preferred Qualifications:

Minimum of five years of immigration legal practice preferred
Knowledge of the intersection of immigration and criminal law preferred
Proficiency in languages other than English is desirable, but not required

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Position Based Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Excellent research, writing, analytical, organizational and communication skills
Comprehensive knowledge of immigration law (including but not limited to criminal immigration law and asylum law)
Extensive experience litigating cases in immigration court and before the BIA
Experience with federal litigation
Demonstrated commitment to and experience in public interest law and civil legal services
Experience supervising and mentoring others
Excellent oral and written advocacy skills
Experience working in a fast-paced environment
Ability to manage relationships and effectively communicate with ILU management team and other Civil Practice administrative staff
Highly self-motivated and able to work independently
Supervision Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Ability to schedule, assign, and manage work and resolve problems as needed
Ability to manage the work including assessment of work process and outcomes, gathering relevant information about the work, recommending alternatives, or elevate issues as needed
Ability to clearly identify roles, responsibilities, delegate tasks and hold people accountable
Ability to create and implement effective communication plans
Ability to provide meaningful performance feedback for professional development including having difficult conversations and resolving sensitive employee issues
Pursue continuous learning on forms of systemic oppression of marginalized identities and establish team norms and management practices using an equity mindset and informed by inclusive practices
Organizational Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Commitment to Legal Aid Society's mission to secure equal justice before the law for all New Yorkers
Interpersonal and communication skills that enable healthy and productive working relationships
Ability to perform duties with the highest regard for confidentiality, integrity, and respect
Commitment to Legal Aid Society's mission and values
Physical, environment, travel, and other duties required:
Mostly sedentary, significant time using a computer and monitor; communicating and meeting using video

Salary and benefits:
The salary range represents a good faith estimate of the range we expect to pay for this role. The actual salary offered may vary depending on many factors, including but not limited to job-related knowledge, skills, and experience, as well as collectively bargained salary steps for unionized roles.

Salary Range: $102,120 - $172,675

The Legal Aid Society offers a generous benefits package including health insurance, paid vacation, disability, and life insurance, and more. Click here to read more about benefits.

Higher Education and Loan Forgiveness
The Legal Aid Society is a qualified employer for the purposes of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness. This position allows an employee to take advantage of PSLF and other State and Federal loan forgiveness programs. Additionally, employees who are New York residents may be eligible for assistance from New York state to assist with loan repayments, depending on years of practice. To learn more, click the links below.

studentaid.gov

hesc.ny.gov/loan-forgiveness-programs

Work Authorization:
All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States for any employer without sponsorship for a work visa or permit. We are currently unable to sponsor employment visas or permits. (However, for citizens of Canada and Mexico, LAS will provide a letter documenting employment status that is needed to obtain a TN visa.)

How to Apply:
All applications must be completed online via the career portal. We do not accept emailed applications. Submit the following documents as a combined PDF: