Description:
Position: A Legal Resource Center is seeking a Supervising Attorney to help lead MIRC's dynamic and committed unaccompanied children's legal services team working largely under a grant from Acacia. This team of attorneys and other advocates serve unaccompanied children who have entered the United States and are detained in federal custody in facilities contracted by the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) and placed in removal (deportation) proceedings or have been released to Michigan from ORR to undergo removal proceedings. Employees will be expected to work from their assigned office, but hybrid remote work schedules are available. This position can be based out of the Grand Rapids or Ypsilanti office locations.Description of Program: A Legal Resource Center is a legal resource center for immigrant communities. The three pillars of our work are: 1) direct legal services; 2) systemic advocacy; and 3) community education and engagement. MIRC is part of Michigan Statewide Advocacy Services (MSAS), a non-profit law firm providing free legal services to low income and senior persons through several statewide programs. MSAS is administered by the Michigan Advocacy Program (MAP), which provides access to the justice system for those who need it the most through civil legal aid offices and statewide advocacy programs. MAP's mission is to advance the safety, independence, and economic stability of those most affected by poverty, racism, and other structurally oppressive systems by increasing access to justice and working for systemic solutions.
Responsibilities: The Supervising Attorney will co-supervise the administrative and legal work of MIRC's Vera program, including advocacy, handing of cases, intake, community outreach and managing relationships with partners, grant administration and compliance, and training and supervision of staff and volunteers.
Qualifications: Applicants should be licensed to practice law in Michigan or be eligible to waive in or to take the next Michigan bar examination, should have experience in handling a immigration law caseload, and should demonstrate a commitment to serving low-income immigrant and other underserved communities. Because this is a management position, administrative and supervisory experience is preferred. Three years' legal experience is required; five years' legal experience is preferred. Excellent communication skills in English are required; communication skills in Spanish are preferred but not required.
