Job Title: Supervising Attorney or DOJ Accredited Representative

Classification & FLSA Status: Full time | Exempt

Salary: $77,000-$90,000 Depending on experience and qualifications

Department: Legal Department | Temporary Protected Status (TPS)

Reports to: Managing Attorney and Legal Director

Location: Los Angeles office; In-person position with transition to hybrid

 

Job Summary: The Supervising Attorney will be responsible for supervising the day-to-day operations, personnel, and legal service provision and advocacy at CARECEN’s Los Angeles Office for services related to Temporary Protected Status (TPS). The Supervising Attorney works directly under the Managing Attorney and Legal Director. The Supervising Attorney is also responsible for outreach and community education activities as well as supporting CARECEN’s policy advocacy efforts.

 

Job Requirements/Essential Functions

• Supervise and direct legal staff in the Los Angeles office, including assigning work, monitoring timesheets, caseloads, plan and conduct legal case review, as well as trainings and other professional development activities for staff, and handling the process of discipline and grievance adjustment;

• Prepare and supervise CARECEN’s legal services, advocacy, and community education response to TPS extensions, re-designations, and new designations;

• Hire and train temporary TPS clerks in response to re-registration periods;

• Organize and prepare large-scale, TPS re-registration, and other necessary TPS-related services and clinics, including regular weekend clinics;

• Create and expand legal service provision models that can be replicated in all areas of the United States, including occasional travel;

• Conduct trainings and facilitate ongoing legal education for team;

• Conduct regular individual case review with legal staff;

• Conduct periodic written & performance evaluation for legal staff;

• Recruit, hire and evaluate team staff;

• Provide individual consultations, prepare cases, represent applicants before USCIS and the Immigration Court;

• Manage own caseload of complex cases for ongoing legal development and review of staff complex cases;

• Responsible for presentations, outreach and community education activities related to TPS and beyond, including regular requests from internal and external partners;

• Act as liaison and build relationships with partner organizations related to TPS legal services, policy, and advocacy;

• Respond to media requests on relevant TPS and all immigration issues;

• Develop relationships with local CBOs, law schools, foundations, government and other organizations;

• Participate in grant writing, including the planning of grant proposals, reviewing drafts by development staff, and conducting primary grant writing duties when necessary;

• Monitor team goals and deliverables and facilitate reporting to various grants;

• Participate in policy advocacy on immigration issues relevant to CARECEN’s mission, including conducting primary writing duties on policy pieces and public comments when necessary;

• Facilitate team meetings and conduct team meetings;

• Facilitate legal meetings when Legal Director is unavailable;

• Conduct team bonding activities and retreat for ongoing staff support and team morale;

• Other duties as assigned by the Managing Attorney and Legal Director.

 

Required Skills/Qualifications

• Law degree and active admission to the bar of California; or DOJ/OLAP Accreditation

• Excellent legal skills and broad knowledge of immigration law. 3-4 years of substantive immigration law experience strongly preferred;

• Bilingual fluency in spoken and written (English/Spanish) required;

• Experience supervising support staff;

• Attention to detail and strong organizational skills required;

• Demonstrated commitment to the mission and goals of CARECEN;

• Excellent written and oral communication skills;

• Commitment to working in a diverse working environment;

• Ability to develop and implement innovative models of service delivery with limited resources and leverage other community resources;

• Ability to effectively work and communicate with diverse groups of individuals, including representatives of government, foundations, English/Spanish media, and other grassroots organizations;

• Strong organizational skills and ability to work independently;

• The position will involve some evening and weekend work.

 

Supervisory Responsibilities

The Supervising Attorney directly supervises a team of attorneys, accredited representatives, legal assistants, and support staff and carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the employer’s policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

 

Work Environment and Physical Demands

This job operates in a professional office environment. The position requires the ability to lift files, open filing cabinets and bend or stand as necessary. This is an in-person position based out of CARECEN’s Los Angeles office with a transition to a hybrid model. Work is performed in a variety of work settings, including working from home model during COVID-19 office policy, CARECEN’s offices, workspace provided by others including community libraries and other government facilities, among others.

 

Classification & Work Schedule

Office hours are 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday – Friday during which time staff is required to be available for clients, additional work hours are required based on the needs of the organization. This is a full-time, exempt position. The normal office hours for this position is 35 hours, but a greater emphasis of hours is placed on meeting the responsibilities assigned to the position. Responsibilities may be require working evenings and some weekends. Exempt employees do not receive overtime compensation, compensatory time off, or additional compensation beyond the salary assigned to the position.

 

Travel Requirements

This position is based out of CARECEN’s Los Angeles office and requires occasional travel to CARECEN’s Van Nuys and San Bernardino offices. The position also requires occasional travel to Immigration Courts and USCIS offices in Los Angeles and Van Nuys. The position may comprise up to 50% of travel time. Mileage reimbursement is available. Ability to drive with a valid CA license and a registered vehicle is preferred.

 

Benefits

CARECEN offers a generous benefits package that has medical, dental, vision, life insurance and Flexible Spending. Supplemental insurance and a 403(b)-retirement savings plan are also available and with 11 paid holidays.

 

Application Deadline

Candidates are encouraged to apply ASAP.

 

To Apply

Please email a cover letter, resume, writing sample (no more than 10 pages), and three references to Camila Alvarez ([email protected]). Candidates are urged to be specific regarding level of Spanish proficiency. Only those applicants selected for interviews will be contacted. Only those applicants who submit a complete application per these instructions will be considered. Applicants must apply directly. CARECEN will not consider applications through legal recruiting/staffing agencies. No inquiries or phone calls from applicants or legal recruiters please.

 

CARECEN is an Equal Opportunity Employer 

All qualified applicants shall receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, ethnic group identification, ancestry, sex, age, marital status, political affiliation, condition of physical or mental disability, or sexual orientation, in accordance with requirements of Federal and State laws.