Job Title: Supervising Attorney or DOJ Accredited Representative

Classification & FLSA Status:  Full time | Exempt

Salary: $77,000-$90,000, Depending on Experience

Department: Legal Department | Citizenship & Family Based Unit

Reports to: Managing Attorney

 

Job Summary

The Supervising Attorney/OLAP will be responsible for supervising the day-to-day operations, personnel, and legal service provision at CARECEN’s central office (Los Angeles) in the Citizenship & Family Based Unit. The Supervising Attorney/OLAP works directly under the Managing Attorney and Legal Director and will assist the Managing Attorney in overseeing the department, citizenship classes, and other tasks as needed. The Supervising Attorney/OLAP 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, including assigning work, monitoring timesheets, caseload management, 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

* Conduct trainings and facilitate ongoing legal education for team and legal department

* Oversee hotline and intake process for team

* Prepare and supervise CARECEN’s legal services, advocacy, and community education response based on legal updates

* Conduct regular individual case review with legal staff

* Oversee the day-to-day operations relating to the provision of the team’s services, review

casework and produce reports on CARECEN’s output;

* Conduct periodic written and performance evaluation for legal staff

* Recruit, hire, train and evaluate team staff and volunteers

* Provide individual consultations, prepare cases, represent applicants before DHS, in Immigration Court, and on appeal (if so licensed)

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

* Ownership of clinics/workshops, organizing and preparing services and clinics, including weekend clinics, and overseeing review and quality control

* Respond to media requests on relevant immigration issues on as-needed basis

* Onboard staff and volunteers for CARECEN team and classroom support, on as-needed basis

* Develop relationships with local CBOs, law schools, foundations, government and other organizations and stakeholders

* Review case processing and internal procedures for quality review and assist Managing Attorney in updating case system processing, internal team policies, and facilitate training and communication on changes in internal or legal updates

* Participate in grant writing and fundraising, including the planning of grant proposals, reviewing drafts by Development, 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 and lead team meetings on regular basis

* Facilitate legal meetings when Legal Director is unavailable

* Lead team bonding activities and retreat planning for ongoing staff support and team morale

* Continually identify and develop quality control measures for internal practices and training for best practices in provision of high-quality services

* Other duties as assigned by the Managing Attorney or Legal Director

 

Skills/Qualifications

* Law degree and active admission to the bar of California or DOJ/OLAP Accreditation (Required)

* Excellent legal skills and broad knowledge of immigration law. Minimum 4-5 years of substantive immigration law experience strongly preferred

* Minimum 4-5 years of experience in Family Based immigration and/or previous experience in Removal Defense (Preferred)

* Bilingual fluency in spoken and written English and Spanish (Required)

* Experience supervising legal and support staff (Preferred)

* Attention to detail and extensive legal research experience (Required)

* Demonstrated commitment to the mission and goals of CARECEN (Required)

* Excellent written and oral communication skills (Required)

* Commitment to working in a diverse working environment (Required)

* Ability to develop and implement innovative models of service delivery with limited resources and leverage other community resources (Required)

* Ability to effectively work and communicate with diverse groups of individuals, including representatives of government, foundations, English/Spanish media, and others (Required)

* Strong organizational skills and ability to work independently (Required)

 

Supervisory Responsibilities

The Supervising Attorney/OLAP Representative directly supervises a team of attorneys, accredited representatives, paralegals, and support staff. The Supervising Attorney/OLAP Representative 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. Flexible work from home schedule may be offered. A hybrid schedule may be offered. Work is performed in a variety of work settings, including CARECEN’s office, and workspaces provided by partners.

 

Classification & Work Schedule

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

 

Travel Requirements

Ability to travel to different CARECEN offices, and other offsite locations. Work 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 health insurance package that has medical, vision, dental, life insurance and Flexible Spending Account (FSA). Supplemental insurance and a 403(b) retirement savings plan is also available. Paid time off is also provided along with 11 paid holidays.

 

Application Deadline

Applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible and by August 14, 2023. Position available until filled.

 

To Apply

Must email cover letter, resume, at least three references, and brief writing sample (10 page maximum) to Miriam Núñez, [email protected]. Candidates are urged to be specific regarding level of Spanish fluency in the cover letter. Only those applicants selected for interviews will be contacted. Only applicants who submit a complete application per these instructions will be considered. 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.