Supervising Attorney, Immigrant Legal Defense

About NIJC

The National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC) advances human rights and due process for immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers through direct legal services, impact litigation, advocacy, and public education. Headquartered in Chicago with offices in Washington, DC, Indiana, and San Diego, NIJC's team of over 100 attorneys, paralegals, and professionals, along with 2,000 pro bono attorneys, is at the forefront of immigration reform.

Job Summary:

NIJC seeks an energetic, visionary, and committed supervising attorney to join our Immigrant Legal Defense Project in our Chicago office. The team provides legal representation and counseling to immigrants appearing before the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Department of State (DOS), and if appropriate, before the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) and the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA).

In this role, the supervising attorney will supervise a team of attorneys, paralegals, and interns to ensure high-quality legal services, as well as the ongoing training and professional development of team members. The supervisor will collaborate with other teams, including management, litigation, policy, and communications.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Supervises legal services and oversees paralegals, attorneys, interns and support staff providing legal services including the development of case strategy, preparation, and representation before governmental agencies.
• Ensure accurate data entry by paralegals, attorneys, and interns.
• Oversees and reviews legal intakes; makes legal assessments and determinations regarding representation. Ensure timely case preparation, including case opening process, preparing filings, trial preparation, appeals, case closures, and other case management practices.
• Works with a supervisory team to build a strong team and oversee the team's projects. Provides recommendations based on case trends to inform project-based strategic decisions. Maintains and develops strategic partnerships with key stakeholders.
• Conducts factual and legal research.
• Provides legal representation to immigrants in immigration proceedings, including before an immigration officer, an immigration judge, and before the Board of Immigration Appeals as appropriate.
• Drafts correspondence and documents, including applications, briefs, and reports.
• Improves delivery of legal services, including the use of technology to improve efficiency. Trains lawyers and non-lawyers in immigration law.
• Conducts legal presentations regarding law and case(s) to NIJC staff and members of the immigrant community. Maintains accurate, thorough, and timely records.
• Identifies trends and emerging issues and responses to issues.
• Maintains current knowledge regarding immigration laws, policies, and procedures. Advances an anti-racist organization that promotes diversity, equity and inclusion Reacts to change productively and handles other essentials duties as assigned.

Skills and Competencies:

• Ability to thrive in fast-paced environments and adapt quickly to change.
• Effectively manages cases ensuring accuracy, efficiency and timely decision‑making in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
• Stays up to date on current knowledge regarding immigration laws, policies, and procedures.
• Ability to analyze the impact of laws on vulnerable populations and advocate for improved laws and policies.
• Exhibits sound, independent legal judgment, and the ability to work autonomously while maintaining strong collaborative relationships with teammates, supervisors, and cross functional teams.
• Demonstrates sound judgment when navigating complex, trauma-informed cases, ensuring ethical decision-making and high-quality legal advocacy.
• Strong oral advocacy and communication skills, with the ability to effectively represent before immigration agencies, immigration courts, and, when appropriate, federal courts.