Purpose of the Job

The managing attorney will provide high-quality legal guidance to Human Rights First’s pro bono attorneys and help oversee the legal representation work of Human Rights First’s Refugee and Immigrant Rights Representation team across all Human Rights First (HRF) offices. The managing attorney will ensure that the Refugee Representation team’s values, vision, strategies, projects, and activities align with the organization’s overall mission.

 Major Duties and Responsibilities

Leadership

• Co-lead the day-to-day operations of the Refugee Representation team across HRF’s three offices nationwide and serve as a team leader, which includes modeling leadership, contributing to the development and implementation of team-wide strategic and operational plans, and helping to develop and implement team-wide policies and procedures;
• Work with the director and other members of Refugee Representation’s leadership team to continuously develop and refine the vision and strategic direction for ongoing operations; and
• Supervise staff by providing mentoring, coaching and professional development opportunities; oversee team selection and supervision of volunteers and interns; develop and retain a high-performing staff.

Case Selection, Placement, and Management

• Ensure that clients accepted into Human Rights First’s pro bono representation program receive high-quality legal representation from Refugee Representation staff and pro bono attorneys by providing comprehensive legal training, guidance, advice, and updates on asylum and immigration law to pro bono attorneys and internal staff;
• Review and supervise case management and quality control systems for pro bono cases;
• Oversee screening and intake process and make case selection decisions in alignment with team objectives and advocacy goals. For cases accepted into the representation program, identify and assign cases appropriate for pro bono and in-house representation across offices;
• Work with the director to identify new pro bono partners, engage in regular communications and outreach to develop new relationships and strengthen existing pro bono partnerships;
• Participate in efforts to assist asylum seekers detained at area detention facilities, including conducting intakes, when necessary;
• Spot, analyze, and respond to legal or procedural changes that affect asylum seekers, including statutory changes, proposed regulations, and decisions of the Board of Immigration Appeals or federal courts;
• Oversee the recruitment of, and assignment of cases to, pro bono attorneys;
• Provide support to pro bono attorneys and Refugee Representation staff across offices, and work with the entire Refugee Representation team to ensure inter-office support and team collaboration; and
• Sustain a caseload of mentored and direct representation cases.

Operational Planning and Management

• Ensure effective systems to qualitatively and quantitatively track progress and regularly evaluate program components;
• Oversee and assist with development of training materials for volunteer attorneys, including the online Pro Bono Attorney Library, and other manuals, memoranda, videos, or other training media; and
• Partner with the director of Refugee Representation and Human Resources team to source and staff open positions.

Advocacy

• Participate in national advocacy efforts relating to asylum seekers and refugees through engagement with the media and participation in meetings with government officials;
• Participate in local advocacy efforts in the Refugee Representation team’s geographic areas to strengthen the team’s ability to engage in individual case advocacy as well as develop relationships with local government agencies in local liaison meetings; and
• Collaborate with the Refugee Protection team to identify asylum seekers to engage in advocacy efforts, including speaking with media or congressional representatives, participating in communications campaigns, or providing case information for Human Rights First reports.

Fundraising and Resource Development

• Assist in efforts to secure and maintain funding for the organization and Refugee Representation team;
• Collaborate with the director and other teams, as necessary, to write and submit grant proposals, and maintain necessary records for grant reporting and audits;
• Play a leading role in expanding and maintaining strong relationships with local law firms, law school clinics, volunteer attorneys, and legal service organizations;
• Promote the organization’s mission by participating in local community events, promotional events, legal conferences, and other professional networking events to elevate the organization’s community profile; and
• Other duties as requested based on department and/or organizational need

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility Competencies (DEIA)

Human Rights First acknowledges the existence of systemic and structural biases and believes it is necessary to be strategic and intentional in pursuing diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in all aspects of governance, operations, and programming. As an employee, you are expected to:

• Support adoption of best practices to create a more diverse, equitable, inclusive, and accessible work experience for colleagues and external partners.
• Strive to consider the people, places, and cultures that might be missing from your work and look for opportunities to increase inclusivity in all the work you do.
• Support the mission of Human Rights First in all interactions with colleagues and stakeholders.
• Dedicate efforts to enriching DEIA consciousness throughout our office-wide interactions.
• Foster a culture of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility by promoting adherence to the standards delineated in the Culture of Respect and Teamwork statement in the Employee Handbook.

Required Knowledge, Skills, And Experience

• A law degree (J.D.) conferred by a United States law school and active bar membership in any state or the District of Columbia (California bar membership preferred);
• At least six years of experience in representing asylum applicants at all levels of the administrative process;
• Excellent organizational management with the ability to coach staff; develop and manage high-performing teams; and set and achieve strategic objectives;
• Experience supervising staff, preferably on immigration law matters;
• Excellent and engaging written and oral communicator with ability to communicate patiently, respectfully, and empathetically with individuals and diverse audiences of varying backgrounds, including survivors of trauma or torture;
• Ability to manage numerous tasks simultaneously; work under pressure and meet deadlines; devise, entertain, and embrace creative solutions; and identify and analyze legal issues; and
• Fluency in one or more relevant second languages, particularly Spanish, is highly desirable.