Supervising Attorney/ Accredited Paralegal - ILS

This position is for *Supervising Attorney only. 

Responsibilities:

• Ensure that the activities of this position and relevant programs are consistent with the mission, vision and values of Catholic Charities, Diocese of Cleveland.
• Interview and screen clients for legal services and provide brief advice and legal counsel when appropriate.
• Provide immigration legal services by serving as the representative for clients in immigration cases.
• Provide competent legal counsel to clients seeking immigration assistance.
• Prepare cases for submission to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
• Represent clients in Immigration Court, before USCIS District Officers and Asylum Officers, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA).
• Maintain current knowledge about legal, regulatory, policy, and procedure requirements as it relates to immigration law.
• Keep up-to-date client files (both paper files and electronic files in the case management system) for the submission of monthly and annual statistical and grant reports.
• Maintain an environment of confidentiality regarding clients and related paperwork and/or electronic files.
• Travel to the detention facilities, parishes, community groups and other locations as required in order to meet with clients and members of the community.
• Manage and supervise staff and volunteers of the Immigration Legal Services Program as it pertains to legal strategy and ethical issues for legal representation.
• Train new staff and volunteers in the Immigration Legal Services Program on substantive legal issues and legal procedure.
• Co-counsel cases with staff or volunteers of the Immigration Legal Services program.
• Provide, and ensure those you supervise provide, high quality legal representation to individuals in accordance with the Immigration Legal Services Practice Manual and the Rules of Professional Conduct.
• Conduct regular supervision meetings, annual case reviews, and evaluations of other Immigration Legal Services staff.
• Engage in and supervise all of the appellate work, complex litigation, and administrative advocacy conducted by the Immigration Legal Services program, including comments on pending legislation and regulations.
• Assist in keeping Immigration Legal Services staff apprised of new developments in the areas of immigration law and policy.
• Assist in the development of a variety of grant-funded programs and fee-based legal initiatives.
• Assist in the development and expansion of services and resources for the Immigration Legal Services Program.
• Work collaboratively with community agencies and attorneys in serving the needs of immigrants.
• Assist with public education in the community and collaborate with partner agencies.
• Participate in meetings with immigration legal service community-based organizations as required.
• Foster relationships with volunteers, clients, community agencies, related Catholic Charities organizations and fellow employees of Catholic Charities.
• Assist with special projects as assigned or as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned to accomplish objectives.

 

Working Conditions and Physical Demands:

• Normal office environment;
• Travel throughout service area required;
• Frequent sitting, talking, listening/hearing;
• Reading, writing and finger dexterity to manage correspondence, faxing, copying, answering phones, forms/documents, computer and client files required on a frequent basis;
• Tasks require visual perception and discrimination;
• Organizing and coordinating schedules;
• Analyzing and interpreting data;
• Communicating with the public;
• Frequent use of computer and telephone/cell phone

 

Requirements:

• Graduate of accredited law school (JD) and be admitted and in good standing with the State of Ohio Bar.
• Fluency in a language other than English strongly preferred.
• Minimum four years of related legal experience in the field of Immigration Law, including experience working cross-culturally. It is preferred that two of the four years of experience are in removal defense.
• Must be comfortable working with language barriers.
• Maintain an active status law license in the State of Ohio.
• Must have strong organizational skills and the ability to organize and manage multiple projects.
• Must have excellent oral, written and interpersonal communication skills. Must be able to present verbal and written complex data in an understandable format.
• Must be self-directed and self-motivated and be able to work independently.
• Must be willing to work a flexible schedule that includes evenings, holidays and weekends.
• Ability to effectively and productively work with people of very diverse economic, cultural and administrative backgrounds, both professional and volunteers, as well as organizations and systems of service.
• Must have valid Ohio Driver’s License and reliable means of transportation for local travel.
• Must have a good working knowledge of computers and familiarity with Microsoft Office software.
• Final applicant is required to be fingerprinted to complete background check.