Managing Attorney - Lowell, MA

The mission of the International Institute of New England (IINE) is to create opportunities for refugees and immigrants to succeed through resettlement, education, career advancement and pathways to citizenship. One of the oldest and largest human services organizations for New Americans in the region, IINE serves more than 9,000 people each year in Boston and Lowell, Massachusetts, and Manchester, New Hampshire. Our programs include case management, youth and family services, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), employment and skills training, and immigration legal services.

A dynamic, forward-looking, and rapidly growing non-profit organization, we seek well-qualified, solutions-focused candidates who are experts in their respective fields. Successful candidates will join a committed team of professional staff and volunteers who are devoted to welcoming and serving new Americans.

Overview

The International Institute of New England has a rapidly growing immigration legal services practice. We are searching for an energetic and committed Managing Attorney. The Managing Attorney will oversee a small team of committed individuals that provide high quality, immigration assistance to clients under the supervision of IINE's Senior Director of Immigration Legal Services. IINE offers legal representation for Family/Humanitarian Immigration matters; Citizenship; and Business Immigration matters. This role requires the Managing Attorney to maintain their own caseload, including screening clients for possible legal representation, gathering documentation, preparing case files, submitting applications to USCIS, and preparing and accompanying clients to USCIS interviews as well as management of support staff and case review.

Position: Managing Attorney

• Department: Immigration Legal Services
• Reports to: Senior Director, Immigration Legal Services
• Supervises: Paralegal, DOJ Rep, Case Specialist, Admin Assistant
• Status: Exempt, Full-Time
• Location: Lowell, MA
• Position Format: On-site
• Pay: $100,000/year

Benefits:

Full-time employees will be eligible for all benefits including Personal Time Off (PTO), sick days, and twelve paid holidays. You may participate in all benefit programs that IINE establishes and makes available to eligible employees, under (and subject to all provisions of) the plan documents that govern those programs. Currently, IINE offers medical, dental and vision. Company-paid life insurance, company-paid short-term disability (STD), long term disability (LTD), accidental death and dismemberment and disability coverage, Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), other benefits including 403(b) with company match plan(s) pursuant to the terms and conditions of company policy and the 403(b)-plan document. Other perks such as discounts through our vision plan, fitness reimbursement and more.

Responsibilities

Client Services:

• Perform client intake, gathering sufficient facts and information to assess eligibility for immigration relief.
• Provide immigration legal representation to low- and moderate-income individuals and families before USCIS.
• Provide quality legal services at IINE sites and satellite offices in Boston, Lowell, and Manchester, traveling between offices as needed.
• Monitor and maintain an organized caseload, including maintaining proper client files and documentary evidence required to prove eligibility for immigration relief.
• Conduct legal research as necessary.
• Work closely with partner community-based organizations to ensure that clients receive holistic service addressing their many needs beyond legal representation.
• Remain current in best practices in immigration legal services, participating in continuing legal education (CLEs) programs as appropriate.
• Take direction on all legal matters from the Senior Director of Immigration Legal Services, adjusting schedule, client load, and other duties as directed to meet all deadlines and requirements for each client matter.

Managerial:

• Manage legal team support staff to include Paralegal/DOJ Rep; Legal Case Specialist; and Legal Administrative Assistant.
• Assign long and short-term projects as needed to support staff and ensure all team members are fully trained and working efficiently.
• Lead the internship program with the Immigration Legal Services department at IINE, including interviewing intern candidates; intern selection; coordinating schedules; developing robust training programs; providing work assignments; supervision; and all administrative paperwork required by intern's school officials.

Administrative:

• Maintain and update immigration database with detailed client case notes and changes to contact information.
• Develop robust training videos and organize according to subject for use with onboarding of new staff and interns.
• Support continuous updates to the Immigration Legal Services Policy and Procedure Handbook.
• Assist with creation and maintenance of client/grant trackers as new programs are developed within legal.
• Achieve weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual forms completion and fee generation goals.
• All other duties assigned by supervisor/manager.

Required Skills/Abilities

• Knowledge of immigration policies and regulations.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills demonstrated ability to meet deadlines.
• Ability to act/work independently and in a team setting.
• High degree of intellectual curiosity; willingness to learn as much as possible about immigration law and to contribute to the smooth operation of the immigration legal program at IINE.
• A strong sense of professionalism, discretion, and confidentiality.
• Effective communicator; should be comfortable working as part of a team and expressing innovative or critical ideas.
• Cooperative, friendly, and helpful attitude with clients and co-workers.
• Highly proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook.
• Experience with CRMs (E-Immigration and Salesforce) or other databases, or a demonstrated ability to learn new systems quickly.
• Strong writing skills (writing sample required).
• Professional and/or volunteer experience working directly with marginalized populations.
• Bilingual candidates preferred, especially fluent speakers of Spanish, French, Haitian Creole, Portuguese, Arabic, Khmer, and/or Hindi.

Education & Experience

• J.D. from an ABA accredited law school or international equivalent, and a current bar membership in good standing in any jurisdiction in the United States.
• Minimum of three years of experience practicing immigration law, assisting clients with a range of immigration relief.
• Minimum of two years managing paralegals or other support staff.

Work Environment Conditions

• Frequent interruptions from employees and clients- must have ability to multi-task.
• Exposure to bright, overhead office lighting, use of office technology such as laptops, printers, mail machines, and other in-office equipment.
• Frequent trips to mail room and/or Post Office required.
• Must have access to a car and auto insurance. Position requires travel to IINE's three offices, USCIS, and other locations in the Boston, Lowell, and Manchester areas.

Physical Demands

• Continuous sitting (or standing) at a desk for long periods of time.
• Occasional lifting, pushing, and pulling materials (boxes, equipment) of 50 pounds.
• Occasional driving to IINE's three offices in Boston, Lowell, and Manchester.

Covid-19 Policy

IINE does not require applicants for most positions to show proof of Covid-19. Some federal contracts, however, require IINE staff to show proof of Covid-19 vaccination, and some immigration status adjustments, such as a Green Card, require proof of Covid-19 vaccination as well. Consequently, for some positions, IINE staff may be required to show proof of vaccination, and in others, IINE staff will be supporting clients who are required by law to have proof of vaccination in order to adjust their status in the United States.

US Work Eligibility Notice

This position requires lawful authorization to work in the United States, and IINE is unable to provide visa sponsorship in connection with this