Interim Supervising Staff Attorney

About the Organization

Nationalities Service Center (NSC) serves more than 3,000 immigrants and refugees each year from over 110 countries. We provide comprehensive services in immigration law matters, community transition and integration, access to health and wellness, language proficiency, and job readiness training for immigrants and refugees. NSC’s mission is to welcome and empower immigrants to thrive in our communities and pursue a just future. Our vision is that all immigrants achieve a life of safety and stability, sustainable opportunities, and meaningful community connections.

Job Summary: The Interim Supervising Attorney is responsible for ensuring high-quality legal assistance on behalf of eligible clients, both by providing direct legal services and by supervising the organization’s immigration legal work. The Interim Supervising Attorney will collaborate with the leadership team to develop best practices and uphold compliance standards that guide the organization’s operations. The Interim Supervising Attorney will also play a leadership role in the organization’s partnerships in the legal services community. The Interim Supervising Attorney will spend about 40% of their time on supervisory and leadership tasks, with the remaining 60% dedicated to direct legal services. The Nationalities Service Center formally recognizes the union; however, the position of Interim Supervising Staff Attorney is not included within the bargaining unit.

Essential  functions

1. Oversee immigration legal work 

1. Substantively support the immigration team, including attorneys, U.S. Department of Justice Accredited Representatives, fellows, and other legal staff. 

1. Provide meaning and thoughtful feedback to the team and conduct performance reviews. 

2. Create and execute a supervision plan and schedule tailored to the needs of each supervisee to ensure a supportive environment and quality work product. 

3. Ensure the teammaintainscompliance with timekeeping, client files, data, reports, and all other applicable regulations, policies, ethical and grant requirements. 

4. Review work product and legal writing, asappropriate basedon the needs and skill level of the supervisee. 

5. Periodically review Client files, case notes, and case management system Client profiles. 

6. Hold office hours

7. Conductan initialreview of all consultation notes andassistwith follow up afteran initialconsultation for more junior supervisees, until the supervisee can work more independently

8. Assistindeterminingwhen NSC will offer representation and what the scope of representation will be. Review representation agreements prior to Client offer. Assist with Client communicationregardingscope of services and terms of the representation agreement. Ensure that all signed representation agreements are part of the Client file. 

2. Maintain subject matterexpertisein immigration law and practice issues, especially for the case types mostfrequentlyhandled by our team.

3. Identify, compile, and share resources asappropriate. 

2. Develop and refine internal protocols and best practices, in collaboration with the leadership team.

3. Other duties to support the Legal Department and Our Mission

1. Support fundraising efforts

2. Support recruitment and onboarding ofnew staff

3. Assistin creating a transition plan fordepartingstaff and provide coverage for case work left behind 

4. Identifyandparticipatein opportunities for community member and provider outreach and education

5. Identifyandparticipatein opportunities for collaboration with partner organizations 

4. Direct Services 

1. Provide legal advice and representation in immigration law matters to low-income individuals, including to survivors of domestic violence, crime, torture, and human trafficking. 

1. Conduct screenings toidentifyindividuals eligible for services

2. Meet program deliverables as set by funding requirements 

3. Record andmaintainrequired data 

4. Prepare affirmative and defensive applications for relief

5. Provide representation at hearings and interviews 

5. Administrative tasks

Qualifications 

• Juris Doctor (JD) required; Master of Laws (LLM) acceptable for foreign-trained attorneys
• Admission to the bar of any State (required)

• At least3years of experience practicing immigration law as an attorney
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively with people from diverse backgrounds, including migrant and immigrant community members, partners, and funders.
• Strongwritten and oral communication skills
• Ability to exercise sound decision making andindependentjudgment 
• Excellent legal research, analytical, and problem-solving skills
• Ability to work independently and take initiative
• Strong attention to detail 
• Ability to set priorities, multi-task, and manage time well 
• Ability to work in a fact paced, fluid environment 
• Demonstrated commitment to mentoring others, improving internal processes, and sharing knowledge
• Spanish language fluency (strongly preferred);other languages a plus

Working Conditions:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

1. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

2. This position will be hybrid between NSC’s Center City office and remote work.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

1. While performing the duties of this job, the employee willfrequentlystand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects,toolsor equipment;reach withhands and arms; balance; talk or hear. The employee will occasionally climb stairs; stoop; kneel; crouch or crawl; taste or smell.

2. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.

3. Operate general office equipment with frequent work at a computer workstation.

4. Specific vision abilities required by the job include frequent reading and close vision; distance vision; color vision; peripheral vision; depth perception; and the ability to adjust focus.

Commitment to Inclusion Statement:

NSC is an equal opportunity employer committed to a policy of non-discrimination in all employment practices and does not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, nor any other basis protected under applicable law.

LOCATION AND HOURS This is a temporary full-time, in-person position based in our Philadelphia office with potential for hybrid work as team needs allow. Our regular hours are Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, and this position requires working occasional evenings and weekends.

COMPENSATION The salary is $76,000. The benefits package includes generous vacation and sick leave; paid sabbatical leave; early close Fridays; 77% employer-paid health, dental, and vision coverage; short-term disability, long-term disability, life insurance, 403(b) with an employer match.

While Nationalities Service Center is committed to program sustainability, employment is dependent on the continued availability of funding.

HOW TO APPLY  
Please submit a cover letter, resume and complete the online application by going to this link - - https://nscphila.org/about-us/careers. 

Disclaimer:

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.