Director of Advocacy and Legal Services

Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center

Job Description | Director of Advocacy and Legal Programs

ABOUT LAS AMERICAS IMMIGRANT ADVOCACY CENTER

Las Americas is a nationally recognized organization dedicated to serving immigrants and asylum seekers with high quality legal services, advocacy, and support in the borderland communities surrounding El Paso, Texas and southern New Mexico. Founded in 1987 by the visionary co-founders of Annunciation House, Las Americas was designed to address the unmet legal needs of Central Americans fleeing civil war and political unrest in the 1980’s. Since its founding, Las Americas has served over 50,000 persons, while advocating for a robust asylum system, working to reunify separated families, and advocating for systemic change to US immigration policy and practices. 

MEETING THE MOMENT

Las Americas is at a key inflection point in its organizational history. The demand for high quality legal services for immigrants is at an all time high and capacity is limited. We seek an innovative leader equipped with a strong legal foundation adept at creative lawyering to guide a team of dogged advocates fueled by their commitment to the El Paso community and the fight for a more just world. 

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Director of Advocacy and Legal Services will work closely with the Executive Director and legal program staff to articulate and execute a vision for all legal programs and services offered by the organization. The Director of Legal Services will supervise the legal team in an effort to best serve the mission of Las Americas. The director’s time will be distributed as follows: legal strategy and advocacy (40%); management and supervision (40%); program development and evaluation (10%), and case work (10%). 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Legal Strategy and Advocacy
  • Chart the short term and long term strategic direction for all legal programs and advocacy efforts in close collaboration with the Executive Director, fundraising staff, and program team supervisors and staff
  • Develop internal team structure and legal services model that meets community and staff needs (in partnership with other members of the management team)
  • Develop a thoughtful talent pipeline for all legal service roles (in partnership with other members of the management team)
  • Authorize all advocacy endeavors as appropriate including but not limited to rapid response, sign on letters, statements, strategic interviews, advocacy meetings, and public actions in conjunction with the Executive Director 
  • Position Las Americas as a trusted community resource (in partnership with other members of the management team)
  • Engage with the public, media, and donors regarding immigration policies and local border issues pertaining to immigration and the legal program at Las Americas as needed 
  • Serve as point of contact on all active impact litigation involving Las Americas as plaintiff
  • Develop policies related to engaging in impact litigation 
  • Represent Las Americas in key coalitions and partner tables locally and nationally (in partnership with other members of the management team)
    
    
• Management and Supervision
  • Quality control of the legal output through regular qualitative audits of each team (in partnership with other members of the management team)
  • Assist supervisors and lead attorneys in assigning cases to staff attorneys, accredited representatives and paralegals, based on area of expertise and current caseload
  • Effectively manage legal interns, volunteers (including  pro-bono attorneys) based on team needs
  • Optimize legal services capabilities through collaboration with private bar and other non-profit legal service providers (in partnership with other members of the management team)
    
    
• Oversight of Legal Programs
  • Collaborate with staff attorneys and accredited representatives to identify viable cases and provide the best legal advice to prospective clients and pending intakes to make timely decisions of what cases can be accepted for representation
  • Assist supervisor and lead attorneys in co-chairing difficult cases
  • Stay abreast of legal changes in the field and identify means of training all staff to ensure everyone, from the executive director to front desk, is aware of how changes impact day-to-day services
  • Implement and oversee use of efficiency and case management systems

• Compliance with Ethical and Grant Obligations
  • Ensure legal systems are meeting current demand and grant requirements with healthy and attainable deliverables (in partnership with other members of the management team)
  • Safekeeping and proper disposition of legal records, including client documents (in partnership with other members of the management team)
  • Ensure compliance and monitoring of IOLTA account
  • Client relations in problematic cases and/or client complaints 
  • Ensure competency of legal staff and oversight of accredited representative program

IDEAL CANDIDATES WILL HAVE:

• Expertise in immigration law and policy
• Previous successful management experience
• Exemplary organizational and internal systems-building skills
• Experience working with indigent and vulnerable populations
• Commitment to continuous growth and development of others
• Demonstrated commitment to social justice and service to others
• Spirit of collegiality, creativity, and initiative
• Ability to break down silos and view legal program areas holistically 
• Flexibility to transition from strategic to granular as needed by the legal team
• Commitment to long-term relationship building both internally and external to the organization
• Excellent customer service skills
• Demonstrated thought leadership
• Love and respect for our borderland region

REQUIRED SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Juris Doctorate degree with membership in good standing in the bar of any  state and/or the District of Columbia
• Minimum of 3-5 years’ experience in immigration law (5 years preferred)
• Minimum of one year of’ experience supervising legal staff (may include supervision of paralegals)
• Knowledge of affirmative and removal defense work before USCIS, the Immigration Court, and Board of Immigration Appeals
• Well-organized, self-motivated, able to work well under  pressure, and able to work collaboratively and as part of a team
• Excellent written, analytical, oral, organizational, and time management skills
• Must always maintain professional demeanor and excellent work ethics
• Strong public speaking ability
• Proficiency with computers, common office equipment, MS Office, Google Suite, legal case management software
• Must work locally out of El Paso, TX

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE

• Bilingual - English/Spanish strongly preferred but not required
• Direct services experience
• Ability to stay up to date with immigration policies and procedures to provide guidance and training for legal teams
• Experience with media interviews
• Experience with impact litigation
• Experience working with people from diverse backgrounds, including low-income populations, people who are marginally housed, immigrants, LGBTQ individuals, people of color and/or persons with disabilities, and survivors of trauma
• Dedication to serving immigrant communities with a sincere commitment to working on behalf of low-income immigrants

SALARY

• Minimum salary starting at $80,000 and not to exceed $90,000 

BENEFITS

• Health insurance benefits paid with employer contributions
• Flexible work environment and schedule 
• Paid time off includes personal, sick, vacation and all federal holidays

TO APPLY

Send resume, cover letter, and (3) references via Bamboo. 

Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center is an equal opportunity employer and offers equal employment opportunities in recruitment, selection, and advancement with no regard to race, cultural heritage, nationality, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, or any other status protected under the law.

Salary

• $80,000 - $90,000