Supervising Attorney (Multilingual)

Our Mission: Lutheran Community Services Northwest partners with individuals, families and communities for health, justice and hope.

About Us Lutheran Community Services Northwest is a non-profit human services agency that improves lives of people in communities throughout Washington, Oregon and Idaho. We provide a wide variety of services to adults, adolescents, children, families, schools and communities. We are privileged to touch lives of all ages, cultures and faiths.

POSITION SUMMARY: Supervising Attorney is responsible for leading staff attorneys representing immigrant and refugee clients. Supervising Attorney will be responsible for leading one or more offices to ensure that Safe Route Immigration (SRI) attorneys represent clients in a holistic manner to achieve clients’ goals through aggressive advocacy including litigation. Supervising Attorney will work closely with the SRI Director to identify systemic legal problems and develop and implement solutions. In addition to overseeing attorneys and staff, Supervising Attorneys will represent clients and maintain a caseload. Supervising Attorney will ensure that staff comply with internal database (BlueDot) management and external funding reporting requirements.

ESSENTIAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Supervise staff attorneys and support staff to ensure holistic, high quality legal representation to client are provided.
• Monitor substantive legal work and provide consult and advice to staff attorneys.
• Ensure staff development through mentoring and training.
• Ensure staff compliance with BlueDot database management.
• Ensure staff compliance with funding requirements.
• Prepare and draft required funder reports.
• Represent clients by maintaining a caseload and co-counseling with staff attorneys.
• Identify, develop, and implement legal strategies to address systemic legal problems.
• Develop and maintain a productive work environment.
• Develop a leadership role in legal services providers, legal associations, and community groups.
• Other duties as assigned by SRI Director

JOB COMPLEXITY: This position will be responsible for development and/or decisions regarding new policy or guidelines or the administration of budgets in a collaborative setting.  Work is done in a high-volume setting.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: This position has supervisory responsibilities over staff attorneys.   

INTERPERSONAL CONTACTS: This position involves interaction with other staff members, volunteers, and clients from diverse populations. This will always require courtesy and confidentiality.

QUALIFICATIONS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Juris Doctor
• 5 years or more experience of practice
• Admission to practice law in a US state
• Demonstrated commitment to public interest work
• Prior supervisory experience
• Ability to lead and motivate
• Excellent writing and oral communication skills
• Possess strong time-management and organizational skills
• Ability to multitask and set priorities
• Flexibility
• Ability to speak, read, and write fluently in Spanish or another foreign language

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE: Law degree; minimum five years of related experience

LANGUAGE SKILLS: Ability to read, write, and understand directions. Must have the ability to write memos and other basic correspondence. Must be culturally sensitive. Fluent in English and Spanish, or another foreign language.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS: Must be working towards partial accreditation by the Department of Justice (DOJ) 

THE PERKS:  We offer a full benefits package with options for medical, dental, prescription and vision coverage; employer-paid short and long-term disability, as well as life insurance.  Vacation includes up to 2 weeks in the first year.  Up to 2 weeks of Sick leave for you or to take care of your immediate family (based on hours worked). 12 Paid Holidays plus 2 Floating Holidays each year.  A 403(b) Retirement plan, with employer matching after meeting eligibility requirements.  Our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is designed to help and support you. Staff potentially eligible for Student Loan Forgiveness program as a 501(c) 3 employer.

We thank all candidates in advance for their interest in joining the Lutheran Community Services Northwest team.  Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

LUTHERAN COMMUNITY SERVICES NORTHWEST IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER AND COMMITTED TO CULTURAL COMPETENCY.