Supervising Immigration Attorney

INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF BUFFALO

JOB DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE: Supervising Legal Immigration Attorney

DEPARTMENT: New American Integration

SUPERVISOR: Executive Director

WORKING HOURS: Full time, exempt, Mon-Fri 9:00am to 5:00pm

PAY RANGE: $80,000 to $90,000, annually

JOB SUMMARY:

The mission of the International Institute of Buffalo (IIB) is to make Western New York a better place for, and because of, immigrants and refugees. IIB’s legal team was started in 2021 with resettlement funding to support asylum applications for Afghan airlift evacuees and humanitarian relief applications for Ukrainians who were displaced due to conflict. It has since expanded to offer legal representation to other refugees and immigrant groups on a variety of humanitarian legal matters.

IIB is seeking an experienced immigration attorney with a deep commitment to serving low-income immigrants and to step into the role as the legal team leader. The Supervising Immigration Attorney will oversee and manage a staff of 2-3 (attorney and legal assistant/accredited representative), as well as maintain a reasonable individual caseload.

The Supervising Immigration Attorney will provide oversight and mentoring to the team, will ensure compliance with legal practice ethics and funder parameters, and will manage the day-to-day operations of the team. IIB’s immigration practice is primarily focused on affirmative petitions filed with U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services, and the U.S. Department of State. The legal team works within a larger resettlement agency, which engages interdisciplinary teams of attorneys and case managers to provide a wide range of services including housing, employment, education and other integration supports.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION:

• Graduate of U.S. ABA-accredited law school, Juris Doctor
• Admitted to practice with a law license in good standing with any US state bar, NY bar preferred

EXPERIENCE:

• Minimum of 4 years of legal work experience within the scope of immigration law
  • Minimum 2 years of experience supervising staff and volunteers
• Familiarity with non-profit program management is strongly preferred
  • Excellent problem-solving skills
  • Extensive experience working with diverse cultures, underserved and underrepresented communities, and survivors of trauma
  • Strong written and oral advocacy skills
  • Strong client communication skills
  • Proficient legal research skills
  • Highly organized and strong time management skills
  • Ability to work independently
  • Basic computer skills (Word processing, email), and ability to write using proper grammar and spelling
  • Experience with case management database software, data analysis and grant report writing.

USE OF PERSONAL VEHICLE:

The candidate must have access to a personal vehicle and have a valid Driver License along with proof of active insurance coverage. Some local travel is required between office locations and to local courts and adjudication interviews.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Represent retained clients on matters before USCIS, the NVC and Consulates on immigration matters including Adjustment of Status, Naturalization, family-based sponsorship petitions, Employment Authorization (EAD), inadmissibility waivers, consular processing, DACA, asylum, VAWA, U & T visa applications and Temporary Protected Status (TPS), and related appeals for any USCIS-denials of these applications.
• Some limited representation at Buffalo Immigration Court. Duties include performing legal research, establishing case strategy, preparation of applications for relief, attending hearings, writing briefs, and working with expert witnesses.
• Communicate with clients. Duties include following up with clients through texts, telephone calls and letters.
• Seek out and maintain subject matter expertise on U.S. immigration Law. Continuously develop knowledge of case law, statutes, regulations, agency policies. Be able to impart your expertise to the legal staff to develop an institutional knowledge base. Attending conferences and legal education trainings/CLEs.

Additionally, the Supervising Immigration Attorney will:

• Regularly meet with legal team supervisees for individual case supervision and review cases, identify issues, advise and assist legal team staff in providing the best possible representation from the inception of the case to resolution, including adjudicator interviews, hearings and appeals.
• Review supervisees’ written work product and offer edits and feedback
• Mentor, teach and coach legal staff to help them grow their knowledge, skills and further their professional development
• Evaluate team member performance by annually and informally, and regularly provide appropriate feedback.
• Know, apply and ensure adherence to IIB’s organizational policies, legal practice management policies, and case management system.
• Assist legal team staff in working effectively with social workers/case managers, community members, support staff and other stakeholders.
• Periodically review the legal unit’s case management policies and operating model to ensure compliance with ethics-based law practice models and funder requirements
• Ensure all grant contract obligations are fulfilled by working collaboratively with the Director of Grant Administration to write & timely file grant reports (narrative responses and data set runs), and assist with grant applications and renewals. Participate as needed in program-wide and grant-specific data collection.
• Support the Executive Director on legal advocacy issues related to immigration, including trainings and presentations to a wide variety of audiences.
• Conduct educational trainings on immigration topics related to IIB’s scope of service, and perform occasional community outreach in conjunction with other IIB staff.
• Participate in meetings with WNY immigration legal service community-based organizations.
• Other duties as assigned

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed by people assigned to this role. This is not an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The International Institute of Buffalo reserves the right to amend and change responsibilities to meet business and organizational needs, as necessary.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Office environment requires employees to consistently use manual dexterity in reaching, writing, navigating around the workspace. This position requires fully functional vision and auditory abilities. This position may include hours standing and walking, including up and down stairs, moving items of up to 30-pounds.

The International Institute of Buffalo is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, religion, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation or preference, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, marital status, physical or mental disability, veteran or military status, or any other protected classifications in employment or any other aspect of our programs and activities. Should you require an accommodation, according to the guidelines of the ADA, please seek the counsel of Human Resources for assistance.

Qualified candidates should send a cover letter and resume to careers@iibuff.org to apply. Please include the job title in the subject line. Thank you.