Position Title: Managing Attorney

Program: Immigration Legal Services

Reports To: Program Director

Works with: Immigration Legal Services Team

Status: Full-time (1.0 FTE)

Location: Concord (hybrid remote)

We are looking for an experienced attorney to manage a legal team of 4 to 6 staff dedicated to pursuing permanent legal status for Afghan clients resettled by JFCS East Bay in the wake of the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan last summer. The Managing Attorney will also help administer our Afghan Pro Bono Representation Project, conduct legal orientation sessions, and organize group-processing events for our Afghan clients.

TO APPLY

Please submit a thoughtful cover letter, resume, and brief writing sample through our Career Center portal by clicking on the link or going to our website at https://jfcs-eastbay.org/jobs.

If using an external site to apply, you may need to submit all application materials in one document if the site only allows for one upload.

Only complete applications will be considered.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

OUR AGENCY

JFCS East Bay partners with our clients, staff, and community to pursue justice, promote healing, and advocate for meaningful change. We are an innovative social service agency and community-based organization that has served individuals and families throughout Alameda and Contra Costa counties since 1877. We reunite and strengthen families, care for the mental and physical health needs of people impacted by trauma, support healthy relationships between young children and their caregivers, provide legal representation to immigrants, and resettle refugees who seek to start their lives anew. We advocate for housing justice, mobilize community resources, and build bridges across our diverse East Bay to support our clients in meeting their goals and strengthen our community overall.

Our staff of almost 70 employees is characterized by its dedication, teamwork, warmth, and humor. JFCS East Bay actively seeks to hire a dynamic lawyer who reflects the cultural and linguistic diversity of the East Bay and of our clients. If you are deeply committed to developing authentic relationships with clients and colleagues, thinking creatively about legal strategies, and advocating for justice for our Contra Costa County clients, this is the role for you. BIPOC, LGBTQ+, immigrants, multilingual, mature or differently abled candidates, and people of all faiths or none at all are encouraged to apply.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

JFCS East Bay’s Immigration Legal Services (“ILS”) program provides accessible legal services to low-income and under-served immigrant families including legal consultations, removal defense, affirmative applications filed with USCIS, and federal court litigation (such as Administrative Procedure Act lawsuits, petitions for mandamus, Circuit Court appeals). JFCS East Bay is committed to providing “wrap-around” services to our ILS clients, ensuring they have the support they need to actively engage with the immigration legal process. Our wrap-around services include therapy and forensic evaluations from our full-time ILS psychologist, in-kind support from our Volunteer Services department, and connection to external social service programs through our full-time ILS Resource Specialist.

The JFCS East Bay ILS program is comprised of three main components:

• the removal defense program,
• the general affirmative program, and
• the Afghan Placement and Assistance (APA) program.

Our removal defense team is comprised of two attorneys and one legal assistant, and it forms part of the Stand Together Contra Costa collaborative.

Our general affirmative team is comprised of one attorney and three accredited representatives who provide representation in matters before USCIS, including U-visas, DACA, visa petitions, adjustment of status, VAWA petitions, citizenship, waivers, and more.

Our APA program was established earlier this year in response to the need for legal representation among the hundreds of Afghans resettled by JFCS East Bay since Kabul fell to the Taliban in July 2021. Afghan clients who were paroled into the U.S. under Operation Allies Rescue or Operation Allies Welcome only have a temporary legal status. JFCS East represents APA clients in affirmative asylum, special immigrant visas (“SIV”), family-based, and other applications for permanent legal status, and we provide related legal support for work permits, “greencard” replacements, and more.

JOB SUMMARY

Under the supervision of the Director of Immigration Legal Services, the Managing Attorney will supervise, train, and mentor the APA legal team in their ongoing representation of Afghan clients in affirmative asylum cases. The Managing Attorney will also maintain their own limited case load of affirmative asylum, family-based, and SIV applications. The Managing Attorney will work closely with the ILS Director to determine APA program expansions, including possible group-processing events for Temporary Protected Status (“TPS”) or applications under the Afghan Adjustment Act (“AAA”), if enacted by Congress. The Managing Attorney will also work closely with the ILS Director to further develop, expand, and administer the JFCS East Bay Afghan Pro Bono Representation Project. The Afghan Pro Bono Representation Project currently serves about a dozen Afghan families, and it is poised for growth and expansion to serve dozens more.

As our APA clients begin to achieve greater stability and permanent legal status in the U.S., the duties of the Managing Attorney may shift and expand to include management of the ILS general affirmative program. After a few years, the APA program may merge with the general affirmative program, and key aspects such as the Afghan Pro Bono Representation Project and the community information sessions may expand to address the needs of our non-Afghan clients as well. Therefore, there is opportunity for growth, professional development, and advancement within the Managing Attorney role.

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES

• Supervise, train, mentor, and manage the APA legal team. The APA legal team currently includes one attorney and three legal assistants and could potentially grow to total two attorneys and four legal assistants.
  • Review and guide the APA legal team’s preparation of affirmative asylum applications for Afghan clients.
  • Train, supervise, and mentor the APA legal team in the preparation of SIV petitions and adjustment applications, family-based immigration matters, I-730 follow-to-join petitions and consular processing for the spouse and minor children of Afghan asylees, and other immigration applications as needed (e.g. TPS, etc.).
  • Develop and implement case management systems, procedures, and norms to support a consistent and sustainable practice.
• Develop and execute group-processing events for APA clients.
  • Create, design, and implement group-processing events for applications under the AAA or TPS, as well as pro se asylum clinics.
  • Identify and develop potential collaborations to support these events, including existing partnerships with the Noor Islamic Cultural and Community Center (“NICCC”), EBRIF member organizations, JFCS East Bay corporate partners, etc.
• Administer the JFCS East Bay Afghan Pro Bono Representation Project.
  • Cultivate corporate partnerships and recruit licensed volunteer attorneys to take on JFCS East Bay APA clients for pro bono representation in their affirmative asylum applications.
  • Review the roster of pre-screened JFCS East Bay APA clients to identify and place appropriate cases for pro bono representation.
  • Follow-up with pro bono counsel to track case progress, provide legal updates and supplemental mentorship as needed.
• Create, plan, and execute legal information sessions for the Afghan community.
  • Design, organize, and present legal information sessions for Afghan community members, including legal updates, advice, resources, and referrals.
• Spearhead JFCS East Bay’s ILS community engagement initiatives and advocacy to support passage of the AAA and other policy initiatives to benefit our Afghan clients.
  • Help lead the legal working group for the East Bay Refugee and Immigrant Forum (“EBRIF”), which is comprised of multiple local community-based organizations which are providing legal and other services to the East Bay Afghan community.
  • Represent JFCS East Bay at bi-weekly national community meetings with other Afghan-serving organizations through the Human Rights First (“HRF”) Program for Afghan Legal Assistance (“PALA”).
  • Identify advocacy initiatives appropriate for JFCS East Bay engagement.
  • Collaborate with the Public Policy & Advocacy committee of the JFCS East Bay Board of Directors.
  • Write press releases and op-eds as needed.
• Track data and deliverables, complete funding reports.
  • Ensure APA team maintains accurate and up-to-date client information.
  • Spearhead data tracking and assist with grant reports for overall APA program.
• Provide advice, counsel, and direct representation to APA program clients.
  • Screen clients to identify eligibility for relief and optimal legal strategy.
  • Advise clients on immigration options and answer questions to support their informed decision-making.
  • Conduct case intake and open new cases within ILS system.
  • Collect evidence, take declarations, complete application forms, compile and submit applications, and provide representation at USCIS interviews, including affirmative asylum, SIV, and family-based, and other cases.
  • Maintain an active caseload of 5-10 clients.
  • Collaborate with internal and external partners to connect APA clients with legal, social, healthcare, and mental health services as appropriate.
  • Attend trainings and liaison meetings to remain current on immigration law and policy.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• English language fluency.
• Membership and good standing in the bar of any state or federal territory. California license strongly preferred.
• Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an ABA-accredited law school.
• At least three years of experience providing legal representation to non-citizens before USCIS, including affirmative asylum and family-based applications.
• Experience managing, supervising, training, and/or mentoring legal staff.
• Professional level skills using Word, Excel, and other relevant computer programs.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Experience and interest in working with ethnically diverse populations and a broad range of clients and colleagues.
• Clear DMV record and driver’s license.

ADDITIONAL PREFERRED SKILLS & EXPERIENCE

• Ability to speak and understand Dari, Pashto, or Spanish strongly desired.
• Five or more years of post-law school legal experience.
• Experience with program management, development, and administration.
• Experience with pro bono legal programs.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

• Salary: $98,000-$107,000 based on experience.
• Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance.
• FSA/HSA plans.
• 401(k) with employer match after one year.
• 28 days off per year + generous holiday schedules.
• Access to the Hebrew Free Loan program as an employee of a Jewish organization in Northern California.
• Long Term Disability.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Work-from-home flexibility.
• Great colleagues.
• Friendly, respectful work environment.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

JFCS East Bay is an Equal Opportunity Employer that highly values diversity. We do not discriminate on the basis of age (40 or older), ancestry, color, religious creed (including religious dress and grooming practices), denial of family and medical care leave, disability (mental and physical), including HIV and AIDS, marital status, medical condition (cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, military and veteran status, national origin (including language use restrictions), race, sex (including pregnancy, child birth, breastfeeding and medical conditions related to pregnancy, child birth or breastfeeding), gender, gender identity and gender expression, sexual orientation, or any other protected status in accordance with all applicable federal, state and local laws.

CONDITION(S) OF EMPLOYMENT

Offers of employment are conditional pending satisfactory completion of a background check (including Live Scan where applicable). The background check may include, but is not limited to: criminal records check, verification of academic credentials, licenses, certificates, credit history, professional references and/or verification of work history is required for employment.

COVID VACCINATION POLICY

JFCS East Bay requires staff to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, including one booster shot, unless declaring a medical or religious exemption. Candidates should be prepared to provide proof of vaccination or complete a medical or religious exemption form.