Job Description

About KIND:

Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) is a global leader in the protection of unaccompanied refugee and migrant children. Launched in 2008, KIND champions a world in which every child’s rights and well-being are protected throughout their journey to safety. KIND has provided nearly 18,000 children with high quality representation in their immigration proceedings by training more than 41,000 attorneys and legal staff and cultivating partnerships with over 600 law firms, corporate legal departments, law schools, and bar associations across the country.

KIND’s social services program ensures that migrant and refugee children – who have often endured trauma – receive counseling, educational support, medical care and other comprehensive services.

To address the root causes of child migration from Central America and strengthen protection of unaccompanied children, KIND advocates for policy changes and educates lawmakers, the media, and the broader public on the conditions that drive these children to flee their home countries. KIND supports children returning to their home countries by connecting them to essential support services and sponsors gender-based violence prevention programs in Central America to protect children in countries of origin and transit.

KIND is also building upon its expertise in the protection of unaccompanied children to encourage the development of pro bono initiatives across Europe in partnership with European NGOs.

Position Summary:

KIND seeks a Senior Attorney to provide senior-level expertise and leadership in the provision of legal services by KIND attorneys and pro bono partners to unaccompanied children facing removal proceedings.  Serve as thoughtful leader and expert advisor on complex and novel legal issues for internal and external stakeholders. Conduct outreach and build partnerships in the Central Valley of California to expand capacity and increase awareness of unaccompanied children and their particular needs in this region. As needed, supervise Staff Attorneys, Senior Paralegals, and other non-attorney staff.

Essential Functions:

• Based on caseloads and experience, funding streams, and institutional priorities, perform hybrid pro bono mentoring and direct representation functions, including providing robust consultation and technical assistance to pro bono attorneys who have accepted a KIND case, as well as providing zealous legal advocacy to KIND’s clients in direct representation cases.  Percentage of mentoring and direct representation caseloads will be determined by management in the Legal Service component
• As needed, supervise Staff Attorneys and/or Senior Paralegals or other non-attorney staff, which can include: onboarding, legal skills training and case technical assistance, daily support and coaching, conducting regular check-ins and performance evaluations; reviewing work product; and providing consistent and effective feedback and oversight to ensure high-quality legal work
• In pro bono mentoring function, provide robust consultation and technical assistance to pro bono attorneys representing KIND clients, throughout the pendency of the case; in direct representation function, provide zealous and senior-level advocacy in immigration and related state court proceedings
• Conduct legal research and client interviews, draft and file court pleadings and applications, and appear before immigration and/or state court or agencies on behalf of direct representation clients
• Place cases with pro bono attorneys, and provide ongoing expert mentoring, training, and technical assistance
• Engage in outreach to foster and expand relationships with community stakeholders and pro bono partners including law firm and in-house corporate counsel
• In coordination with KIND’s Training and Technical Assistance Team as well as the Senior Director for Pro Bono Partnerships, as needed, develop pro bono training resources and local training curriculum, including sample filings and guidance packets. Assist with development and conducting of local and national KIND trainings for both staff and external partners and stakeholders
• Oversee data management, ensuring data integrity through regular case audits, technical fluency with KIND’s case management systems, and oversight of data upkeep and accuracy by supervisees
• In collaboration with management in the Legal Services component, and in coordination with other organizational components such as Development and Finance, assist in developing and implementing grant and contract-funded programming, including monitoring performance against grant and contract commitments
• Collaborate with other KIND components on specific projects and initiatives as needed, including KIND’s Policy, Advocacy, Communications, and Regional components
• Represent KIND at local stakeholder meetings, trainings, conferences and events
• Participate in and lead local and national KIND meetings, committees, retreats, and events
• Provide leadership and oversight in ensuring overall field office functioning and developing KIND’s legal services program at large
• Ability to work within an office environment and have regular interaction via telephone, videoconference, IM, and email with KIND’s team
• Limited travel may be needed for conferences, retreats, or other professional development opportunities.

Qualifications and Requirements:

• D. and admitted to local bar
• Minimum 5 years’ experience practicing immigration law, which should include representation of clients in humanitarian immigration claims such as asylum, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, U visas and T visas
• Minimum 3 years’ experience working with children, preferably immigrant and refugee children, and/or working with survivors of abuse, human trafficking, or other trauma
• Minimum 2 years’ experience working with law firm attorneys and/or other legal volunteers
• Strong record of cultural competence and cross-cultural communication skills
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively and persuasively both orally and in writing
• Ability to take initiative, multi-task, and work independently
• Advanced fluency in Spanish language required where majority of caseload is working directly with clients; otherwise Spanish-speaking preferred
• Minimum 2 years’ experience supervising legal staff where supervision of Staff Attorneys and/or Senior Paralegals is required.

How to Apply

Job Types: Full-Time. Job Tags: human rights, immigration, law, non-profit, and Policy.

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