Managing Attorney – EIS Project At Kids in Need of Defense

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. Since 2008, KIND has accepted over 23,000 referrals of children seeking legal representation in their immigration proceedings. KIND has welcomed more than 41,000 attendees to trainings since its founding, cultivating partnerships with over 670 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 Managing Attorney to lead a legal services program for unaccompanied children placed at an Emergency Intake Site (EIS) maintained by the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) at the Ft. Bliss facility in El Paso, TX.

This position will be for a temporary contract of 2 months (with an anticipated extension of up to 4-6 months).

Essential Functions:

• Manage high-volume program to provide core legal services (including know-your-rights orientations, legal consultations and/or legal screenings, and legal referrals) to unaccompanied children placed at the Ft. Bliss Emergency Intake Site.
• Oversee a team of staff including legal and social services staff as well as volunteers.
• Serve as the Ft. Bliss site’s primary liaison with KIND’s Legal Programs leadership. In collaboration with Emergency Response management team, liaise with KIND departments including Policy, Advocacy, Communications, Human Resources, and Operations departments to carry out all aspects of on-site program management.
• Maintain relationships with stakeholders including government representatives and on-site providers; local and national partners; and pro bono and volunteer partners.
• Work with Legal Programs leadership to ensure compliance with all contract requirements.
• In collaboration with the Ft. Bliss Volunteer Coordinator, promote volunteer engagement and develop and oversee on-site volunteer programming.
• Ensure data integrity; utilize case management database and other technological tools to create efficient processes, track services provided, and identify trends.
• Promote positive and collaborative team environment and ensure prioritization of individual staff and team wellness.
• As a member of the management team in the Legal Programs department, the Managing Attorney is expected to uphold the following leadership characteristics:
  • Meaningfully contribute thought leadership and expertise to advance KIND’s mission and the strategic goals and objectives of the Legal Programs Team.
  • Offer new insights into challenges and opportunities; evaluate conventional approaches and provide and encourage new ideas and innovations; and explore and implement new or cutting-edge programs/processes in collaboration with leadership.
  • Partner with organizational leadership on conflict resolution.
  • Deal effectively with pressure and remain optimistic and persistent, even in an uncertain and challenging environment.
  • Together with other members of the management team, embrace leadership values and a work ethic that exemplifies authenticity, goodwill, transparency, and collaboration.
  • Inspire and foster team commitment, spirit, trust, and employee wellness.
  • Facilitate cooperation and motivate team members to accomplish group goals.

Qualifications and Requirements:

• J.D. and admitted to a state bar.
• 6-8 years of 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.
• 3+ years of experience working with children or adolescents, preferably immigrant and refugee children, and/or working with survivors of abuse, human trafficking, or other trauma.
• Experience working with law firm attorneys and/or other legal volunteers.
• 3+ years of experience supervising attorneys and non-attorney staff.
• Experience in program management, including experience such as project management, tracking deliverables, hiring, planning and development.
• Experience working in a national or larger management structure, preferred.
• Strong record of cultural competence and cross-cultural communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively and persuasively both orally and in writing.
• Demonstrated effective and authentically engaged leadership; ability to critically assess challenges and propose and execute solutions, with appropriate consultation and visibility to leadership; excellent professional judgment.
• A deep understanding of and ability to work and lead effectively with internal and external stakeholders .
• Demonstrated high-level writing and public speaking/training skills
• Ability to work collaboratively and to handle multiple demands in a busy work environment,
• Proficiency in case management or data management systems,
• Ability to work within an office environment, have regular interaction via telephone, Teams and email with KIND’s national team.
• Advanced Spanish fluency required.

Benefits:

At KIND we value every employee and the vital role they play in carrying out our mission to protect unaccompanied children on the move. Each employee hired as part of the ORR Project will be eligible for:

• Up to $2,000 in relocation expenses
• Up to 5 paid days in hotel
• Paid roundtrip flight
• Two medical insurance plans with 100% employer-paid options for medical, dental and vision (Eligible on day of hire)
• And lots more!