Supervising Attorney 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 Supervising Attorney to provide senior-level expertise and program management in the provision of legal services by KIND attorneys and pro bono partners to unaccompanied children in Office of Refugee Resettlement custody in Washington State. As needed, the Supervising Attorney will supervise Staff Attorneys, Senior Paralegals, Paralegals, and program staff.

Essential Functions:

• Provide both mentoring to KIND pro bono attorneys and direct legal representation to KIND clients:
• In the pro bono mentoring function, provide robust consultation and technical assistance to pro bono attorneys who have accepted a KIND case.
• In the direct representation function, perform ordinary functions of legal counsel including legal research and formulating the legal strategy for the case; conducting client interviews; appearing before immigration and/or state courts or agencies; and drafting and filing court pleadings and applications for benefits.
• Supervise and lead Detained Program staff in relevant jurisdiction(s), in consultation with the Managing Attorney, including:
• Program oversight, supervising casework, managing caseloads and other assignments, promoting, and advising supervisees on professional growth, conducting employee performance evaluations, meeting regularly with each supervisee, and providing consistent and effective supervision to ensure high-quality legal work and achievement of deliverables.
• Serve as an organizational leader, advisor, and resident expert on the special needs of detained children, and the tailored provision of services in the detained context.
• Liaison with shelter staff and other stakeholders as needed to maximize efficient and effective services to detained children. Maintain ORR and other stakeholder relations.
• Participate in local coalitions of various stakeholders supporting unaccompanied immigrant children.
• Monitor daily arrivals, transfers, and discharges of immigrant children housed in ORR facilities in Washington State.
• Oversee the timely and high-quality provision of legal orientation presentations and intakes of children upon arrival at ORR shelters.
• Review intakes by detained team and make determination regarding eligibility for immigration relief.
• Oversee or conduct drafting of eligibility letters for children to be transferred outside of Washington State for long term foster care determinations.
• Review documents and write eligibility letters for children detained outside of Washington state for long term foster care determinations in Washington State.
• Oversee the preparation and organization of the monthly detained juvenile docket in Immigration Court.
• Collaborate with Managing Attorney to determine in-house and volunteer pro bono case placements.
• Develop and implement effective recruitment, mentoring, and case placement strategies to increase pro bono representation of unaccompanied immigrant children with support from the Senior Director for Pro Bono Partnerships and local field office staff.
• Provide legal skills trainings and technical case assistance to in-house staff, pro bono attorneys, or other stakeholders, in coordination with field office colleagues and KIND’s Training and Technical Assistance Team.
• In coordination with local field office staff responsible for pro bono training and mentoring, assist with development of resources, local training curriculum, sample filings, and guidance packets. Assist with development and conducting of local and national KIND trainings for both staff and external partners and stakeholders.
• Represent KIND at local coalitions, courts, and agencies. Participate in and lead local and national KIND meetings, committees, retreats, and events.
• Support the Managing Attorney to develop and implement management strategies to meet ambitious programmatic and funding deliverables, including staff recruitment and development-support functions, employee engagement, and quality control of KIND’s legal services delivery.
• 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 the Managing Attorney, lead and manage large and complex programs, including oversight and drafting of grant reports, metrics oversight, and assisting in drafting of funding proposals as needed.

Qualifications and Requirements:

• J.D. and admitted to local 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.
• 4-6 years of experience working with children, 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.
• 2+ years of experience in program management, including experience such as project management, tracking deliverables, hiring, planning and development.
• 2+ years of experience working in a detained setting if position is over a detained program.
• Strong record of cultural sensitivity and cross-cultural communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively and persuasively both orally and in writing.
• Demonstrated collaboration, deep engagement, and contributor to overall team; ability to take initiative, multi-task, and work independently.
• Advanced fluency in Spanish language required if majority of caseload is working directly with clients; otherwise, Spanish-speaking preferred.