Supervising Attorney

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

Job Overview: 

The IRC seeks a Supervising Attorney to join the IRC in Dallas. The Supervising Attorney is an experienced immigration lawyer who will focus on supervision, direct representation, and providing legal services for detained and released unaccompanied children, including representation in immigration court, before USCIS, and in state court proceedings. The Supervising Attorney will bring several years’ experience representing asylum seekers, preferably including youth and unaccompanied minors, superb legal judgment and legal ethics, an ability to work independently while recognizing the value of collaboration and cross-referencing with other experts, and a passion for this area of work. The position will work in collaboration with community partners and will be part of the Children’s Legal Services Community of Practice, led by IRC’s Legal Services Technical Unit (TU) at IRC’s headquarters, which supports IRC’s 24 legal service programs across the US.

Major Responsibilities:

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to: 

• Supervise attorneys, legal assistants, and DOJ Accredited representatives serving detained and released unaccompanied child clients, focusing on state court representation for SIJS, asylum, and removal defense. 
• Conduct and oversee intakes with child clients, identify immigration relief such as SIJS, asylum, cancellation of removal, VAWA, U-visa, T-visa, etc., and provide direct representation for unaccompanied children released to sponsors in the Atlanta Metro area before USCIS and the immigration court.
• Initiate state court proceedings for children who are eligible for special immigrant juvenile status. 
• Provide legal trainings and technical case assistance to in-house staff, pro bono attorneys, ORR facility staff and other stakeholders and community partners as needed to maximize effective legal services to immigrant children. 
• Coordinate closely within IRC’s multidisciplinary teams to identify needs and facilitate referrals to services offered in-house and through partnerships with external providers.
• Ensure client and program data is collected consistently, managed appropriately, and reported accurately in accordance with program reporting requirements set by IRC and the funder. 
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge and expertise of changing asylum and immigration policies as they relate to children through regular trainings and peer-to-peer consultation. 
• Serve as a strong advocate for humanitarian immigrants.
• Participate in community-based coalitions related to immigrant rights.
• Other duties as assigned.

Job Requirements:

Education: Law degree (JD or LLM) from an ABA-accredited U.S. institution and member in good standing of the Texas bar 

Work Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years’ experience strongly preferred providing direct representation in immigration court and/or before USCIS to asylum applicants and other immigrants seeking humanitarian relief.
• Minimum of 2 years’ experience providing direct representation before state courts in furtherance of SIJS petitions.
• Experience providing legal services unaccompanied children and/or working with children preferred.

Demonstrated Skills & Competencies:

• Demonstrated ability to promote an organizational culture that reflects IRC’s core values of service, accountability, integrity, and equality. Ability to lead in a way that recognizes that IRC’s work is best accomplished through the true collaboration of individuals from many cultures with a great variety of skills and perspectives.
• Excellent research, writing, analytical, and organizational skills, and excellent legal judgment.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both orally in a courtroom setting and in writing.
• Evidence of capacity to be a strong team member in a highly collaborative multidisciplinary environment.
• Deep commitment to immigrant rights and working with humanitarian immigrants.
• Trauma-informed and sensitive listening and communication skills.
• Personal integrity in handling ethically complex and confidential situations
• Fluent in English, both spoken and written; proficiency in Spanish is desired.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook); ability to use the internet and other digital tools for data entry, research, and problem-solving purposes.
• Must be willing and able to travel frequently in and around the service area to attend hearings and interviews and engage with clients and community partners.
• Must be willing to submit to an extensive background check including FBI, statewide child welfare and sex offender registry checks.

Working Environment: 

• A combination of standard office environment, remote work, and ‘field’ time within the service delivery area to perform the above outlined responsibilities.
• Occasional domestic travel required.
• May require occasional weekend and/or evening work.

Compensation: ($71,415.00). Posted rates apply to US-based candidates. Rates are based on various factors including the labor market, job type, internal equity, and budget.  Exact offers are calibrated by work location, individual candidate experience and skills relative to the defined job requirement. 

PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS

All International Rescue Committee workers must adhere to the core values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. Our Standards are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Safeguarding, Conflicts of Interest, Fiscal Integrity, and Reporting Wrongdoing and Protection from Retaliation. IRC is committed to take all necessary preventive measures and create an environment where people feel safe, and to take all necessary actions and corrective measures when harm occurs. IRC builds teams of professionals who promote critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity to deliver the best possible services to our clients.

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Compensation: Posted pay ranges apply to US-based candidates. Ranges are based on various factors including the labor market, job type, internal equity, and budget.  Exact offers are calibrated by work location, individual candidate experience and skills relative to the defined job requirements.

US Benefits: We offer a comprehensive and highly competitive set of benefits. In the US, these include: 10 sick days, 10 US holidays, 20-25 paid time off days depending on role and tenure, medical insurance starting at $163 per month, dental starting at $6.50 per month, and vision starting at $5 per month, FSA for healthcare and commuter costs, a 403b retirement savings plans with immediately vested matching, disability & life insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program which is available to our staff and their families to support counseling and care in times of crisis and mental health struggles.

Equal Opportunity Employer: IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

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Why Choose the IRC?

Work that has meaning: Every day at the IRC is a chance to make a difference through a purpose-driven career. Whether you're working directly with communities or providing support behind the scenes, you will be part of a dynamic team that is always innovating, scaling, and testing new and better solutions to ensure the best possible outcomes for the people we serve.

Global scale, dynamic workplace: At the IRC, we believe that the dynamic, global make-up of our team is our strength. When you join us, you're not just starting a job—you will be part of a global organization positively impacting millions of lives in over 40 get to work with colleagues from all around the world—working across time zones and regularly exchanging different ideas, perspectives and insights. You’ll join a team that is dedicated to fostering a supportive environment to create a workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and heard.  

Challenging work, innovative solutions: We’re committed to excellence and innovation, and pride ourselves in setting industry-leading standards while practicing evidence and data-lead strategies. Come challenge norms, shatter conventions, and pioneer change while working on real, nuanced and complex issues we face in the world today.  

Community centered: We’re an empathetic community that truly cares for one another. Our comprehensive safety and security initiatives ensure a safe work environment, while our continuous learning and development programs provide ongoing opportunities for personal and career advancement.

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Our Typical Recruitment Process

The interview process typically includes three rounds, though the number may vary depending on the role and level of seniority. It usually begins with a conversation with our recruiting team to learn more about you and your goals. This is followed by an interview with a hiring manager or business stakeholder to explore your background and provide more insight into the role. The final round focuses on assessing your role-specific expertise and may be conducted as a panel interview to evaluate your cross-functional strengths. Before extending an offer, we generally conduct reference checks, and after an offer is made, a standard background check is completed. While we strive for consistency, the process may differ based on the role, business unit, location, job type, legal requirements, and other factors.

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