Supervising Attorney (Immigration Unit)
The Justice Center of Southeast Massachusetts (JCSM), a subsidiary of South Coastal Counties Legal Services, Inc. (SCCLS), a non-profit legal services program providing free civil legal assistance to eligible low-income residents, seeks a Supervising Attorney for the Immigration unit to develop and lead the team in collaboration with the Director of Immigration Advocacy. The practice provides representation in a range of cases with a primary focus on humanitarian-based relief. In addition to direct representation, the unit engages in community outreach and education, community-based clinics, and systemic advocacy on issues of import to the client communities.
Reporting to the Program Manager of the JCSM and the Director of Immigration Advocacy, the Supervising Attorney will work with the organization’s leadership team, a talented advocacy staff, and an engaged statewide advocacy community to strategically provide critical legal services to the immigrant community of the region.
About the Organization:
SCCLS and its subsidiary, the Justice Center of Southeast Massachusetts (JCSM), with a combined staff of nearly 80, is the principal provider of free, civil legal aid to low-income residents of Southeastern Massachusetts, Cape Cod, and the islands of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket. SCCLS law offices are in Hyannis, New Bedford and Fall River. The Justice Center is located in Brockton. The organization’s core mission is to achieve justice for eligible clients through community-based advocacy and the delivery of legal services in the following priority areas: housing, public benefits, elder law, domestic relations, employment, education, immigration, and consumer matters.
Duties and Responsibilities: Working with the Director of Immigration Advocacy, the Supervising Attorney will:
- Supervise, support and oversee the direct client work and community outreach of immigration staff.
- Work in close collaboration with the Director of Immigration Advocacy to ensure cohesive work of the immigration unit.
- Develop and promote training programs to enhance staff development with respect to: litigation, appellate advocacy, policy advocacy, communications strategies, and substantive issues affecting the immigrant communities in the region.
- Assist in developing/revising standards of practice for the immigration staff and ensure adherence to program and case handling standards, funder requirements and the highest professional standards using regular case review and other techniques.
- Implement different models of delivering legal services under the supervision of the Director of Immigration Advocacy
- Maintain a small and strategic caseload.
- Effectively engage with the organization’s leadership team, advocacy staff, community groups and organizations, and the statewide justice community to develop and manage strategic initiatives, community needs assessments, and to respond to emerging trends and changing policies affecting the immigrant community.
- Assist the Program Manager and Director of Immigration Advocacy with grant compliance.
- Other responsibilities as assigned by the Director of Immigration Advocacy, or Program Manager.
Qualifications and Experience:
- Admitted to practice in Massachusetts, or able to seek admission.A minimum of five years of experience as a practicing attorney and a substantive expertise in immigration law.
- Demonstrated ability to identify and respond to emerging issues and changing policies affecting immigrants.
- Experience working with community groups, organizations, and advocacy groups and with utilizing communications strategies to address issues affecting immigrants and immigrant communities.
- Significant experience with advocacy in a variety of forums including federal, state, and appellate courts, administrative agencies, and/or legislative bodies.
- Strong leadership and mentoring skills and a leadership style that inspires and encourages professional growth in others, including demonstrated ability to supervise across differences.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to foster inclusivity, equity and humility when working with clients, colleagues and in supervising staff at the intersection of multiple identities, including race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, immigration status, religion, physical and mental disability, and/or limited English proficiency.
- Ability to engage effectively in person and remotely with people from diverse cultures, with diverse opinions and values, including with staff, volunteers, students, community members and funders.
- Capacity to facilitate groups and meetings equitably with a framework that embraces race equity principles.
- Commitment to race equity, anti-racism and economic justice in the workplace and in providing legal services.
- Fluency in Portuguese, Spanish, Cape Verdean Creole, or Haitian Creole desirable.
Compensation and Benefits: JCSM salaries are based on a collective bargaining agreement scale with yearly standard increases, multi-lingual increment for demonstrated language skills. Generous benefits package including excellent health and dental coverage, life insurance, disability, flexible spending account, 403(b), law school loan forgiveness, and paid leave.
Apply: Submit letter of interest, resume and legal writing sample by email to: LThelin@sccls.org with Subject Line: Supv Atty Imm. For timely and comprehensive consideration, applications should be received by March 15, 2023. Application reviews will begin immediately.
SCCLS is committed to our ongoing work toward creating a more equitable organization focused on combatting discrimination of every kind. We acknowledge this is a journey, but it is one we are committed to taking. We endeavor to create a workplace and organization that reflects the diversity of those whom we serve and operates inclusively. SCCLS is an Equal Opportunity Employer and we welcome applicants from a broad range of backgrounds and experiences.