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Company

National Immigration Law Center · 1 day ago

Director, Legal

United States

Full-time

Remote

Director/Executive

$128K/yr - $161K/yr

10+ years exp

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Responsibilities

Support the Executive Vice President, Programs and the Vice President, Law & Policy, to develop a strategic plan for the Law & Policy team and workgroup areas that implements and leverages the Strategic Framework

In collaboration with the VP, Law and Policy, and the Deputy Legal Directors, oversee the implementation of a robust impact litigation and legal advocacy strategy in support of broader immigrants’ rights movement strategies; develop legal theories and cases; litigates key select cases

Collaborate with the Policy, Strategic Partnerships & Advocacy, Strategic Communications, and Development teams to engage other parts of our team to effectively leverage the resources and talents across the organization

Ensure working groups, project/campaign teams, and litigation teams have larger vision and strategic framework at the core and are aligned across various subject areas

Serve as a spokesperson with the media, testify before Congress or other policymaking bodies based on area of expertise, and present at national conferences or other public speaking engagements that further NILC’s mission and legal strategies

Engage with key stakeholders, including movement allies, donors, and board members, including providing periodic reports to the board of directors

Serve as a subject matter expert in the legal tools NILC uses in programmatic work including litigation, analysis, policies, legislation, etc. to support campaigns and programs that advance NILC’s strategic framework

Represent NILC and NILC clients in complex cases that are strategic to the collective goals of NILC and its partners

Partner with programs directors and campaign leads to ensure that the Legal Department’s work is integrated and well-coordinated across the departments and key partners

Develop and maintain strong and collaborative relationships with law firms, law school clinics, NGO co-counsel, and other coalition partners

In collaboration with VP Law and Policy and Legal Management Team, recruit, interview, hire, and train staff

Provide guidance and support in litigation and in the integration of NILC’s core strategies, development and growth of external relationships, and efforts to move forward NILC’s work under the strategic framework and campaign work

Oversee the daily workflow of direct reports

Act as a coach and mentor including providing constructive and timely feedback to foster a collaborative environment that develops strengths, improves weaknesses, and encourages creative problem-solving

Actively manage direct and indirect reports using applicable performance management software including documenting regular check-ins, goal progress, and any other relevant information in the system for performance and coaching purposes

Handle discipline and performance of employees in accordance with organizational policy

Oversee legal intake process, case approval process, and case staffing

Develop effective communication systems and practices across the department, coordinating and connecting the dots through the various areas of work that team members are engaged in

Work closely with Programs supervisors, other Programs Directors, and workgroup/ project campaign, and litigation leaders to create and maintain employee work schedules including assignments, job rotation, training, vacations, and paid time off, telecommuting, cover for absenteeism, and overtime scheduling

Provide mentorship and ensure ongoing professional development of department staff

Share feedback regularly on workgroup members’ performance, goals, strengths & weaknesses, and more to their respective supervisors to support the growth and development of team members at all levels

May be a part of or lead cross functional/departmental projects using the MOCHA framework/methodology

Champions NILC & IJF’s mission of advancing the rights of immigrants with low income by demonstrating a commitment to human rights, and racial, economic, and social justice

Attends and actively participates in NILC meetings at the organization, department, project, and individual level

Develops relationships and supports NILC and IJF colleagues across all teams, recognizing that each individual brings a unique background and perspective to the work and assuming good intent from each other

Follows through on commitments acting with a clear sense of ownership individually and collectively by taking personal responsibility for decisions, actions, and failures, establishing clear responsibilities and processes for monitoring work and measuring results, and designing feedback loops into work

Learns quickly when facing new situations by experimenting to find fresh solutions, taking on the challenge of unfamiliar tasks, and extracting lessons learned from failures and mistakes

Acts with integrity by following through on commitments, being direct and truthful, keeping confidences, and showing consistency between words and actions

Commits to centering NILC’s values of racial justice & equity, valuing diversity, fostering partnerships & collaboration, encouraging respect & personal well-being, and striving for transparency, integrity, and honesty in all decisions and actions

Qualification

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Litigation experienceLeadership experienceFederal court experienceConstitutional law experienceLabor law experienceCivil rights law experiencePolicy advocacyImpact litigationProject managementMS OfficeVirtual collaboration toolsPublic speakingCoachingLanguages (non-English)

Required

Juris Doctor from an accredited school and an active member in good standing with a State Bar Association

At least 10 years of progressive experience in litigation or related legal work at a nonprofit or social justice organization that includes substantial experience in federal courts, appellate practice, or constitutional law, with 4+ years of leadership/management experience including legal supervision, case development, and project management

Demonstrated experience in labor, employment, immigration, and/or civil rights law showing excellent skills and outcomes and innovative strategies

Proficiency with in-office and virtual environments and software such as MS Office, internet research, and virtual collaboration tools

Commitment to NILC & IJF’s mission of advancing the rights of immigrants with low income and a demonstrated commitment to human rights, racial, economic, and social justice, and equity, diversity, inclusion, and justice for all

Collaborative, proactive, and action-oriented working style with a strong service mentality promoting mutual accountability and inspiriting trust and confidence from colleagues, other NILC team members, and NILC leaders alike

Sound judgment in decision-making, high integrity, and utmost respect for confidentiality

Excellent verbal and written communication skills: ability to read, analyze, and interpret as well as draft documents such as reports, correspondence, and presentations for various audiences

Self-starter with a strong strategic ability to move daily tasks forward in alignment with NILC’s broader organizational needs and goals

Commitment to legal practice that empowers collective vision and action by low-income immigrants and their loved ones

Desire and ability to integrate legal practice with organizing, policy change, and other adjacent work

Ability to consistently integrate deep understanding of key racial equity concepts into work projects and interactions by addressing structural implications and disproportionate impacts of policies, activities, and decisions on race, class, and other group identities within the context of job responsibilities and projects

A track record of partnership and coalition building with diverse groups of external partners, including law firms, organizers, community leaders, and other legal advocacy organizations; proven success engaging with diverse communities and centering their experience and voices

Excellent writing and public-speaking skills, with the ability to make complex legal and advocacy issues accessible to all audiences

Capacity to make 'hard choices' relating to organizational positions, coalition decisions, and allocations of resources among competing demands

Ability to recognize each team member's unique background and perspective to achieve team goals in a positive and motivating working environment

Ability to develop team through coaching, feedback, exposure and stretch assignments

An inclusive management style that places deep value on diverse perspectives and emphasizes the development and growth of team members and encourages learning and continued improvement

Humility and a can-do attitude

Preferred

Experience using multiple tools – including impact litigation, policy advocacy, and narrative change, to further a cause, ideally in a social justice context

Proficiency in non-English languages spoken by Latinx, Asian, Pacific Islander, African, Caribbean, and Arab communities preferred. Fluency in more than one language is desirable