The Organization:
The Florence Project was founded in 1989 to respond to a representation crisis for indigent non-citizens detained at the rural Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Detention Center in Florence, Arizona. Through our programs today, we provide services to thousands of adults, youth, and children detained in Eloy, Florence, Phoenix, and Tucson, Arizona on any given day. In 2001, the Florence Project implemented our Integrated Social Services Program, one of the first of its kind in this field. The Florence Project provides high quality legal and social services and supports initiatives for national changes in immigration law and policy.

Primary Purpose of the Job:

The Border Action Team Managing Attorney will supervise the relevant legal and administrative staff and provide mentorship as needed. On a limited basis, the Managing Attorney will also provide legal representation to detained immigrants / asylum-seekers identified at the southern U.S. border, including, but not limited to, migrants who receive services at the Kino Border Initiative Migrant Aid Center. The Managing Attorney may also assist with “Know Your Rights” presentations and legal screenings. The Managing Attorney will oversee training and professional development initiatives for the Border Action Team staff and participate with program development and outreach activities, in conjunction with other managing attorneys and members of the Leadership Team. This position reports to the Adult Legal Program Manager or the Associate Adult Legal Program Manager.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

Supervisory Leadership Responsibilities

Supervise the team’s staff members. This includes overseeing and being responsible for the quality of services provided at the border and other relevant spaces, conducting case reviews with supervised staff as needed, and providing training, mentorship, and support to the legal staff. The Managing Attorney will work closely with the Program Manager in updating PM on supervision and oversight.
Provide direct representation to asylum-seekers at the Arizona/Sonora border and detention centers, as needed, with the opportunity to select a case load with a focus on cases aligned with FIRRP/BAT’s strategic advocacy goals. The Managing Attorney’s direct representation caseload may range depending on capacity and workflow.
Supervise the development and implementation of group workshops for individuals receiving legal services at the Kino Border Initiative’s Migrant Aid Center and other spaces as needed.
Lead the implementation of any changes to the scope of legal services provided or the model for delivering those services, in coordination with the Program Manager, Legal Director, and other members of the Leadership Team as needed.
Oversee case review meetings with legal staff and interns, hire new staff, coordinate orientation for new hires, and plan professional development and training for legal staff.
Participate in program development with the Program Manager, Legal Director, Deputy Director, and the Executive Director, including participating in annual strategic planning retreats as needed.
Communicate regularly with their supervisor and the Kino Border Initiative about caseloads, goals, and other emerging considerations
Supervise and maintain accurate and timely data and reports that reflect the work.
Oversee collection of data by the legal staff for various grant funded positions, complete quarterly reporting for funders, and work with the Development team regarding other funder requests or visits.
Participate in certain border advocacy network calls, meetings, training, and internal management meetings.
Retain, lead, coach and develop an effective, diverse team of Staff Attorneys, Accredited Representatives, Legal Assistants, Interns, and special project legal fellows, and provide a collegial, calm, and collaborative work environment that is client-centered and ego free. Develop, monitor, and evaluate staff goals, caseloads, and work plans.
Coach, train, mentor, and support the legal staff to ensure they have the necessary tools and resources needed to optimize performance and achieve established program goals and that effective communication exists among the staff and the team, including establishing and maintaining regular team meetings.
Responsible for working in collaboration with Program Manager regarding hiring, orientation, employee relations, performance management and evaluation of staff.
Oversee criteria and procedures for accepting, opening, managing, and closing case files; formulate legal strategies for cases and designate protocols for the allocation of limited resources.
Develop and implement quality assurance protocols; ensure quality of services provided to all stakeholders.
Work with Program Manager and Legal Director to ensure that FIRRP’s legal practice is in compliance and good standing with all relevant bodies and agencies.
Support Florence Project outreach and development activities as needed.

Legal Orientation & Casework

Provide and/or supervise the team’s provision of legal orientation presentations (“Know Your Rights” or “charlas”) and individual consultations or intakes to asylum seekers at the U.S./Mexico border and other spaces as needed.
Direct the creation or maintenance of pro se resources for clients as needed,
Provide direct representation to individuals in Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, based on the organization’s strategic advocacy initiatives and team capacity.
Oversee team meetings, one-to-one staff meetings, and attorney review meetings with legal staff.
Plan legal training on specific topics as needed.
Well-versed, and remain current in immigration law, and on implications of international, administrative, criminal, and civil law as it applies to the representation of immigrants and refugees. Establish and implement policies and procedures accordingly.
Ensure all staff complies with required ethical standards, preserves client confidentiality, and avoids conflicts of interest.

Advocacy

Collaborate with the organization and KBI to identify strategic opportunities to leverage the KBI-FIRRP partnership, and specifically the legal work at the border, to advance advocacy goals.
Direct the legal staff’s strategic collaboration with KBI and other border organizations to develop a visionary and responsive strategy to promote the rights of migrants on the Mexican side of the US/Mexico border.
Supervise the ongoing advocacy projects between BAT staff, Advocacy Team, KBI, and other external partners, including but not limited to: collecting data on border issues; filing formal complaints; and attending advocacy meetings with local, regional, and national partners.
Develop and maintain cooperative relationships with local and national community partners, including but not limited to private immigration attorneys, public officials, law enforcement officials, and other nonprofits that provide services to the immigrant population.
Develop and maintain professional relationships with Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the Immigration Court (EOIR), and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), government and social service organizations, and community organizations.
Attend occasional meetings with CBP, DHS, EOIR, ICE officials, state, and/or other governmental officials to discuss ongoing issues.
Communicate with the Program Manager and Advocacy Team about advocacy initiatives and legal training for the community.
Support Florence Project outreach and development activities as needed.

Other Duties & Responsibilities:

Participate in community collaboration with partnering organizations across Arizona and the U.S. southern border with respect for binationality and multilingual work environments.
Participate in organizational fundraising and outreach efforts as requested.
Participate in developing and implementing special projects or presentations.
Other administrative duties, as necessary.

Minimum Requirements:

J.D. and admission to any state bar.
Experience supervising staff or interns and demonstrated ability to inspire confidence in others and play a supportive role.
Be a proactive and engaged supervisor without micromanaging and be a clear and thoughtful decision maker.
In lieu of supervisory experience, leadership potential and excellent communication and interpersonal skills, as well as ability to learn and execute a variety of job requirements with the capacity to be trained to be an effective manager may be considered.
Demonstrated commitment to advocating for indigent immigrant clients in a respectful and empowering way.
Demonstrate a zealous support of the Florence Project’s mission.
Must be comfortable working with people with criminal convictions, people with mental health or competency concerns, and/or people who are in an active transit or trauma situation.
Strong litigation experience and/or oral advocacy skills.
Strong legal research.
Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work with diverse populations.
Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.
Highly organized, an innovative thinker, and ability to work in high-volume settings with limited resources.
Excellent problem solving, research and analytical skills.
Effectively manage multiple projects and meet deadlines.
Demonstrate to be a hardworking, flexible, respectful team player that can work effectively in a collaborative, innovative, and client centered work environment.
Ability to work independently, be adaptable and reliable in the face of conflict, pressure, crisis or changing priorities.
Exhibit high ethical standards and the ability to maintain confidentiality.
Must be able to pass federal and state background checks. Must be able to lawfully exit and enter the U.S./Mexico border.
Fluency or advanced proficiency in Spanish required.
Regular and frequent travel is required for this position.
Must have a valid driver’s license and reliable transportation.
Proven computer skills.  Advanced understanding of basic office applications

Preferred Requirements:

2+ years of minimum experience providing direct representation to immigrants in removal proceedings, and extensive knowledge of immigration law, specifically deportation defense, asylum, and criminal-immigration law issues is strongly preferred.
2 years of prior experience practicing before the Arizona Courts, the Immigration Courts, or USCIS is strongly preferred.
Prior advocacy work in immigrant rights, human rights, LGBTQ rights, criminal justice, or experience working with trauma survivors is a plus.
Experience with databases and data tracking (i.e., Legal Server, Google Forms, Microsoft Office, etc.) is a plus.

Working Conditions/Physical Demands:

This position is based out of FIRRP’s Tucson office and requires frequent travel to the U.S. southern border and Sonora, Mexico. Travel regularly between offices, and secondary work locations.
This position requires the staff member to drive to the Arizona/Mexico border one or more days per week in their personal vehicle, and cross into Nogales, Sonora, Mexico either on foot or in their personal vehicle. Border crossing times vary and can at times be up to 2 hours or more.
Operate in a professional office environment requires the ability to sit for long periods of time with intermittent walking, standing, bending, squatting, pulling, climbing stairs, and pushing.
Ability to use standard office equipment such as scanners, computers, keyboards, phones, shredders, photocopiers, and filing cabinets.  Requires the ability to lift up to ten pounds.

Salary & Benefits:

This is a full-time position. Salary is competitive for our field and geographical area. Salaries will be calculated based on relevant experience and our established comprehensive wage scale: $84,676.80 - $117,581.69 Annually DOE

We strive to create and uphold a positive, supportive, and inclusive work environment for all staff. We offer excellent benefits, including:

Medical plans including health, dental, vision coverage, subject to plan terms
Short Term Disability
Eligibility for group benefits such as voluntary life insurance, subject to applicable waiting periods
Retirement plan, subject to plan terms
Paid Time Off earned on a biweekly accrual basis- Twenty-five (25) Days of Vacation Time, annually
Five (5) Days of Medical/Sick Time, annually
One (1) Day of Personal Time, monthly
Eight (8) Week Paid Sabbatical, after three years of employment
Bereavement leave.
Fifteen (15) Organization-paid holidays, all observed
Eligible for Parental Leave which includes Twelve (13) paid weeks
Mileage reimbursement for travel between offices and places of work.
Relocation Assistance for out of state new hires available for some positions.

Application Process:

This is an immediate opening. Salary is commensurate with experience. The position will remain open until we receive enough qualified applicants. To apply, please submit a cover letter detailing your interest in the position as well as your resume, three professional references. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and candidates are encouraged to apply early. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted. The Florence Project values diversity in the workplace and strongly encourages applications from people of color, LGBTQ individuals, persons with disabilities, and members of underrepresented communities.

Keywords

Managing Attorney Supervisory Leadership Legal Orientation Advocacy Immigration Law Strategic Advocacy Professional Development Program Development Outreach Activities