Interim Managing Attorney - Pro Bono (Phoenix & Tucson)

This is an internal opening only. This is a temporary assignment projected to start 05/20/2024 and end 08/02/2024,

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.

Interim Managing Attorney:

The Interim Managing Attorney is responsible for leading and overseeing the Pro Bono team within the Adult Program, as well as, creating, and implementing a strategy for the team that includes an assessment of the current Pro Bono outreach opportunities and recommendations with input from the Adult Program Manager and the Managing Attorney with the Childrens Program, for new initiatives, expansion of recruitment efforts, and outreach activities. The Interim Managing Attorney is also responsible for coordinating case placement efforts with external partners and mentorship work to assist them, as needed.

The Interim Managing Attorney is accountable for casework and oversight of the day-to-day administration of services, which includes supervising staff members devoted to providing excellent and responsive mentoring service to pro bono lawyers handling Florence Project cases.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Supervisory Leadership Responsibilities

• Supervise Pro Bono Mentors, Legal Assistants, and Volunteer Coordinator for Pro Bono projects. This includes overseeing and being responsible for the quality of services provided in the Pro Bono team, conducting case reviews with supervised staff as needed, and providing training, mentorship, and support to the legal staff. The Interim Managing Pro Bono Attorney will work closely with the Adult Program Manager in updating PM on supervision and oversight.
• Manage outreach and recruitment of Pro Bono attorneys. Communicate with the other Pro Bono Manager for the Childrens Program to build relations and work closely with community partners, law firms, and stakeholders to recruit attorneys through legal recruitment presentations.
• Review referrals for direct representation. Collaborate with Direct Representation managers and Advocacy team as necessary to identify cases to intake for potential pro bono placement. Delegate and oversee intake, screening, vetting of cases for potential referral and placement. Refer cases for pro bono placement and facilitate placement process.
• Oversee ongoing mentoring and support for attorneys who have cases placed with them for representation.
• Supervise and maintain accurate and timely data and reports that reflect the work. This includes setting and monitoring metrics for Pro Bono placements.
• Manage a small caseload of direct representation to stay updated on the legal issues.
• Oversee case review meetings with legal staff and interns, and plan training for legal staff, if needed.
• Participate in program development with the Legal Director, Deputy Director, and the Executive Director, including participating in annual strategic planning retreats with Board and staff.
• Lead the implementation of any changes to the scope of direct representation legal services provided or the model for delivering those services.
• 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 participate in network calls, meetings, and training.
• 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.

• 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.
• Work with other Managing Attorneys, Executive Director and other staff to ensure that FIRRPs legal practice is in compliance and good standing with all relevant bodies and agencies.

Advocacy

• 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 the Immigration Court (EOIR) and the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS), government and social service organizations, and community organizations.
• Attend occasional meetings with EOIR, ICE officials, and/or CCA officials to discuss ongoing issues.
• Communicate with the Advocacy team about advocacy initiatives.

Other Duties & Responsibilities:

• Support Florence Project outreach and development activities as needed.
• Participate in developing and implementing special projects or presentations.
• Otherduties as necessary.

Minimum Requirements:

• J.D. and admission to any state bar.
• Must be licensed to practice law in any state or jurisdiction (or willing to take Arizona bar exam), or eligible to waive into practice in Arizona (have two years of good standing in another state bar or have received a score of 273 or greater on the Universal Bar Exam).
• 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.
• Demonstratecommitment to advocating for indigent immigrant clients in a respectful and empowering way.
• Demonstrate azealous support of the Florence Projects mission.
• Must be comfortable working with people with criminal convictions.
• 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 works 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.
• Fluency or advanced proficiency in Spanish required.
• Travel is required for this position.
• Must have a valid drivers 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 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) is a plus.

Working Conditions/Physical Demands:

• Operate in a professional office environment and requires the ability to sit for long periods of time with intermittent walking, standing, bending, squatting, pulling 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.Accommodations may be available.
• Travel regularly between offices, and secondary work locations.
• Frequent time in detention facilities and immigration courts located in Florence and Eloy.

Salary & Benefits:

This is a full-time, temporary assignment. The incumbent's annual base salary will be increasedby $10,000 during the period of the interim managerial role. This increase will take effect at the beginning and will cease at the end of the temporary assignment.We strive to create and uphold a positive, supportive, and inclusive work environment for all staff.

• Medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and short-term disability insurance, with full premiums paid by the Florence Project, and partial health insurance premiums paid for dependents.
• Eligible employees are eligible for an employer matching retirement plan as soon as the employee contributes to their retirement plan.
• One personal day paid each month.
• Twenty-five days of vacation per year.
• Five days of sick/medical leave annually.
• Twelve weeks of paid parental leave.
• Relocation Assistance for out of state new hires
• Bereavement leave.
• All federal holidays observed.
• After three years of employment, employees are eligible for an eight-week paid sabbatical.
• Mileage reimbursement for travel between offices and places of work.

Application Process:

This is an immediate opening.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. We also recognize that people come with a wealth of experience and talent beyond just the requirements of a job. If your experience is close to what you see listed in our current job opportunities, please still consider applying. Diversity of experience and skills combined with passion is a key to innovation and excellence, which is very much valued at the Florence Project. Therefore, we encourage people from all backgrounds to apply to our positions. Please let us know if you require accommodations during the interview process.

This job announcement is for informational purposes only and is subject to change and modification without notice. This job announcement includes a non-exhaustive list of responsibilities, qualifications, and requirements of the position, but does not necessarily include all the positions job functions.