POSITION TITLE: Associate Legal Director

REPORTS TO: Legal Director

WORKSITE: Omaha, NE

ORGANIZATIONAL DESCRIPTION

In 2022, Immigrant Legal Center and Refugee Empowerment Center merged, and the combined nonprofit organization is now the Center for Immigrant and Refugee Advancement (CIRA). CIRA’s mission is to empower immigrants and refugees to live confidently through high-quality legal representation, resettlement, and social work and to create welcoming communities through education and advocacy.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

The Associate Legal Director position offers a unique opportunity to provide impactful leadership and shaping the future of CIRA’s immigration legal services. This very impactful and important role provides operational leadership in both programmatic and administrative areas, working closely with the Legal Director to oversee immigration legal services at CIRA. This role involves leading organizational development and strategy, overseeing legal services, and ensuring the effective implementation of legal programs. The Associate Legal Director provides direct legal representation, engages with the community, and advocates for systemic change, while ensuring CIRA’s legal programs have a measurable impact. Additionally, the Associate Legal Director is responsible for supervising, training, and providing oversight to CIRA’s team of attorneys, Department of Justice (DOJ) Accredited Representatives, legal support staff, and volunteers as their work related to the provision of legal services. Lastly, the role requires collaboration with the Legal Director and Executive Director to shape the long-term vision for CIRA’s legal department.

The ideal candidate for this position will possess strong leadership, deep knowledge of immigration law, conflict resolution, mentoring skills, and a commitment to professional growth. They will also have the ability to manage a diverse workload while fostering a collaborative and high-performing team environment. Additionally, the ideal candidate will have demonstrated exceptional leadership abilities and a proven track record of effectively handling multiple responsibilities in a dynamic setting.

CORE FUNCTIONS OF THE POSITION

Organizational Leadership and Development

Lead Strategic Planning for Legal Services by playing a key role in CIRA’s strategic planning process by developing and implementing legal department initiatives that align with the organization's mission and long-term vision.
Collaborate on Agency-Wide Strategy by working closely with the Executive Director, leadership team, and other departments to integrate legal services into CIRA’s broader agency strategy, ensuring coordinated and effective service delivery.
Assess & strengthen impact by analyzing trends, community needs, and internal capacity to inform strategic priorities, enhance program effectiveness, and maximize the agency’s impact with respect to immigration legal assistance while maintaining high-quality representation.
Set Legal Department goals by working alongside the Legal Director and lead and senior attorneys to establish goals and deliverables for CIRA’s legal services that align with the agency’s objectives.
Manage budgeting & resource allocation by collaborating with the Legal Director, Director of Finance, Executive Director, and other department leaders to develop and manage the legal department’s annual budget.
Ensure accountability & performance of legal team members in collaboration with the Legal Director and lead and senior attorneys to review team performance metrics and audits, develop standards, and measure success.
Address legal team personnel concerns and needs, setting clear expectations, effective conflict resolution, and managing difficult conversations to ensure professional standards are met.
Effectively supervise and mentor lead and senior attorneys in their career development, providing valuable support to help them grow professionally as supervisors.
Support grant reporting & funding efforts in collaboration with the Director of Development and the Data Analytics Team to meet grant reporting requirements and contribute to developing applications for new funding opportunities.
Ensure ethical & accurate storytelling in collaboration with the Director of Communications to responsibly share client and staff stories and develop informed narratives that reflect the immigration legal landscape.

Oversight of CIRA’s Legal Services

Manage Legal Department staffingalongside the Legal Director to manage the recruiting, hiring, and supervision of all legal department staff. Supervise a number of lead and senior attorneys who own their respective subject matter-based teams and projects. Maintain continuous communication with lead attorneys to ensure their respective teams have appropriate staffing and resources.
Support the Legal Director in contributing to Legal Department training ensuring that legal department staff receive continuous and timely training on immigration law, policy, and practice. Continuously assess and address training needs, develop internal trainings, and identify and promote appropriate external professional development opportunities.

Direct Legal Representation

Maintain a modest direct representation caseload, representing noncitizen clients before Nebraska state courts and U.S. immigration agencies, including U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services, U.S. immigration courts, the Board of Immigration Appeals, and the U.S. Department of State.
In accepting new direct representation clients, the Associate Legal Director gives particular weight to cases that have a substantial likelihood of making positive changes in the application or interpretation of immigration law.
Prioritize participation as a legal representative in new service delivery models and high priority initiatives in order to gain insight into challenges and successes that may inform program development.

Community Engagement and Systemic Advocacy

Engage in advocacy & policy efforts by representing the organization on local, state, and national boards, committees, and working groups, as opportunities arise, to address key issues impacting noncitizens and immigration legal service delivery.
Build & strengthen partnerships by developing and maintaining collaborative relationships with agencies, organizations, and stakeholders who serve and support noncitizens to enhance service delivery and advocacy efforts.

QUALIFICATIONS

Must be a licensed attorney able to practice law in Nebraska or able to obtain a license to practice law in Nebraska.
At least 5 years of immigration law practice experience is required.
Experience in an immigrant-serving nonprofit organization is strongly preferred.
At least 3 years of experience in a leadership role successfully supervising a team of at least two individuals is strongly preferred.
Spanish language ability is strongly preferred.
Demonstrate exceptional interpersonal communication and relationship-building skills.
Exhibit superior organizational abilities and adept multitasking capabilities
Collaborate effectively within a team-oriented environment
Take initiative and make decisive, informed decisions when required
Navigate and manage team dynamics with a focus on positive outcomes.
Dedication to CIRA’s Mission and Values
Impeccable integrity, positive attitude, mission-driven, and self-directed.
Ability to think strategically, problem-solve, exercise good judgement, and lead change.
Must be authorized to work in the United States.

WORKING CONDITIONS

This job consists of regularly sitting at a desk, using a computer and phone, and attending meetings.
Occasional travel to other regions of Nebraska is anticipated depending on agency needs.
Workdays pertaining to a Monday – Friday schedule, 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM, with afterhours and/or weekends required based on deadlines and team needs.
Must be able to attend occasional evening and weekend meetings and events.

COMPENSATION

Base Salary of $100,000 - 115,000, commensurate with experience.
Excellent benefits including:
- Unlimited paid time off; 9 paid holidays with year-end holiday break
- Medical, dental, vision, life, and AD&D insurance; employee assistance program; 403b retirement plan with an automatic 5% contribution; and FMLA
- Yearly stipends for employee development opportunities and additional attorney benefits
- Relocation assistance; travel and expense reimbursement

TO APPLY

Please upload a cover letter, resume, legal writing sample, and three professional references all in PDF format to the job application link. Legal writing submissions must comply with the professional rules regarding confidentiality.

Center for Immigrant and Refugee Advancement

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