Supervising Immigration Attorney

$91,000 - $115,000/Yr

Research Foundation At Cuny - New York, NY

Full-time - Manager

New York, NY

About the position

The Supervising Immigration Attorney at CUNY Citizenship Now! is responsible for overseeing the Asylum Program, ensuring high-quality legal assistance for newly arrived immigrants, particularly asylum seekers. This role involves training and supervising staff, providing legal consultations, and acting as a liaison with various stakeholders to enhance the program's effectiveness in meeting the needs of the immigrant community in New York City.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the CN/MOIA Asylum Program and ensure delivery of high-quality legal assistance.
• Provide legal consultations and pro se application assistance for asylum seekers.
• Screen applicants for other immigration relief options.
• Advise applicants regarding their removal proceedings.
• Supervise staff attorneys and paralegals in preparing immigration applications.
• Conduct initial screenings for newly arrived migrants, prioritizing those nearing the one-year filing deadline.
• Review, edit, and approve applications prepared by staff before submission.
• Train and supervise legal staff to ensure adherence to program standards.
• Represent CN! in stakeholder engagements to advance program goals.
• Monitor program operations and ensure compliance with CN! and MOIA guidelines.
• Conduct immigration workshops and seminars for staff and community groups.
• Report on the status of services to the Director and Program and Operations Manager.
• Liaise with key stakeholders including governmental and non-governmental service providers.
• Assist with funding proposals as assigned by the Director or Program and Operations Manager.
• Monitor program outcomes to meet MOIA contract deliverables.
• Participate in large-scale screening events, supervising staff and volunteers.
• Coordinate with community outreach staff to connect clients with essential city resources.

Requirements

• State Bar admission required.
• Five years of experience in immigration law, particularly with removal defense litigation and asylum.
• Fluency in a second language, particularly Spanish, Haitian Creole, or French, is required.
• Experience in supervising, mentoring, and training staff, as well as guiding paralegals and volunteers.
• Experience in providing effective and ethical pro se services.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, writing, and legal skills with a focus on applicant service.
• Ability to thrive under pressure while managing multiple tasks and projects.
• Excellent organizational and presentation skills with strong relationship-building abilities.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and with minimal oversight.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience with all forms of humanitarian immigration relief is preferred.
• Knowledge in Microsoft Office applications, including SharePoint, Word, and Outlook.

Benefits

• Annual salary range of $91,000.00 - $115,000.00
• Full-time position with occasional evening hours and at least one Saturday per month.
• Attendance at conferences.