Program: Deportation Defense and Legal Advocacy Program
Compensation: $85,000-$100,000 commensurate with experience. Full-time, exempt position. Benefits include medical, dental, vision, long-term disability, life insurance and 401(K) with employer match, flexible spending account, and commuter benefits.
Generous paid time off and sick leave, floating holidays. In addition, DSCS provides one week at the end of July for Summer Recess, and one week at the end of December for Winter Recess.
This is a hybrid (remote/in-office) position.
Supervised By: Legal Director
About the Organization
Dolores Street Community Services (DSCS) nurtures individual wellness and cultivates collective power among low-income and immigrant communities to create a more just society. As a multi-issue, multi-strategy organization, we work to improve lives on an individual level as well as affect broader social change by engaging in advocacy and community organizing. We work together across programs to address homelessness, lack of affordable housing, and to support immigrant rights in order to meet the complex needs of our communities and collectively address the root causes of suffering and injustice.
About the Program
Since 2008, Dolores Street’s Deportation Defense & Legal Advocacy Program (DDLAP) has been a local leader in providing pro bono legal defense for individuals and families facing deportation. We use creative legal and advocacy strategies to directly challenge prolonged detention, constitutional violations, and other injustices in the immigration legal system. We also collaborate with base building and civil rights organizations and play a leading role in advocacy efforts on the local and state level.
The Associate Managing Attorney supports the Legal Program Director by providing supervision, program management, and leadership for DDLAP, and carries a partial caseload.
Duties and Responsibilities
Case Work/Programmatic Work
Carry partial caseload of non-detained removal defense cases, with the opportunity to take on detained work or impact litigation according to the interest of the attorney and needs of the Program.
Participate in regular intake/consults.
Occasionally engage in outreach and education (provide immigrant rights trainings, volunteer at community legal clinics, etc.) as needed for other DSCS programs or community partners.
Represent DDLAP in coalitions and with other DSCS programs, with community partners and with city stakeholders, as needed.
Supervision
Provide administrative supervision to DDLAP staff (timesheet review, file and case management review, oversight of deliverables and data upkeep, etc.), as needed.
Provide substantive case supervision to non-attorney staff and attorneys as needed.
Manage and coordinate legal and non-legal interns/volunteers.
Administrative
Act as the Legal Director during the Director’s absence.
Support the Director in developing and managing the DDLAP program, including oversight of deliverables, oversight of file and data upkeep by staff, technical fluency in DDLAP’s file and case management system, staff recruitment and professional development, and quality control of legal services.
Support management of program’s contracts & grants, including monthly and annual grant reporting, drafting proposals, and other associated administrative tasks as needed.
Lead and coordinate DDLAP communications work, including management of program materials and social media platforms, in conjunction with other DSCS programs.
Participate actively in DSCS’s internal management structure (such as participation in organization-wide Strategic Leadership Team meetings and other agency committees).
Other Organizational Duties:
Conduct business in accordance with the DSCS Employee Handbook, exercising sound judgment and serving the best interests of the agency and the community.
Work within the framework of the agency’s mission, vision, values, theory of change, and organization’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, restorative justice, trauma-informed work, and language justice.
Commit yourself to treating each community member with respect and dignity.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Qualifications for Successful Employment:
Juris Doctor and active bar admission.
Minimum of five years’ experience practicing removal defense and/or advanced ability to independently represent individuals in removal proceedings.
Minimum of three years’ experience supervising attorneys and non-attorney staff.
Minimum of two years’ management and programmatic development experience (project management, tracking deliverables, hiring, planning) preferred.
Must be well-organized, efficient, highly motivated, work well under pressure, and take initiative.
Ability to work independently as well as within a team.
Strong commitment to serving low-income and underserved communities, with an ability to relate to and communicate with a broad range of clients and colleagues.
Experience working with people from diverse backgrounds including multiply-diagnosed low-income populations, people who are marginally housed, immigrants, LGBTQ individuals, people of color and persons with disabilities.
Demonstrated commitment to immigrant rights and social justice issues, and familiarity with DSCS mission and organizational work.
Excellent time management skills and ability to multitask and prioritize work, required.
Strong attention to detail and problem-solving skills.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including professional phone manner.
Advanced proficiency in Spanish/English, spoken and written required.
How to Apply:
If you are qualified and interested in applying, please submit your resume, cover letter, writing sample,, salary requirements and three professional references, including a supervisorial reference to https://dscs.isolvedhire.com/jobs/ Immediately interviewing on a rolling basis until position is filled. Please visit our web site for additional information on our organization at: www.dscs.org
Dolores Street Community Services is an equal-opportunity employer and seeks applicants of the greatest diversity possible, including women, people of color, queer individuals, persons with disabilities, including HIV, and formerly incarcerated individuals.
Dolores Street Community Services (DSCS) nurtures individual wellness and cultivates collective power among low-income and immigrant communities to create a more just society. As a multi-issue, multi-strategy organization, we work to improve lives on an individual level as well as affect broader social change by engaging in advocacy and community organizing. We work together across programs to address homelessness, lack of affordable housing, and to support immigrant rights in order to meet the complex needs of our communities and collectively address the root causes of suffering and injustice.
