Director, Legal

Summary

Join the National Immigration Law Center (NILC) as the Director, Legal! This leadership role requires a subject matter expert to lead and execute the Legal Department’s programmatic work. You will develop and implement a strategic plan for the Law & Policy team, oversee impact litigation and legal advocacy, and collaborate with various teams to advance NILC's goals. Responsibilities include litigation, supervision of staff, and department management. The ideal candidate possesses a Juris Doctor, at least 10 years of relevant experience, and demonstrated expertise in various areas of law. NILC offers a competitive salary, comprehensive benefits, and a commitment to racial justice and equity.

Requirements

• Juris Doctor from an accredited school and an active member in good standing with a State Bar Association
• At least 10 years of progressive experience in litigation or related legal work at a nonprofit or social justice organization that includes substantial experience in federal courts, appellate practice, or constitutional law, with 4+ years of leadership/management experience including legal supervision, case development, and project management
• Demonstrated experience in labor, employment, immigration, and/or civil rights law showing excellent skills and outcomes and innovative strategies
• Proficiency with in-office and virtual environments and software such as MS Office, internet research, and virtual collaboration tools
• Commitment to NILC & IJF’s mission of advancing the rights of immigrants with low income and a demonstrated commitment to human rights, racial, economic, and social justice, and equity, diversity, inclusion, and justice for all
• Collaborative, proactive, and action-oriented working style with a strong service mentality promoting mutual accountability and inspiriting trust and confidence from colleagues, other NILC team members, and NILC leaders alike
• Sound judgment in decision-making, high integrity, and utmost respect for confidentiality
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills: ability to read, analyze, and interpret as well as draft documents such as reports, correspondence, and presentations for various audiences
• Self-starter with a strong strategic ability to move daily tasks forward in alignment with NILC’s broader organizational needs and goals
• Commitment to legal practice that empowers collective vision and action by low-income immigrants and their loved ones
• Desire and ability to integrate legal practice with organizing, policy change, and other adjacent work
• Ability to consistently integrate deep understanding of key racial equity concepts into work projects and interactions by addressing structural implications and disproportionate impacts of policies, activities, and decisions on race, class, and other group identities within the context of job responsibilities and projects
• A track record of partnership and coalition building with diverse groups of external partners, including law firms, organizers, community leaders, and other legal advocacy organizations; proven success engaging with diverse communities and centering their experience and voices
• Excellent writing and public-speaking skills, with the ability to make complex legal and advocacy issues accessible to all audiences
• Capacity to make “hard choices” relating to organizational positions, coalition decisions, and allocations of resources among competing demands
• Ability to recognize each team member's unique background and perspective to achieve team goals in a positive and motivating working environment
• Ability to develop team through coaching, feedback, exposure and stretch assignments
• An inclusive management style that places deep value on diverse perspectives and emphasizes the development and growth of team members and encourages learning and continued improvement
• Humility and a can-do attitude

Responsibilities

• Support the Executive Vice President, Programs and the Vice President, Law & Policy, to develop a strategic plan for the Law & Policy team and workgroup areas that implements and leverages the Strategic Framework
• In collaboration with the VP, Law and Policy, and the Deputy Legal Directors, oversee the implementation of a robust impact litigation and legal advocacy strategy in support of broader immigrants’ rights movement strategies; develop legal theories and cases; litigates key select cases
• Collaborate with the Policy, Strategic Partnerships & Advocacy, Strategic Communications, and Development teams to engage other parts of our team to effectively leverage the resources and talents across the organization
• Ensure working groups, project/campaign teams, and litigation teams have larger vision and strategic framework at the core and are aligned across various subject areas
• Serve as a spokesperson with the media, testify before Congress or other policymaking bodies based on area of expertise, and present at national conferences or other public speaking engagements that further NILC’s mission and legal strategies
• Engage with key stakeholders, including movement allies, donors, and board members, including providing periodic reports to the board of directors
• Serve as a subject matter expert in the legal tools NILC uses in programmatic work including litigation, analysis, policies, legislation, etc. to support campaigns and programs that advance NILC’s strategic framework
• Represent NILC and NILC clients in complex cases that are strategic to the collective goals of NILC and its partners
• Partner with programs directors and campaign leads to ensure that the Legal Department’s work is integrated and well-coordinated across the departments and key partners
• Develop and maintain strong and collaborative relationships with law firms, law school clinics, NGO co-counsel, and other coalition partners
• In collaboration with VP Law and Policy and Legal Management Team, recruit, interview, hire, and train staff
• Provide guidance and support in litigation and in the integration of NILC’s core strategies, development and growth of external relationships, and efforts to move forward NILC’s work under the strategic framework and campaign work
• Oversee the daily workflow of direct reports
• Act as a coach and mentor including providing constructive and timely feedback to foster a collaborative environment that develops strengths, improves weaknesses, and encourages creative problem-solving
• Actively manage direct and indirect reports using applicable performance management software including documenting regular check-ins, goal progress, and any other relevant information in the system for performance and coaching purposes
• Handle discipline and performance of employees in accordance with organizational policy
• Manage outside consultants, third party administrators, and vendors
• Oversee legal intake process, case approval process, and case staffing
• Develop effective communication systems and practices across the department, coordinating and connecting the dots through the various areas of work that team members are engaged in
• Work closely with Programs supervisors, other Programs Directors, and workgroup/ project campaign, and litigation leaders to create and maintain employee work schedules including assignments, job rotation, training, vacations, and paid time off, telecommuting, cover for absenteeism, and overtime scheduling
• Provide mentorship and ensure ongoing professional development of department staff
• Share feedback regularly on workgroup members’ performance, goals, strengths & weaknesses, and more to their respective supervisors to support the growth and development of team members at all levels
• May be a part of or lead cross functional/departmental projects using the MOCHA framework/methodology
• Champions NILC & IJF’s mission of advancing the rights of immigrants with low income by demonstrating a commitment to human rights, and racial, economic, and social justice
• Attends and actively participates in NILC meetings at the organization, department, project, and individual level
• Develops relationships and supports NILC and IJF colleagues across all teams, recognizing that each individual brings a unique background and perspective to the work and assuming good intent from each other
• Follows through on commitments acting with a clear sense of ownership individually and collectively by taking personal responsibility for decisions, actions, and failures, establishing clear responsibilities and processes for monitoring work and measuring results, and designing feedback loops into work
• Learns quickly when facing new situations by experimenting to find fresh solutions, taking on the challenge of unfamiliar tasks, and extracting lessons learned from failures and mistakes
• Acts with integrity by following through on commitments, being direct and truthful, keeping confidences, and showing consistency between words and actions
• Commits to centering NILC’s values of racial justice & equity, valuing diversity, fostering partnerships & collaboration, encouraging respect & personal well-being, and striving for transparency, integrity, and honesty in all decisions and actions

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience using multiple tools – including impact litigation, policy advocacy, and narrative change, to further a cause, ideally in a social justice context
• Proficiency in non-English languages spoken by Latinx, Asian, Pacific Islander, African, Caribbean, and Arab communities preferred. Fluency in more than one language is desirable

Benefits

• Employer-paid healthcare coverage (100% for employees and 75% for dependents)
• Employer-supported dental and vision coverage
• A 403(b)-retirement plan including an automatic contribution from NILC
• Paid parental leave
• Monthly cell phone and wellness stipends
• Pre-tax accounts for transit, health, and childcare benefits (FSA)
• Employer-paid short- and long-term disability and life insurance
• A generous paid-time-off policy, 15 holidays and 22 days of paid time off annually (increased to 32 after 2 years of employment)
• NILC is also a qualifying public service employer, which means all full-time NILC employees qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program