Supervising Attorney

Primary Purpose:

To provide supervision to the CWS/IRP legal team working Employment Status Assistance (ESA) Contract and to serve as a resource for all of CWS/IRP Miami Office Staff.



Essential Duties:

¨ Ensure adequate representation for CWS clients at DHS, including but not limited to: residency applications, asylum applications, prepare clients for interviews and hearings, Asylum Hearings; Master and Individual Calendar Hearings; and submission of briefs to the Board of Immigration Appeals. Ensure adequate review of DHS forms completed by paralegal staff.

¨ Recruit, train and supervise legal staff, providing services under Employment Status Assistance (ESA) Contract including: project attorneys; paralegals; volunteer attorneys; law students and other volunteers.

¨ Provide guidance in local and national advocacy efforts on behalf of immigrants, refugees, entrants and asylum seekers

¨ Participate in legal staff meetings and lead the meetings in the absence of the Managing Attorney. Provide weekly activity reports to the Managing Attorney.

¨ Approve and coordinate with the Managing Attorney staff time off, for those staff that are under your direct supervision, in order to ensure continuous and adequate program coverage.

¨ Represent CWS/IRP at Community Based Organization and Refugee Immigration Sub-Committee meetings related to immigration issues.

¨ Stay abreast of immigration law updates and DHS procedures and conduct trainings for staff.

¨ Perform other related duties and special projects as requested.



Qualifications:

Education:

Juris Doctor degree and admission to a State Bar.



Experience:

Two to four years of experience in the practice of Immigration law and be qualified to appear before the Department of Homeland Security and Department of Justice Hearings. Also, he/she will have two years relevant experience including program and staff supervision. Demonstrated ability to manage a multi-program department and supervise a diverse staff.

Competencies

Communications: Demonstrate “transparency of information” by articulating program strategies, priorities, standards and expectations to staff and stakeholders. Communicate by example a personal commitment to CWSW values. Supervise and evaluate the quality of communications within the legal team. Represent CWSW in varied forums, effectively interpreting its mission, values and programs and inspiring audiences to support its work. Conduct negotiations with local stakeholders with integrity and sensitivity, ensuring all relevant information is clearly communicated and documented. Provide critical insight, perspective and expertise.



Constituent Relationships: Manage relationships with stakeholders and work within their structure to identify programmatic linkages, plan and implement services and activities, and coordinate resolutions to problems. Identify potential constituents with whom to build relationships and flesh out details of those relationships within the context of CWSW’s mission, values and policies. Participate in developing recommendations and implementing policies governing relations with stakeholders. Resolve issues of concern to maintain effective constituent relationships.



Job Knowledge: Has a strengthened understanding of the faith-based nature of CWSW and is able to articulate that nature to varied audiences. Knows “broad stroke” information about CWSW programs and services, where to find more detailed information and how programs and services intersect. Comprehensive knowledge of a particular field and able to use that knowledge in planning and implementing legal programs. Assure CWSW mission and values are not compromised in achievement of goals and priorities. Evaluate staff skills, abilities and knowledge and identify opportunities to advance their development. Keep up to date with “best practices” and establish or adapt procedures that balance business performance with CWSW’s ministry and values.



Leadership: Communicate and model CWSW’s mission, values and priorities to staff and stakeholders. Share changes in priorities with staff and stakeholders, providing guidance to assist them in responding effectively. Delegate work among staff and hold them accountable for meeting deadlines. Instill pride in meeting work standards among staff. Accept personal responsibility for the work performed by others. Manage and evaluate staff, program and budget, making any changes necessary to achieve goals. Enable and empower staff to take initiative and be creative. Manage the planning and implementation of CWSW’s vision and program goals.



Problem Solving: Identify problems that undermine the effectiveness of a program. Identify and implement workable solutions for program-wide problems, considering the costs, benefits and potential consequences to CWSW. Manage and provide the resources necessary to resolve problems within the legal team. Promote staff involvement with and accountability for problem solving as a means to increase staff and organizational capacity.





Program Planning and Management: Manage the implementation and evaluation of program activities, establishing budget, implementation steps and time frames. Assure staff understand their roles in supporting program goals. Establish standards and expectations for performing work activities and assure the quality of work produced. Lead the gathering and analysis of information from internal and external stakeholders. Make time-sensitive decisions affecting outcomes of program activities. Build consensus with colleagues, stakeholders and management in support of new initiatives. Successfully manage multiple projects simultaneously. Invite critical analysis and perspectives from stakeholders and act on their recommendations to improve program effectiveness.



Resource Building and Stewardship: Manage budget needed for program activities. Manage relationships with partners to assure continued support. Develop opportunities to build support for CWSW among new partners. Manage staff and systems to make sure resources are used effectively. Promote CWSW’s mission, programs and services and inspire people to support them. Interpret CWSW’s policies on stewardship and accountability for its resources to the public.



Teamwork: Contribute program expertise to the work performed by the team. Promote effective interactions among team members and facilitate group discussion. Establish clear expectations regarding team work assignments and assist staff in balancing priorities. Negotiate issues that cause conflicts within the team to support effective team functioning. Evaluate team results and individual team member performance, identifying needs and providing opportunities for improvement or enhancing team skills. Produce reports detailing results achieved. Provide critical insight and feedback to teams to enhance performance and results.



Other Skills:

Working knowledge of Spanish and/or Haitian Creole preferred.