Director of Strategic Litigation

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services (RAICES) seeks to hire a Director of Strategic Litigation within its Legal Department. The Director of Strategic Litigation will manage a team consisting of attorneys and legal support staff. The Litigation Unit is positioned to act on appeals of RAICES clients’ immigration matters in federal court and initiate strategic lawsuits or actions against parties violating rights that are aligned with the vision and mission of RAICES. The Director of Strategic Litigation will be supervised by the Legal Director with regard to unit operations and will work closely with the Legal Director and Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) with regard to overall litigation strategy

RESPONSIBILITIES 

Strategy/Outreach/Program Development

• Coordinate with the Legal Director and CEO for legal strategy.
• Oversee implementation of legal strategy through direct supervision of a team. Ensures all cases have a high-quality legal review by conducting/overseeing regular case file reviews to ensure compliance with RAICES Policies & Procedures, contract/grant requirements, and immigration law best practices. Ensure fees are collected as defined by the Fee for Service Policy, where applicable.
• Assess, develop, and supervise RAICES current litigation portfolio in collaboration with Legal Director and CEO.
• Lead case management meetings and debrief sessions.
• Provide counseling on ethical issues for the Litigation Team in coordination with Legal Director and CEO.
• Serves as the legal program(s) subject matter expert on strategic litigation and works collaboratively with Managing Attorneys across all RAICES legal programs; participates in a Managing Attorney cohort, which convenes regularly to discuss legal department-wide issues and assists in finding proposed solutions and implementing them within their legal program(s) with approval from Legal Directors.
• Coach other Legal Units and lawyers regarding case strategy as it related to potential litigation, preserving the record, preparing the case for appeal and other issues presented at the Asylum Office, Immigration Court, or BIA level.
• Maintain timely and consistent communication with funders, staff, RAICES leadership, community partners, and volunteers while building strong working relationships.
• Serve as a Liaison between internal RAICES staff, co-counsel, external partners and stakeholders, external consultants, and any other consultants.
• Collaborate with other Legal Units to facilitate information-sharing related to current cases.
• Coordinate with the Advocacy POC within External Affairs on proposed legislation affecting immigrants and immigration law. 
• Coordinate with the Communications POC within External Affairs to promote our cases and client stories; assist with cultivation of donor relationships as needed and to attract pro bono partners.
• Coordinate with the Case Management unit to assist litigation clients with case assistance or social services and promote seamless, wraparound service models.
• Serve as the public representative for RAICES litigation matters and issues related to impact litigation including, external collaborations, communications or media appearances related to pending cases in collaboration with Legal Director and CEO, and with appropriate executive team and/or external affairs approval.
• Work with pro bono counsel and other stakeholders on federal lawsuits.
   

Supervision/Staff Development

• Performs management responsibilities of selection, scheduling, supervision, retention, mentoring and evaluation of all direct reports. Provides ongoing and engaging coaching and feedback.
• Helps prioritize workload, discusses challenges, and assists staff with professional development plans.
• Promote and develop a positive, highly functioning, collaborative team and ensure effective integration of internships.
• Ensure staff adhere to all policies & procedures by providing ongoing relevant training, including legal ethics, and most up to date guidance regarding immigration law, trends, and policies.

Operations

• Works with the Legal Directors to develop and monitor intake procedures, case acceptance policies and caseload targets and limits. Work with staff on managing the caseload targets and limits.
• Review and prepare co-counsel agreements, MOUs and agreements with partners, engagement letters with experts and interpreters, and agreements with consultants in coordination with Legal Director and CEO.
• Participate in reviewing grant/contract legal funding opportunities for RAICES. Develop and maintain a strong, working knowledge of awarded contract/grant requirements to ensure compliance and promote best practices. Ensure staff are trained on contract/grant requirements.
• Ensure program data is collected consistently and reported timely for monthly financial billing and reports, annual budget submissions and budget amendments. Ensure all KPIs are tracked and timely reported to leadership on schedule or as requested.
• Work with other Units and RAICES offices to receive the information to evaluate issues or trends that would lead to strategic litigation.
• Participate in the budget process for the department and monitor the expenses to ensure spending in accordance with the approved budget.
• Handle a caseload providing legal representation and/or leading or participating in federal litigation efforts through all phases of litigation (administrative, trial, and/or appeal), including legal research, motions practice, discovery, trial, brief writing, and oral argument (as appropriate).
• Complete various administrative tasks as required and oversee other duties, general administrative activities, and responsibilities.
• Other duties as assigned by Legal  Directors or Executive Staff.

Minimum Qualifications

• Juris Doctorate from an ABA-accredited law school.
• Current state bar membership in good standing within the United States.
• Must be licensed, or able to become licensed, in the Western District of Texas, 5th Circuit Court of Appeals and the D.C District Court,
• 5 years of experience practicing complex and sophisticated litigation in federal and appellate courts or equivalent work;,
• 3 years of experience supervising litigation attorneys and legal support staff; and
• Able to pass a Federal Background Check.

Preferred Qualifications

• 3 years experience incorporating the perspectives of multiple communities, including BIPOC communities, in the consideration of impacts and outcomes of a decision-making process;
• 10 years of experience practicing complex and sophisticated litigation in federal and appellate courts, including but not limited to federal class actions;
• Licensed in the Southern and Northern District of Texas
• Trial experience;
• Familiarity with civil rights and/or immigration law with preference for those with demonstrated knowledge and interest in reform of the immigration system and combating systemic injustice;
• Demonstrated understanding of, or experience litigating, various statutory and constitutional causes of action, including cases arising under the Federal Tort Claims Act, the Freedom of Information Act, habeas corpus, mandamus, the Administrative Procedures Act, the Immigration and Nationality Act, Bivens actions, and international human rights law;
• Committed to social justice evidenced by job and/or pro bono/volunteer/intern experience

Attributes

• Must demonstrate behavior that aligns with RAICES’ mission, vision, and values – Empowerment, Excellence, Compassion, Inclusion and being Proactive.
• Ability to prioritize conflicting demands and work under tight deadlines.
• Ability to develop and sustain positive relationships with internal and external customers and vendors.
• Strong analytical, oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Must be enthusiastic in all aspects of work performance.

PLEASE NOTE:  Employees are expected to live within the assigned geographic location to commute to and from the office or assigned on-site location(s) as business or client needs require.
 
Hybrid Work Plan

• Currently, all interviews are virtual. 
• All positions will require working remotely and in-office at the assigned work location.
• Applicants must reside in the state of Texas.
• Relocation assistance may be provided to candidates willing to relocate.