Managing Attorney, National Team

Job Description

Job Description

About KIND

Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) is a global leader in the protection of unaccompanied and separated children who are forcibly displaced from their countries of origin. Launched in 2008, KIND champions a world in which every child’s rights and well-being are protected throughout their journey to safety.

Building on its extensive programming and successful model in the United States, KIND is expanding in the Americas and Europe to bring its experience to bear in working with unaccompanied and separated children. Our work focuses on addressing the legal and mental health needs of this population; building strong partnerships and engaging in training and capacity strengthening with governments, NGOs, and the private sector; and advocating for systemic and pragmatic reforms to advance the rights of unaccompanied and separated children.

Position Summary

KIND seeks a Managing Attorney for the National Team to provide senior-level expertise and leadership in the provision of legal services by KIND attorneys and pro bono partners to unaccompanied children facing removal proceedings. The Managing Attorney will manage and coordinate a team of National Senior Attorneys, Staff Attorneys, Paralegals and Program Coordinators, in addition to detailing to KIND’s field offices to support teams and casework, and other projects as needed. The Managing Attorney serves as thoughtful leader and expert advisor on complex and novel legal issues for internal and external stakeholders.

This is a remote position based from any location in the U.S. with occasional travel as needed.P

Essential Functions

• Serves as a team leader, coordinating assignments of the team, strategizing around resources allocation, and maximizing team cohesion and collaboration.
• Details to KIND’s field offices to provide both mentoring to KIND pro bono attorneys and direct legal representation to KIND clients in different KIND field offices or teams as needed :
• In the pro bono mentoring function, provides robust consultation and technical assistance to pro bono attorneys who have accepted a KIND case.
• In the direct representation function, performs ordinary functions of legal counsel including legal research and formulating the legal strategy for the case; conducting client interviews; appearing before immigration and / or state courts or agencies; and drafting and filing court pleadings and applications for benefits.
• Supervises and leads attorney and non-attorney legal program staff in relevant jurisdiction(s), including : program oversight, supervising casework, managing caseloads and other assignments, promoting and advising supervisees on professional growth, conducting employee performance evaluations, meeting regularly with each supervisee, and providing consistent and effective supervision to ensure high-quality legal work and achievement of deliverables;
• Places cases with pro bono attorneys, and provides ongoing expert mentoring, training, and technical assistance in individual and group settings.
• Engages in outreach to foster and expand relationships with community stakeholders and pro bono partners including law firm and in-house corporate counsel; provides expert contribution and oversight in development of guidance materials and samples.
• Contributes to overall department functioning, including actively participating in team, field office and KIND-wide calls and meetings, field office and KIND-wide committees, and providing leadership in events.
• Oversees data management, ensuring data integrity through regular case audits, technical fluency with KIND’s case management systems, and oversight of data upkeep and accuracy by supervisees.
• Provides legal skills trainings and technical case assistance to in-house staff, pro bono attorneys, or other stakeholders, in coordination with field office colleagues and KIND’s Training and Technical Assistance Team;.
• Partners with managing directors to ensure mid-level supervisors in field office are equipped and trained to effectively supervise and coach their direct reports;
• May participate in national-scale projects or efforts across the legal programs department, as needed.
• In collaboration with Legal Programs Management, and in coordination with other organizational departments such as Development and Finance, assists in developing and implementing grant and contract-funded programming, including monitoring performance against grant and contract commitments.
• Collaborates with other KIND departments on specific projects and initiatives as needed, including KIND’s Policy, Advocacy, Communications, and Regional departments.
• Maintains internal and external stakeholder relations; participates in local coalitions of various stakeholders supporting unaccompanied immigrant children;Participates in and may lead local and national KIND meetings, committees, retreats, and events.
• Provides leadership and oversight in ensuring overall field office functioning and developing KIND’s legal services program at large.

Qualifications and Requirements

Our Benefits

For a complete list of benefits, please click here.

Our Focus on Wellness

KIND recognizes that our ability to help our clients starts with helping our team members. KIND has prioritized wellness for employees through Mindfulness and Wellness Trainings, Wellness Platforms, Employee Assistance and Resilience Programs, Time Away and Office Wellness Activities.

For more information regarding our Wellness initiatives please visit this link.

Application Instructions

To be considered for this role, please submit an employment application at  supportkind.org / join -the-team, along with your resume and cover letter.

Disclaimer :  KIND is committed to an ethical recruitment and hiring process and maintains a firm “no fees” recruitment policy. We will never charge a fee or ask for money as part of the application process. KIND also conducts all interviews via telephone or video conference, and at no time will KIND engage in a text or mobile app-based application or interview process. For more information, please visit the following website :   https : / / supportkind.org / join -the-team / kind-employment-practices / .

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.