Chief, Immigration Law Practice (Community Defender Unit)

Make a difference! Become a Defender!

The Chief of the Immigration Law Practice (Community Defense Unit) is responsible for the planning, developing, coordinating, organizing, evaluating, and directing the overall operation of the Immigration Law Practice. The Chief will lead the unit in direct legal services in immigration law matters by representing clients in immigration court hearings, immigration appeals, and federal filings with USCIS and the U.S. Department of State. In addition, the unit will provide immigration analysis and advice in criminal cases involving non-citizen defendants. The Chief will supervise, manage, and evaluate the attorneys, social work mitigators, legal interns, and administrative staff within the unit. The Chief will have overall responsibility for the operation of the unit. The Chief will also assist in developing ongoing trainings to reflect best practices for the Defender Association in an ever-changing immigration landscape. The Chief must understand the roles and responsibilities of all staff and be able to identify staffing needs and manage resources particularly when addressing staff shortages and developing plans for long-term needs, as well as planning for possible unit expansion. The Chief will also work closely with the Executive Team, other management, court administration, outside stakeholders, and community partners to advance the Defender Association’s interests. This position as an Immigration Attorney is funded by a sub-award contract with Nationalities Services Center. The funding, and thus this position ends on June 30, 2026, unless the Nationalities Services Center and/or the Defenders gets continued funding. While we hope that the funding continues beyond that date, we cannot guarantee employment past that date.

What You’ll Do

• Manage the day-to-day operations of Immigration Law Practice.

• Develop and implement procedures and protocols that are necessary to improve departmental efficiency and promote the professional development of the unit’s staff

• Create and foster a unit where attorneys and staff develop, maintain, and grow the necessary skills to handle the multi-faceted practice of immigration defense.

• Supervise, manage, and evaluate performance of lawyers, mitigation specialists, paralegals, legal interns, and administrative staff within the unit in all aspects of their job duties by meeting with staff regularly

• Be available and accessible to answer immigration-related questions from attorneys, social workers, paralegals, and staff

• Create and maintain databases for unit programs to track relevant data and statistics

• Create and maintain a system to track and assess workload within the unit and across unit members.

• Prepare and present training programs for Defender Association attorneys on topics related to immigration defense.

• Attend meetings with Court Administration, Judges, County and State Officials, and community stakeholders, as needed, to advance the interest of the Defender Association and our immigration clients

What You’ll Need

• Juris Doctorate Degree required; Admission to PA Bar required.

• Admission to practice in federal court required.

• Five (5) years of immigration legal experience, required.

• Fluency in Spanish, preferred

• Experience in managing, training, and development of attorneys, preferred

• Knowledge and familiarity with statutes, caselaw, and best practices related to immigration representation, required

• Must possess the ability to effectively communicate with widely diverse groups, both internally and externally.

• Ability to travel to local, state and federal courtrooms and prisons, as needed

Benefits & Perks

• Generous and rich benefits plan including choice of affordable medical plans, and employer paid: dental, vision, life insurance, long term disability insurance and professional liability insurance
• Substantial paid time off- close to 35 days off plus all federal holidays
• Retirement Savings Employer Match
• Eight weeks of paid parental leave
• Free Septa Anywhere Key Card
• Public Loan Forgiveness Eligible Employer
• Meaningful Work
• Wellness Benefits
• Ongoing Training and Development of You
• Access to quality and affordable CLEs

To apply

Please apply online and include resume, cover letter detailing your interest and experience and a writing sample (no more than 20 pages).

Who is the Defender Association?

The Defender Association of Philadelphia is more than just a law firm. We’re the community’s lawyers.

The Defender team – more than 500 attorneys, social workers, investigators, administrators, and other staff – make sure that everyone, regardless of income, has access to high-quality defense when facing criminal charges. Our mission-driven, client-centered model focuses on outcomes that support a system that is fundamentally fair and creates safer, stronger communities. Our unique model and approach give our staff with the skills and support they need to get the best outcomes for our clients. Come join our team! For more information, go Defender’s website and follow us @PhillyDefenders (Twitter, IG, Tiktok) and on LinkedIn.

The Defender Association provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, The Defender Association complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.