Managing Attorney/Directing Attorney (Immigration Removal Defense)

Immigrant Defenders Law Center (“ImmDef”) is a next-generation, social justice law firm that provides high-quality representation and legal services to immigrants in Southern California and beyond. ImmDef was founded with the belief that no immigrant should be forced to face an unjust immigration system alone and our universal representation programs are a first step towards that goal. Learn more about us at www.immdef.org.

ImmDef represents thousands of adults, children and families annually who have multi-faceted, complex and urgent legal needs as they face our unjust immigration system. ImmDef seeks a committed, experienced, and mission-driven attorney-leader to join our legal services team as either a Managing Attorney or Directing Attorney and oversee our teams of fearless advocates providing creative and zealous representation to our clients. Join the largest non-profit, universal representation model deportation defense team in the state of California, and help develop and advance our mission-driven organization!

ImmDef's Managing Attorneys and Directing Attorneys play essential leadership roles in ensuring high-quality, client-centered representation for children and adults in removal defense and related immigration matters. This is a rewarding and exciting position where the successful applicant will be engaged in cutting edge immigration litigation for individual clients with an overarching organizational goal of fighting for a more just immigration system.

Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Work collaboratively with ImmDef Directors, Directing Attorneys, Managing Attorneys, and program managers across all ImmDef programs to advance the mission.
• Mentor, supervise, and support attorneys representing detained and recently released children and adults in removal proceedings and in applications for immigration benefits.
• Monitor attorney capacity and caseload distribution, including holding regular one-on-one meetings and leading case review sessions.
• Work collaboratively with staff to develop case strategies and litigation tactics.
• Provide guidance to ensure high-quality, trauma-informed, client-centered legal representation.
• Keep abreast of developments in case law, statutory or regulatory changes, and shifts in detention practices.
• Coordinate and support attorney and legal staff professional development, including ongoing legal trainings, and ensure ImmDef’s training materials reflect current law and policy.
• Foster and support a mission-driven, team-centered office culture and build systems that support strong internal communication and client engagement.
• Ensure compliance with ImmDef’s record-keeping, grant requirements, ethical obligations, and case management standards.
• Work to develop and implement policies, templates, and procedures that improve effectiveness, efficiency, and uniformity in representation.
• Participate in coalitions and manage stakeholder relationships in support of immigrants’ rights.
• Maintain a reduced caseload of complex deportation defense matters to model litigation strategy and promote skill development.
• Support recruitment efforts for legal and program staff within assigned program areas.
• Perform other duties as assigned by ImmDef leadership.

In addition to the full set of Managing Attorney duties above, the Directing Attorney will:

• Provide direct supervision to Managing Attorneys, senior legal staff, and team leads.
• Lead development, implementation, and refinement of program-wide systems, policies, and procedures to strengthen legal quality, efficiency, and consistency across teams.
• Oversee program operations, including grant compliance, contract reporting, and ensuring alignment with funder requirements.
• Maintain and expand collaborative relationships with funders, partners, and stakeholders to support program sustainability and growth.
• Ensure the integration of legal updates, policy changes, and best practices across ImmDef’s training platforms and practice resources.
• Contribute strategically to organization-wide planning, leadership initiatives, and cross-program coordination.

• Juris Doctorate degree, or foreign law degree and L.L.M;
• Active California State Bar License or licensure from another U.S. jurisdiction and, if required, willingness to "waive into" the CA Bar via the Multi-Jurisdictional Practice Program;
• For Managing Attorneys: Minimum 3 years of legal practice, including 2 years of immigration removal defense experience;
• For Directing Attorneys: Minimum 6 years of legal practice, including 4 years of immigration removal defense experience, and minimum 2 years of supervisory or management experience, including mentoring attorneys handling complex and high-volume caseloads.
• Passion for social justice for immigrants required.

Preferred Experience

• Experience representing children, families, and adults in applications for asylum/WOR/CAT, special immigrant juvenile status, cancellation, waivers, adjustment of status, immigration consequences of criminal convictions, bond, humanitarian parole, post-conviction relief, habeas petitions, BIA appeals, motions to reopen, and/or naturalization before USCIS or EOIR.
• Experience representing immigrants detained in ICE, CBP and/or ORR custody;
• Experience representing children and families in guardianship, parentage, child custody, or dependency proceedings in California for SIJS purposes;
• Experience representing immigrants with juvenile delinquency or criminal history;
• Familiarity with evolving immigration and border policies;
• Knowledge of best practices in working with clients with mental competency issues, including those suffering from mental health challenges and children;
• Strong case management, legal research, and legal writing skills;
• Willingness to zealously pursue new and untested legal theories;
• Strong strategic thinking, organizational leadership, and problem-solving skills;
• Demonstrated ability to take initiative and work under pressure;
• Experience managing, teaching and mentoring staff;
• Ability to work collaboratively and to handle multiple demands in a sometimes hectic and busy environment;
• DACA Recipients encouraged to apply!

Language Proficiency

• Spanish language proficiency is strongly preferred, however those with fluency in other languages may be considered;

Cover letters are strongly encouraged. You can learn more about our programs at www.immdef.org. While there is a preference for these positions to be based in our Los Angeles office, ImmDef will consider candidates who desire to be based from our other offices located in Riverside or Santa Ana.

Due to the large number of applicants, we are unable to respond to every applicant and will only contact those who are invited to interview for the position.

Compensation:

• Title and compensation will be commensurate with experience.
• Managing Attorney salary $91,000 +
• Directing Attorney starting salary $115,000 +

Schedule:

• ImmDef’s business hours are Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., but our office reception hours are 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. As an exempt employee you will be expected to work a minimum of 35 hours per week, or 70 hours per pay period. You will be required to work from an ImmDef worksite during business hours at least 3-days per week, and 2-days per week you will have the flexibility work from home or take a day off in accordance with ImmDef’s Flexible Work Schedule policies, subject to supervisor approval.
• As a member of ImmDef’s management team, you are expected to schedule your hours and on-site attendance to maximize your availability to your team, serving as a role model for effective work habits and professional conduct.

Professional Memberships:

• ImmDef provides attorneys with membership in the National Immigration Project of the National Lawyers Guild (NIPNLG), as well as $150 towards the professional association of their choice, and opportunities to attend conferences, trainings and seminars/webinars hosted internally and by partner organizations.
• ImmDef covers California Bar Dues (or equivalent in another jurisdiction) for all attorneys.

Holidays and Paid Time Off :

• 13 paid holidays
• 1-Week paid winter break between Christmas and New Years
• 15 vacation days per year
• 15 Sick Days per year

Health, Dental and Vision Insurance:

• ImmDef provides health coverage on the first of the month following 30 days on the job.
• We cover 100% of premiums for our base dental and vision plans for our staff members and 75% of base plan dental and vision premiums for their dependents. ImmDef also covers 89% of the base plan medical premiums for our staff and 69% of the base plan medical premiums for their dependents.

FSA and Dependent Care FSA:

• ImmDef offers FSA plans to help offset the costs of eligible health care expenses for you, your spouse, and your eligible dependents using pre-tax dollars.
• We also offer Dependent Care FSA to pay for eligible dependent care services, such as preschool, summer day camp, before or after school programs, and child or adult daycare.
• Eligible for Parental Leave which includes six (6) weeks of ImmDef paid leave.

401(k) Retirement Savings Plan & Employer Matching:

• ImmDef staff are eligible to enroll in our 401(k) plans immediately upon hire, contributing pre-tax dollars towards their retirement goals
• After six months on staff, ImmDef will match 100% of contributions up to 3% of the employee’s salary
• Funds are vested immediately!

Public Service Loan Forgiveness:

• As a 501(c)3, full-time ImmDef staff with qualifying student loans are eligible for the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness

Parking and Public Transportation Stipends:

• Staff members assigned to an office without free on-site parking are eligible to receive a parking stipend of up to $105 per month in actual accrued parking or transportation costs, paid through a pre-tax commuter benefit account.
• Staff in all offices are eligible to receive a public transportation stipend of up to $100 per month in actual accrued public transportation costs.

Cell Phone Stipends:

• ImmDef provides a $15 monthly cell phone stipend to staff members whose job duties require them to consistently work at sites outside of ImmDef offices, or travel between ImmDef worksites, and whose jobs require use of their personal cell phones or communications that cannot be accomplished with ImmDef-issued equipment.