Senior Attorney, Special Programs-Family Separation

About KIND:

Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) is a global leader in the protection of unaccompanied refugee and migrant children. Launched in 2008, KIND champions a world in which every child’s rights and well-being are protected throughout their journey to safety. Since 2008, KIND has accepted over 23,000 referrals of children seeking legal representation in their immigration proceedings. KIND has welcomed more than 41,000 attendees to trainings since its founding, cultivating partnerships with over 700 law firms, corporate legal departments, law schools, and bar associations across the country.

KIND’s social services program ensures that migrant and refugee children – who have often endured trauma – receive counseling, educational support, medical care, and other comprehensive services.

To address the root causes of child migration from Central America and strengthen the protection of unaccompanied children, KIND advocates for policy changes and educates lawmakers, the media, and the broader public on the conditions that drive these children to flee their home countries. KIND supports children returning to their home countries by connecting them to essential support services and sponsors gender-based violence prevention programs in Central America to protect children in countries of origin and transit.

KIND is also building upon its expertise in the protection of unaccompanied children to encourage the development of pro bono initiatives across Europe in partnership with European NGOs.

Position Summary:

The Senior Attorney, Special Programs – Family Separation, situated within KIND’s Legal Programs Team, provides expert legal services to unaccompanied and separated children and reunified families and identifies, analyzes, and pursues remedies for children and families through administrative processes and the federal courts. The Senior Attorney provides direct representation as well as pro bono facilitation, including consultation, training, and technical assistance to pro bono attorneys who have accepted KIND cases. The Senior Attorney oversees and coordinates special projects within the Family Separation Team. As needed, the Senior Attorney supervises staff attorneys, paralegals, interns, and/or other non-attorney staff.

This position is based remotely from any location in the U.S.

Essential Functions:

• Provides both mentoring to KIND pro bono attorneys across multiple jurisdictions and directs legal representation to KIND clients. 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; conducts client interviews; appears before immigration and/or state or federal court or agencies; drafts and files court pleadings and applications for benefits; and coordinates the provision of mental health, education, and social services for clients.
• Designs and oversees systems to track and maintain coordinated data relating to administrative remedies involving KIND clients and their families; manages relationships with clients, Family Separation Team (FST) attorneys, non-FST KIND attorneys, and pro bono attorneys handling administrative claims and other client matters.
• Pursues administrative remedies on behalf of KIND clients and advises, mentors, and reviews files drafted by KIND and pro bono attorneys; engages in coalition work to contribute KIND’s voice and develop in-house expertise on current trends.
• Leads strategy on administrative remedies, including analysis of risks regarding statutes of limitations and seeking potential individualized settlements.
• Represents clients in active federal litigation in coordination with KIND’s Director of Legal Strategy and pro-bono co-counsel, encompassing research, into federal and state law, formulating case strategy, drafting court filings, conducting discovery, and all other aspects of federal litigation including potential settlement discussions.
• Evaluates cases to analyze potential strategy, including through FTCA and other litigation.
• Consults with KIND and non-KIND PBAs contemplating and/or pursuing federal litigation for their clients, plan and host trainings, and develops KIND’s messaging on strategy.
• Percentage of mentoring and direct representation caseloads will be determined by Legal Programs Management based on caseloads and experience, funding streams, additional duties required by team’s special projects, and institutional priorities.
• Works with team’s attorneys to contribute to projects of the Family Separation Team as they arise, including the coordination of legal claims outside of removal defense proceedings, including non-immigration matters as needed, and data management to assess trends and develop insight into future projects.
• Assists with organizational communications, policy, and development objectives by identifying stories and clients to highlight in public-facing communications or in funder proposals or reports.
• As needed, supervises Paralegals, interns, and/or other non-legal staff including onboarding, skills training, daily support and coaching, reviews quality assurance of filings, regular check-ins and performance evaluations, and provision of consistent and effective supervision and oversight.
• Places cases with pro bono attorneys and builds relationships between KIND and the pro bono community and provides ongoing mentoring, training, and technical assistance on children’s cases and reunified family cases.
• In coordination with KIND’s Training and Technical Assistance Team and the local field office Senior Attorneys, helps develop pro bono training resources and local training curriculum, including sample filings and guidance packets, as needed; presents trainings to pro bono attorneys and community groups.
• Contributes to overall team functioning, including joining team and local field office and KIND-wide calls and meetings, participating in team and KIND-wide committees, and assisting with events.
• Ensures entry of timely, accurate, and detailed case data into KIND’s case management systems.
• Provides technical assistance to field office staff representing separated children, as needed.

Qualifications and Requirements:

• J.D. and admitted to local state bar.
• Fluent in English and Spanish.
• Minimum of 4 years of experience practicing immigration law, which should include representation of clients in humanitarian immigration claims such as asylum, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, U visas, and T visas.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience working with children, preferably immigrant and refugee children, and/or working with vulnerable populations, survivors of abuse, human trafficking, or other trauma.
• Minimum of 2 years of supervising attorneys or non-legal staff if the position requires supervision of non-attorney staff or demonstrated equivalency reflecting proven legal expertise or exemplary skills in managing complex projects.
• Minimum of 1 year of experience in federal court litigation, preferably under the Federal Tort Claims Act or comparable federal statutory scheme, including familiarity with federal civil procedure.
• Outstanding legal research and writing skills, preferably with experience in drafting complaints and persuasive legal advocacy.
• Experience working with law firm attorneys and/or other legal volunteers if majority of caseload is working directly with pro bono attorneys.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English and Spanish.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suites (such as Teams, Excel, etc.).
• Ability to work collaboratively and multi-task in our KIND environment, managing numerous priorities and emerging opportunities.
• Excellent organizational skills with ability to work on multiple projects in a deadline-oriented environment. Ability to prioritize tasks and to delegate as appropriate.
• Ability to work effectively with people of diverse backgrounds, lived experiences, and communication styles.
• Committed to prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion as well as embracing transparency and authenticity in daily work life.
• Be disciplined and nimble to ensure delivery on our core mission of access to justice and protection of children’s wellbeing and rights.
• Showing the ability to multi-task and work with a sense of urgency in a dynamic, fast paced environment.
• Committed to practicing and supporting wellbeing and a work-home life balance.
• Experience working and communicating in a remote environment.

Salary Range: $86,880 – $108,600 dependent on experience

KIND requires all U.S. based staff be COVID vaccinated with the exception of those who have medical or religious beliefs exemptions.

Application Instructions:

Please be advised that an employment application will need to be submitted along with your resume and cover letter, in order to be considered for the desired role.

KIND has an organization-wide commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. We strive to create a work environment where everyone has a sense of belonging. Individuals from historically underrepresented or underserved communities are strongly encouraged to apply.

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/.

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