Coordinator Positions

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Paralegal - Indianapolis Office

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

NIJC offers internships to law students and undergraduate students to work in a variety of its different legal services programs. The internships present an excellent opportunity to learn more about U.S. immigration law and policies while making a difference in the lives of low-income and impoverished individuals who are in need of legal representation.

Sign up to receive updates about opportunities at NIJC

The National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC), a program of Heartland Alliance, has a 30+ year track record of successful legal representation for vulnerable immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers. NIJC is a leading human rights organization dedicated to providing quality legal services to low-income immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers. NIJC is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, has an office in Goshen and Indianapolis, Indiana, San Diego, California, Washington, DC and works in Laredo, Texas with partners. NIJC provides legal services to individuals detained in remote areas of the country. NIJC has a strong management team that focus on various populations: immigrant children, asylum seekers, LGBT individuals, detained individuals, survivors of gender violence, including human trafficking, and individuals seeking family unification. NIJC provides legal information to the immigrant community and their families to prevent exploitation by individuals engaged in the unauthorized practice of law and to empower individuals to make informed decisions on their legal options. NIJC leverages support from a large pro bono network.

Summary:The National Director of Legal Services will manage and support NIJC’s legal services management team. The director will work with the legal team to set priorities and identify opportunities to respond to community needs. The director of legal services will assess the present and future immigration landscape to identify opportunities for the delivery of quality legal services consistent with NIJC’s strategic plan. The director will participate in and guide the organization’s handling of individual matters and identify issues ripe for impact litigation, policy reform and strategic communications. The director will ensure that NIJC’s legal team is sufficiently nimble to react quickly to new threats and opportunities to immigrant rights. The director will be responsible for collaboration with law schools, legal aid and national human and immigrant rights organizations, community groups, and elected officials to advance legal services for immigrants. The director of legal services serves on the senior leadership team to assure the highest level of quality and access to NIJC’s full continuum of services; model NIJC’s vision and mission and achieve the organization’s strategic objectives. The director will collaborate with NIJC’s technology team to identify innovative ways to deliver legal services using technology. This role requires exceptional interpersonal, management, strategic leadership, and partnership skills combined with creativity, administrative aptitude, and critical-thinking abilities. This role will build on NIJC’s history as a leader in the delivery of quality legal services and community education to promote immigrant rights and access to justice.

Supervision:The Director of Legal Services will report to the Executive Director.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Adhere to the principles set forth in NIJC’s strategic plan to advance diversity, equity and inclusion.
• Direct, support and manage the associate directors and managers of each project responsible for the delivery of NIJC’s legal services.
• Ensure priorities and operating procedures are established and met to deliver strategic outcomes.
• Contribute to positive, focused, determined, collaborative, entrepreneurial and high-expectation attitude and atmosphere.
• Identify legal services’ priorities based on the immigration landscape, NIJC’s capacity/expertise, and unmet community needs.
• Contribute to the implementation of NIJC’s strategic plan, including populations served and/or geographic locations.
• Oversee the development of relationships with pro bono partners, including new opportunities for collaboration.
• Maintain and establish strong relationships with colleagues at other legal aid organizations.
• Represent NIJC’s Legal Service Team at outside events, including with high-profile officials and/or funders.
• Assist in the development of legal program grant proposals.
• Ensure systems to monitor and evaluate programs are accurate and provide necessary information.
• Ensure program accessibility for clients seeking legal services and support.
• Oversee the development of community and systems change partnerships to ensure that a wide range of resources are responsive and available to meet client needs.
• Identify opportunities for high-impact legal action.
• Responsible for training programs, as needed, for new NIJC attorneys.
• Identify priorities within the legal services program consistent with the strategic plan and allocate resources accordingly.
• Partner with NIJC’s development and communications team to promote NIJC’s legal services to funders and national entities.
• Ensure balance between legal presentations to the community and legal representation.
• Contribute to the authorship of training and educational materials to promote immigrant rights.
• Review team reports and analyze data as necessary to ensure compliance, identify outcomes and access trends.
• Understand current spending relative to budget allocation for each projects, i.e. professional development and translator/interpreter budgets.

Qualifications:

• Management experience, including an understanding of team leadership and a commitment to building and maintaining a multi-disciplinary team of professional excellence.
• J.D., bar admission, and a minimum of 8 years of immigration law practice experience are required for this position.
• Strong leadership qualities including an ability to build productive relationships with staff, clients, community partners, pro bono partners including law enforcement, court personnel, judges, and prosecutors.
• Broad knowledge of and experience in immigration law and the delivery of direct legal services.
• Experience working withpro bonoattorneys and law students
• Demonstrated ability to supervise and foster growth in other attorneys.
• Outstanding written and oral communication skills.
• Excellent legal research and analysis skills.
• Strong organizational skills, including the ability to manage multiple tasks at once, respond to tight timelines, pay attention to detail, and operate effectively in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong leadership, relationship development, collaborative, and team building skills.
• Bilingual/bicultural background highly desirable.

Apply for the National Director of Legal Services position on Heartland Alliance's Job Board.

TheLegal Program Director (LPD)will be a member of NIJC’s Senior Management team, reporting to the Executive Director. In this capacity, the LPD will be responsible for managing NIJC’s legal programs, providing strategic leadership, vision, management and evaluation of NIJC’s programs on a local, regional and national level. The LPD will ensure current and future programs are consistent with NIJC’s strategic plan and goals. The ideal candidate is an individual with management experience, an effective communicator and adaptable. The candidate should also demonstrate an ability to build teams and coordinate strategies across projects. The LPD will collaborate and support a vision for the most efficient and effective implementation of its legal programs to advance NIJC’s mission.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Strategy, Leadership, and Management

(40% of time)

• Provide strategic leadership and implementation of NIJC’s mission.
• Manages legal directors and associate directors to build their teams and retain high-performing staff.
• In consultation with senior staff and local and national partners, identify key legal issues and NIJC’s role in advancing those issues
• Liaise with and coordinate among all NIJC legal projects.
• Work with direct reports to develop their leadership in the delivery of legal services to ensure NIJC’s continued growth and success and to enhance NIJC’s reputation and opportunities for collaboration.
• Identify the need for and develop new legal program initiatives.

Operations

(20% of time)

• Work with the COO and budget team in the allocation of resources and the development, implementation, and monitoring of programs, in accordance with strategic priorities that will enable NIJC to remain a leader in its field.
• Evaluate NIJC’s legal services, identify new ways of executing priorities, recommend changes to drive business process improvement using an innovative approach.
• Support project leaders to identify opportunities to work together, create connections and use a collaborative approach to build teams and grow NIJC’s offerings.
• Work with directors and associate directors to ensure quality and excellence in NIJC legal programs and ensure that each project’s qualitative and quantitative measurements are implemented and met Key Performance Indicators in NIJC legal programs and in our contracts and grants
• Work with the pro bono manager to assess NIJC’s pro bono processes, identify issues and propose solutions to same.
• Work with COO and NIJC’s technology person to identify technologies that can improve NIJC’s legal programs, providing recommendations for adjustments to improve service delivery.
• Provide leadership and direction for prioritizing programming and resources in accordance with NIJC’s long term goals.
• Identify and evaluate opportunities to deliver recommendations on what NIJC needs to prioritize.
• Write and present reports to the Executive Director.
• Present to NIJC Leadership Board on new initiatives or changes in NIJC’s priorities

Performance Management

(20% of time)

• Support directors and associate directors to develop and meet key performance indicators, measurement and evaluation, including metrics to track progress.
• Encourage trust and passion for change among NIJC’s legal teams by demonstrating leadership and communicating a vision that leads to organizational excellence.
• Build a positive culture across teams that allows for the introduction of new processes or services and the winding down of services that are no longer responsive to the needs of the community and/or NIJC priorities.
• Identify training opportunities for team members.
• Manage, develop, coach and train supervisees

External Relations and Advocacy

(20% of time)

• Identify areas for NIJC to collaborate and opportunities on a national level to strengthen NIJC’s reputation.
• Contribute to the drafting of concept notes, proposals and reports.
• Serve as a spokesperson and champion for NIJC’s legal programs, promoting NIJC, making tough decisions to maintain NIJC’s position as a leader in the immigrant rights movement.

Competencies include:

• Strong leadership skills, including in the areas of strategic planning and business processes, preferably with experience overseeing legal programs
• Experienced manager of people, including demonstrated strength managing performance evaluation
• Experience achieving results within a climate of change, where external forces remain uncertain and where stakeholders may have conflicting objectives
• Exceptional communicator, ability to work with a diverse, talented group of legal professionals to build trust, collaboration, and a culture that welcomes change
• Demonstrated strength in managing and resolving conflict
• Subscribes to NIJC values of advancing due process and human rights protections for immigrants and refugees
• Experience balancing long-term strategic vision with short-term implementation, taking into account funding limitations
• Experience seeing the big picture, planning for growth and having a vision to achieve operational efficiency along the way, while overseeing and supporting details of implementation.
• Strong financial acumen and ability to assess projects
• Knowledge of the law, particularly immigration, civil rights, and human rights law is preferred
• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills and experience in grant writing and reporting
• Demonstrated skill in maintaining the balance between running a successful business operation and maintaining a strong mission focus as a nonprofit organization
• Ability to be adaptable and nimble

Qualifications:

• Education:Advanced degree (JD or MBA) preferred
• Experience:Five to 10 years of leadership experience, including experience working with an executive director and senior management team to achieve goals.
  • Proven experience building teams and strengthening organizational leadership
  • Experience in organizational change management
• Legal experience preferred, particularly immigration law experience
• Computer Skills:Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite.
• Reasoning Ability:Excellent analytical skills required.

Apply for the Legal Program Director position on Heartland Alliance's Job Board.

The National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC), a program of Heartland Alliance, is a leading human rights organization dedicated to advancing the rights of immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers. The Associate Director, Major and Individual Giving is a key role on NIJC’s development team that will support the continued growth of NIJC by identifying, qualifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding gifts from individual donors. The Associate Director will also work closely with the Director of Development to plan and build NIJC’s major gifts program. This is a new position that has been created to grow individual giving, particularly major gifts, as a strategic and sustainable source of revenue for NIJC.

The successful candidate will be a driven, entrepreneurial fundraising professional who is passionate about NIJC’s mission and has the ability to inspire and energize others about NIJC’s work. The Associate Director is a motivated self-starter with the creativity to generate new ideas and the strategic depth to maintain and grow a dynamic major gift program. The ideal candidate should be mission driven, have excellent communication skills, and demonstrated success fostering and building relationships.

NIJC is currently a hybrid workplace, and the Associate Director can expect continued opportunity for remote and in-office work but must be based in the Chicagoland area to facilitate donor visits and support fundraising events. The Associate Director reports to the Director of Development and will have significant interaction with NIJC’s Executive Director and advisory board.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

Major and Mid-Level Gifts

• In collaboration with the Director of Development, develop and implement NIJC’s major gifts program, including identifying and qualifying donors and prospects; developing best practices and tools for cultivation, solicitation, acknowledgment, and stewardship; and establishing goals and ensuring alignment with the development team’s strategic planning
• Support the Director of Development, Executive Director, and advisory board members in their engagement of major donor prospects and solicitation of new and renewed major gifts
• Research and identify new prospects; develop donor strategy documents, briefing memos, stewardship/cultivation strategies, gift request proposals, and other materials to move prospects through the donor cycle
• Manage a personal portfolio of major and mid-level donors/prospects; serve as the primary relationship manager for this portfolio, building relationships and meeting with these donors to solicit, secure, and steward their financial support
• In partnership with Development team colleagues, develop and utilize a moves management system for all donor segments to drive and stabilize revenue growth
• Creatively contribute to the implementation and expansion of NIJC’s ambitious fundraising efforts and serve as a thought leader for continued expansion of NIJC’s major gifts program
• Innovate on strategies and events to engage fundraising from NIJC’s advisory boards (Leadership Board and Associate Leadership Board)

Fundraising Appeals and Campaigns

• Collaborate with Development and Communications team colleagues to plan and execute NIJC’s multi-channel year-end appeal, including setting goals and targets, writing appeal letter, and coordinating with advisory board, Executive Director, and Director of Development to fundraise
• Support NIJC’s annual Human Rights Awards event and other fundraising campaigns, with a specific focus on developing and aligning strategies for major and mid-level donors/prospects and maximizing opportunities with existing campaigns

Monitoring and Evaluation

• Ensure effective reporting for major gifts management, and monitor weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual activity to inform strategies and achieve major gift revenue goals
• Assist with review and verification of major gift donor recognition lists
• Track relationship management activity using constituent relationship management system including identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of prospective and current individual major donors
• Provide a dashboard and feedback to the executive team highlighting cultivation efforts and providing guidance and strategy to increase the portfolio
• Articulate the qualitative and quantitative aspects of our programs and services to key donors and provide input on strategy in tune with the giving landscape

Teamwork

• Participate in regular Development staff and organization-wide meetings
• Provide input to colleagues regarding donor interests and perspectives to assist in the evolution of NIJC’s effective messaging
• Represent NIJC at special events, business networking events, and community outreach events
• Work collaboratively with program teams on shared goals, such as identifying new initiatives that may align with donor interests

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree and minimum of 3-5 years of experience in nonprofit development and fundraising
• Demonstrated success in personally implementing cultivation strategies to successfully secure major gifts of at least five figures ($10,000+)
• Ability to leverage key relationships and assist with seeking new relationships both locally and nationally
• Knowledge of nonprofit fundraising principles and strategies, including best practices in the areas of donor relationship management, moves management, and major giving
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication (written and verbal) skills, documented record of excellent customer/donor service, and demonstrated ability to build relationships
• Self-starter with the ability to think creatively and strategically and conceive, plan, execute, evaluate a program from start to finish
• Excellent organizational and project management skills and ability to prioritize and meet deadlines in a time-sensitive environment with attention to detail and accuracy
• Ability to interact with a diverse and varied constituency, as well as the capacity to motivate and collaborate successfully with board members, volunteers, and colleagues
• Ability to work in a fast-paced and high-energy organization; a team player willing to take on new challenges and partner across organizational levels and departments
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and working knowledge of constituent relationship management systems and wealth screening databases. Knowledge of Raisers Edge a plus.

Apply for the Associate Director of Major and Individual Giving position on Heartland Alliance's Job Board.

NIJC seeks an experienced attorney with removal defense and other relevant immigration experience to serve as the organization’s Managing Attorney of Capacity Building and Mentorship. This position seeks to build capacity for the delivery of immigrant legal services. This position will be integrated into NIJC’s new universal representation initiative—aimed at providing removal defense to detained immigrants in the Chicago Immigration Court—and support these efforts across our partner organizations by providing mentorship, sharing resources, and organizing relevant trainings. This position will also work across NIJC projects and oversee professional development opportunities and initiatives within the organization and be responsive to the training needs of NIJC legal staff. This position will report to NIJC’s legal director and serve as a member of NIJC’s management team.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Work with NIJC’s legal services teams and partner organizations to identify training and mentorship needs for attorneys and legal staff serving detained immigrants in the Chicago Immigration Court
• Design and conduct meaningful trainings for different experience/knowledge levels
• Convene periodic meetings of partner organizations in the universal representation initiative to discuss and troubleshoot case-related issues and provide relevant legal updates
• Collaborate with other partners that conduct training programs on a national scale to avoid duplication of efforts and to identify best practices
• Administer and oversee a listserv for use by NIJC and partner organizations providing detained removal defense
• Develop and oversee a bank of template briefs and motions and relevant advisories for use by detained removal defense providers.
• Draft new practice advisories and template motions and briefs for detained defense providers as needed
• Collaborate with partner organizations and academic institutions to organize and facilitate periodic trainings for removal defense providers in Chicago
• Work across NIJC legal services projects to identify training and professional development needs and provide/organize trainings responsive to those issues identified
• Maintain a training calendar for NIJC staff
• Represent NIJC and its priorities at external meetings
• Stay up-to-date on immigration issues and closely monitor legal, policy, and political developments with regard to immigration detention and enforcement to educate staff
• Exercise leadership in NIJC’s trainings, both for internal and external audiences
• Advances an anti-racist organization that promotes diversity, equity and inclusion
• Demonstrates commitment to NIJC’s mission and vision

Qualifications:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

• Education / Experience: A law degree (JD), license to practice law and at least six years of practicing law is required, minimum eight years preferred. Preferred experience is in immigration law with particular experience in detained removal defense, the intersection of criminal and immigration law, asylum and protection law, and other relevant removal defense topics. Prior experience in designing, providing and leading trainings is preferred.
• Language Skills:Spanish language abilities preferred but not required.
• Driving:Travel by personal or organizational vehicle is required. Must have or is able to get a current, valid Driver’s License.
• Excellent writing, organizational, analytical, and communication skills.

Apply for the Capacity Building & Mentorship Managing Attorney on Heartland Alliance's Job Board.

The Legal Supervisor supervises a legal team and provides legal representation and counseling to non-detained immigrants appearing before the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Department of State (DOS), and if appropriate, before the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) and the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA). The person in this role will supervise the VAWA/U Visa Pro Bono Project and will provide training, technical support and legal review to volunteer attorneys for new and pending cases in the project. This person will also supervise an in-house legal team, and ensure quality legal counsel and representation, provide case support, and oversee the day-to-day operations, as well as the ongoing training and professional development of supervisees. As a member of NIJC’s supervisory team, the supervisor will on occasion collaborate with NIJC’s other legal services projects, pro bono partners, litigation, policy and communications teams. Individual accountabilities and work volume will be established through the development of annual Success Objectives.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Ensures accurate data entry by paralegals, attorneys, and interns.
• Works with supervisory team to build a strong team and oversee the team’s projects.
• Provides recommendations based on case trends to inform project-based strategic decisions.
• Maintains and develops strategic partnerships with key stakeholders.
• Conducts factual and legal research.
• Drafts correspondence and documents, including applications, briefs and reports.
• Improves delivery of legal services, including use of technology to improve efficiency.
• Maintains accurate, thorough and timely records.
• Identifies trends and emerging issues and responses to issues.
• Maintains current knowledge regarding immigration law and policies and procedures.
• Advances an anti-racist organization that promotes diversity, equity and inclusion
• Reacts to change productively and handles other essentials duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Education and/or Experience: A law degree (JD), license to practice law and at least 3 years’ experience in the legal field, preferably in the field of immigration law; or a bachelor’s degree with at least 3 years’ experience as a Department of Justice accredited representative. Previous supervisory experience preferred but not required.
• Language Skills:Fluency in English and Spanish is required. Excellent oral and written communication skills. Demonstrated competency in public speaking and strong interpersonal skills required. Additional non-English language skills are preferred.
• Computer Skills: Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Internet Explorer, Outlook/Exchange; Windows operating systems; and other software routinely used by Heartland Alliance.
• Driving:May be required to have a current, valid IL Driver’s License. May be required to drive their own vehicle and/or an Organization vehicle to and from sites.
• Reasoning Ability:Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

Apply for the Immigrant Legal Defense Project Legal Supervisor position on Heartland Alliance's Job Board.

The Supervising Attorney supervises a legal team and provides legal representation and counseling to non-detained immigrants appearing before the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Department of State (DOS), and if appropriate, before the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) and the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA). The person in this role will supervise the VAWA/U Visa Pro Bono Project, and provide training, technical support and legal review to volunteer attorneys for new and pending cases in the project. This person will also supervise an in-house legal team, ensure quality legal counsel and representation, provide case support, and oversee the day-to-day operations, as well as the ongoing training and professional development of supervisees. As a member of NIJC’s supervisory team, the supervisor will on occasion collaborate with NIJC’s other legal services projects, pro bono partners, litigation, policy and communications teams. Individual accountabilities and work volume will be established through the development of annual Success Objectives.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Ensures accurate data entry by paralegals, attorneys, and interns.
• Works with supervisory team to build a strong team and oversee the team’s projects.
• Provides recommendations based on case trends to inform project-based strategic decisions.
• Maintains and develops strategic partnerships with key stakeholders.
• Conducts factual and legal research.
• Drafts correspondence and documents, including applications, briefs and reports.
• Improves delivery of legal services, including use of technology to improve efficiency.
• Maintains accurate, thorough and timely records.
• Identifies trends and emerging issues and responses to issues.
• Maintains current knowledge regarding immigration law and policies and procedures.
• Advances an anti-racist organization that promotes diversity, equity and inclusion
• Reacts to change productively and handles other essentials duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Education and/or Experience: A law degree (JD), license to practice law and at least 3 years’ experience in the legal field, preferably in the field of immigration law. Previous supervisory experience preferred but not required.
• Language Skills: Fluency in English and Spanish is required. Excellent oral and written communication skills. Demonstrated competency in public speaking and strong interpersonal skills required. Additional non-English language skills are preferred.
• Computer Skills: Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Internet Explorer, Outlook/Exchange; Windows operating systems; and other software routinely used by Heartland Alliance.
• Driving:May be required to have a current, valid IL Driver’s License. May be required to drive their own vehicle and/or an Organization vehicle to and from sites.
• Reasoning Ability:Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

Apply for the Immigrant Legal Defense Project Supervising Attorney position on Heartland Alliance's Job Board.

The State & Local Policy Analyst is the public face of NIJC’s state and local policy work to advance the human rights of immigrants. The Policy Analyst represents NIJC in coalitions and community engagements at the state and local level and engages in coalition building with community partners/grassroots organizations and education with state and local officials to advance pro-immigrant policies. The Policy Analyst will work across NIJC’s policy, communications, litigation and direct service teams to be responsive to community needs and advocacy priorities.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Work with NIJC’s policy, litigation, direct service, and communications teams to identify advocacy priorities and strategies to protect the rights of immigrants, particularly at the state and local levels.
• Analyze laws and policies and collaborate with grassroots groups, advocacy groups, and legal aid organizations in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, and other Midwest states to identify common priorities and strategies to protect those who are targets of immigration enforcement, detention and deportation.
• Participate in formal and informal coalitions of legal aid and advocacy organizations to advocate for policy reform; draft and edit statements, reports, sign-on letters, and other jointly-produced products.
• Gather data and engage in policy and legal research as necessary to support advocacy and educational materials on emerging policy issues. Draft fact sheets, reports, etc. regarding state and local legislation/policies as it relates to immigrants.
• Represent NIJC in regular Chicago Legal Protection Fund meetings and work with NIJC’s legal teams to advance legal protections.
• Assist in identifying and working with NIJC clients and former clients who are interested in working with NIJC's communications and policy teams to advance proposed reforms.
• Collaborate with community-based partners and NIJC litigation and legal services teams to advocate for state and local legislation/policies and monitor implementation of immigration policies, legal settlements, and recent state-wide legislation. Develop and implement advocacy strategies around accountability measures for non-compliance.
• Collaborate with the policy, legal services and communications team to jointly lead NIJC’s support for local campaigns to close immigration detention facilities, secure the release of individuals in ICE custody, and advance fully funded universal representation programming for immigrants facing immigration court proceedings in Illinois.
• Serve as point of contact for members of the Illinois General Assembly, Cook County board members, City of Chicago Alderpersons, and other local and state officials.
• Provide community presentations on state and local legislation.
• Represent NIJC and its priorities at external meetings and identify ways to effectively communicate NIJC’s policy recommendations to community partners and policy makers.
• Participate in grant proposal development, editing, review and submission.
• Closely monitor legal, policy, and political developments with regard to immigration detention and enforcement and create and implement rapid response advocacy strategies when necessary.
• Other tasks as assigned.

Qualifications: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

• Education and/or Experience:Minimum of two years of related professional experience; law degree or other graduate degree preferred.
• Language Skills:Ability to read, analyze, and interpret regulations, legislation, including immigration laws and regulations, legal memos, case law and related materials. Spanish language abilities preferred.
• Understanding of Immigration Law and Policy:Previous experience with immigration law and/or policy is preferred.
• Reasoning, Other Skills and Abilities:Experience making public presentations and preparing and delivering testimony to committees of the government. Experience creating persuasive written documents for external consumption. Experience analyzing the complex policy arena and crafting appropriate responses.

Apply for the State & Local Policy Analyst position on Heartland Alliance's Job Board.

The senior attorney position is housed in NIJC’s Asylum Project, but specifically focuses on non-detained unaccompanied immigrant children (UICs) and other vulnerable children and youth, including those involved in the child welfare system. The attorney will provide legal representation before U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS), Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Immigration Court, with a focus on complex cases involving UICs. The position also involves representation of parents or guardians in Illinois family courts to obtain predicate orders for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (“SIJS”), as well as technical support to pro bono counsel assigned to SIJS matters. The attorney will conduct age-appropriate, trauma-informed interviews with child clients and their family members, and may also advocate for clients before other agencies including schools, law enforcement, public benefits agencies, and others. The attorney should be fluent in spoken and written Spanish. Experience working with low-income immigrants, children, or survivors of violence preferred.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Develops and implements complex case strategies in consultation with supervisor.
• Prepares cases for interview or hearing, including drafting legal papers, conducting client advocacy, presenting evidence, etc. in accord with the Code of Professional Responsibility for the legal profession.
• Carries a volume of work as required by the department. Has in-depth knowledge of legal and other resources.
• With the Supervisor and NIJC Pro Bono Manager, prepares cases for recruitment of pro bono counsel, and provides technical support to pro bono counsel assigned to NIJC cases..
• Remains current on immigration law, policies and procedures. Remains current on implications of criminal and civil law as it applies to the representation of immigrants.
• Develops and maintains professional relationships with EOIR, DHS, U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS), government and social service organizations and community organizations as necessary. Interprets immigration and department policies and programs to the public, including public speaking.
• Refers clients for necessary social and/or economic assistance when determined to be necessary.
• Participates in developing and implementing special projects. May have the primary responsibility for a project involving a specific immigration challenge or advocacy issues on a systematic level.
• Interprets and translates for project staff as needed.
• Committed to advancing NIJC’s mission and vision
• Supports NIJC’s efforts to advance diversity, equity and inclusion
• Other duties may be assigned.

Qualifications:

• Education and/or Experience:A law degree (JD), license to practice law, and a minimum of three years’ experience in the area of immigration law, with additional experience in family law preferred ; self-motivated and committed to civil liberties advocacy; ability to represent individuals in complex cases and to formulate and implement sophisticated legal strategies; demonstrated ability to work cooperatively on a variety of projects with lawyers, other staff members, and diverse community organizations and coalitions.
• Language Skills:High proficiency or fluency in spoken and written Spanish required.
• Reasoning Ability:Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

Apply for the Asylum Project Senior Attorney position on Heartland Alliance's Job Board.

NIJC seeks an attorney with litigation experience, including federal litigation, for a full-time federal-court litigation position. We invite applications from attorneys who have a demonstrated commitment to immigrant and civil rights, and who would be interested in, and capable of, contributing to innovative litigation and policy advocacy in the federal courts, both at the district court and in the courts of appeal. Litigation tasks include legal research, drafting of pleadings and briefs, discovery, motion practice, and trials and appeals in both state and federal courts. The litigation attorney will work to develop and implement advocacy strategies in identified areas. The litigation attorney may also be called upon to provide immigration-court level representation for clients in litigation matters (e.g. representing a named-plaintiff in a district court action in his related immigration case). The litigator will collaborate with the NIJC direct service, policy and communications teams. The litigator will work withpro bonoattorneys.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Identify litigation issues and collaborate with NIJC’s communication, policy, and litigation teams
• Develop legal strategies
• Conduct legal research and draft pleadings and briefs
• Collaborate with community-based organizations to identify cases/plaintiffs
• Work withpro bonopartners
• Communicate via the media regarding legal advocacy and policy efforts
• Identify trends and emerging issues

Qualifications:

• Juris Doctorate Degree required; at least two years practicing law is required, four years is preferred. Preferred experience is in immigration and/or human rights law.
• Candidates with at least two years of litigation experience preferred.
• Spanish fluency strongly preferred. However, speakers of other languages are encouraged to apply.
• Self-motivated and committed to civil liberties advocacy
• Excellent writing and analytical skills
• Ability to work cooperatively on a variety of projects with lawyers, other staff members, and diverse community organizations and coalitions

Competencies:

• Interpersonal skills: Focuses on resolving conflict; maintains confidentiality; listens and remains open to others’ ideas; and introduces new initiatives strategically and tactfully.
• Oral Communication: Speaks clearly and persuasively; listens actively and gets clarification; responds well to questions; has group presentation skills; participates in meetings.
• Written Communication: Writes clearly and informatively; edits work for spelling and grammar; varies writing style to meet needs; presents data effectively; able to read and interpret written information.
• Managing People: Includes staff in planning, decision-making, facilitating and process improvement; takes responsibility for subordinates’ activities; applies program participants’ feedback, as well as feedback from collaborating agencies; fosters quality focus in others; improves processes and services; continually works to improve supervisory skills.
• Quality Management: Looks for ways to improve and promote quality; demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness.
• Ethics: Treats people with respect; keeps commitments; inspires the trust of others; works with integrity and ethically; upholds organizational values.
• Organizational Support: Follows policies and procedures; completes administrative tasks correctly and on time; supports organization’s goals and values; benefits organization through outside activities; supports affirmative action and respects diversity.
• Planning/Organizing: Sets priorities and plans work activities; uses time efficiently; plans for additional resources; sets goals and objectives; organizes or schedules other people and their tasks in a way that ensures coverage at all times; develops realist action plans.
• Professionalism: Approaches others in a tactful manner; reacts well under pressure; treats co-workers and participants with respect and consideration regardless of their status or position; accepts responsibility for own actions; follows through on commitments.
• Adaptability: Adapts to changes in the work environment; manages competing demands; changes approach or method to best fit the situation, able to deal with frequent change, delays, or unexpected events.

Apply for the Senior Litigation Attorney position on Heartland Alliance's Job Board.

NIJC seeks an attorney with federal-court litigation experience and prior knowledge of immigration law for a full-time position that will advance NIJC’s mission in its San Diego office. This position will pursue litigation and policy issues, particularly those that stem from border related enforcement practices. We seek applicants who have a demonstrated commitment to immigrant and civil rights, and who would be interested in, and capable of, contributing to innovative litigation and advocacy in the federal courts, both at the district court and in the courts of appeal.

An approximate division of work is as follows:

• Maintain an ongoing partnership with the San Diego Federal Defenders.The attorney will provide regular consultations and periodic trainings to federal defenders. (20% of the role.)

• Pursue federal court litigation.Specific litigation will focus on border enforcement practices, the detention of immigrants, and the criminalization of immigration. (60% of the role.)

• Coordinate within NIJC and across organizations.NIJC’s LGBT Immigrant Rights Initiative, Policy Team, and Family Integrity Project do work that is closely tied to border related enforcement practices. The attorney will coordinate with teammates engaged in those efforts, collaborate with other border organizations, and will engage with
• pro bono
attorneys. (20% of the role.)

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Pursue existing litigation issues, identify new litigation issues, and develop legal strategy
• Conduct legal research and draft pleadings and briefs
• Provide consultations and trainings to Federal Defenders to enable them to best advise clients who will likely be transferred to immigration detention following a criminal conviction
• Pursue impact related legal representation that is referred to NIJC from the Federal Defenders
• Collaborate with community-based organizations to identify cases/plaintiffs
• Recruit and work withpro bonopartners
• Collaborate across NIJC with projects working on border related issues
• Communicate via the media regarding legal advocacy and policy efforts
• Identify trends and emerging issues
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications:

• Education and/or Experience: A law degree (JD), license to practice law. At least four years practicing law is required, at least six years is preferred. Preferred experience in immigration and/or civil rights law. Candidates with at least two years of litigation experience preferred.
• Language Skills: Spanish fluency preferred. However, speakers of other languages are encouraged to apply. Monolingual English speakers will also be considered.
• Self-motivated and committed to civil liberties advocacy
• Excellent writing and analytical skills
• Ability to work cooperatively on a variety of projects with lawyers (includingpro bonoattorneys), other staff members, and diverse community organizations and coalitions
• Ability to communicate effectively in legal and non-legal settings with a wide range of individuals and organizations

Apply for the San Diego Senior Litigation Attorney position on Heartland Alliance's Job Board.

This position provides legal representation and counseling to immigrants and asylum-seekers appearing before the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with a focus on representation of individuals in DHS custody in their bond and removal proceedings, and appeals before the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA). Legal representation may also include work on federal habeas corpus petitions challenging the legality of clients’ detention and detention conditions. The position also provides technical support topro bonocounsel assigned to NIJC cases, both locally and nationally. The Senior Attorney will serve as a mentor to junior staff, as well as the development of new initiatives or projects within the team.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Minimum 3 years’ experience in the area of immigration law, with a strong preference for candidates with a background in removal defense and the intersection of criminal and immigration law, or related fields
• Develops and implements preliminary case strategy in terms of immigration law and procedure. Develops further strategy in consultation with supervisor.
• Carries a volume of work as required by the department. Has in-depth knowledge of legal and other resources.
  • With the Supervisor and NIJC Pro Bono Manager, prepares cases for recruitment of
  • pro bono
  counsel, and provides technical support to
  • pro bono
  counsel assigned to NIJC cases, locally and nationally.
  • Travel to detention centers in the Chicago area as well as nationwide is required.
• Remains current on immigration law, policies and procedures. Remains current on implications of criminal and civil law as it applies to the representation of immigrants and asylum seekers.
• Develops and maintains professional relationships with EOIR, DHS, U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS), government and social service organizations and community organizations as necessary. Interprets immigration and department policies and programs to the public, including through public speaking engagements or trainings.
• Other duties may be assigned.

Qualifications:

• Education and/or Experience:Juris Doctorate Degree required; minimum of three years’ experience in removal defense and/or the intersection of criminal and immigration law.
• Language Skills:Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public. Ability to read, speak and write in at least one non-English language. Spanish language fluency is preferred but not required, and speakers of other languages are encouraged to apply.
• Mathematical Skills:Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.
• Reasoning Ability:Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

Apply for the Detention Project Senior Attorney position on Heartland Alliance's Job Board.

NIJC is seeking a staff attorney to (1) respond to the needs of Afghan nationals arriving in the Midwest, (2) support NIJC pro bono attorneys providing legal services to refugees, asylees, and other noncitizens eligible for group-based immigration protection (e.g. Temporary Protected Status), (3) provide direct representation to noncitizens impacted by changes in law and policy, and (4) work with stakeholders locally, regionally and nationally. This attorney will provide legal consultations, advice and representation to low-income immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers before the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Department of State, and U.S. Department of Justice. The staff attorney will provide training and technical support to pro bonoThis position may be based in Chicago or Indianapolis.

attorneys. This staff attorney position requires the ability to engage in community outreach and provide legal consultations at off-site locations. Given the attorney in this position will also work with NIJC’s existing client population, proficiency in Spanish is required. Proficiency in other languages other than English is preferred.