Legal Director

CARECEN, the largest Central American immigrant rights organization, serving immigrants from around the world, is seeking a bilingual Legal Director with 10 years of experience in immigration law to join our team.

CARECEN empowers Central Americans and all immigrants by defending human and civil rights, working for social and economic justice, and promoting cultural diversity. We envision Los Angeles becoming a place where Central Americans and all other communities live in peace and dignity, enjoying economic well-being, social justice, and political empowerment.

For more than three decades, CARECEN has been pivotal in providing immigrant integration programs, delivering immigration legal services, fostering civic participation and community engagement on immigration policy, education reform and workers’ rights.

With competitive salaries, hybrid work schedules and generous employee benefits, CARECEN values dedication and provides support to our team as they carry out important, mission-based representation in our communities. With strong and dedicated leadership, we offer a collaborative workspace that is committed to our values while providing mentorship and growth.

CARECEN offers a generous benefits package which includes vacation, sick and personal days, 13 holidays, paid birthday holiday, paid winter break, a health insurance package that has medical, vision, dental, life insurance, Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and a 403(b) retirement savings plan. Additional benefits include yoga and entertainment and travel discounts.

Job Title: Legal Director

Classification & FLSA Status: Full time | Exempt

Salary: $150,000- $185,000 depending on experience and qualifications

Reports to: Executive Director

Location: Downtown Los Angeles office; Hybrid

Job Summary:

The Legal Director is responsible for overseeing the legal department to ensure the provision of high- quality immigration legal services. The Legal Director will work in partnership with a co-Legal Director. As a member of the senior management team, the Legal Directors work closely with the Executive Director to increase efficiencies and strengthen the culture of commitment, engagement and service to the most vulnerable immigrants and refugees.

Job Requirements/Essential Functions

Strategy, Leadership and Policy:

• Provide organizational leadership and operational vision to CARECEN consistent with the organization’s strategy and evolving community needs.

• Provide strategic input to evaluate potential alliances, expansion of existing services, and new lines of service.

• Provide leadership in the development of inter-team communication and cohesiveness, sustaining culture and supporting staff during organizational growth.

• Develop and maintain relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, including CBOs, government officers, elected officials, and funders, among others.

• Represent CARECEN at meetings regarding development and operations to maintain and grow relationships, attract resources and enhance CARECEN’s reputation.

• Help guide organization’s immigration policy advocacy efforts; analyze and propose changes to relevant local, state and federal legislation affecting immigrants and refugees; review and draft proposed legislation affecting immigrants at local, state and federal level; present and defend legislative proposals sponsored by organization in various settings.

• Act as organizational spokesperson on immigration law and policy matters; conduct media interviews in Spanish and English on breaking immigration law and policy developments; develop communications strategy in coordination with senior management team and staff.

• Facilitate organization-wide staff meetings when Executive Director is unavailable.

Legal Department Management:

• Help guide and design legal department program structures.

• Oversee legal program (currently consisting of approximately 120 legal staff), including direct supervision of team of managing attorneys and accredited representatives.

• Monitor professional development of legal staff, suggest and assign additional training when appropriate.

• Proactively develop qualifications for leadership around emerging practice areas and topics that relate to the operational excellence of CARECEN, including anticipating future trends.

• Conduct written and in-person performance evaluations of managing attorneys and accredited representatives; support managing attorneys and accredited representatives in conducting performance evaluations of their team members, including improvement planning and disciplinary action for team members.

• Enhance organizational excellence by establishing benchmarks, timelines, and resources needed to achieve strategic goals, proactively recommending and driving improvements as needed; set standards for accountability and measurements of success.

• Monitor service deliverables on an ongoing basis; prepare, review and submit grant reports to various funders.

• Modify and refine legal policies and procedures to improve quality, efficiency, and client and staff satisfaction.

• Direct citizenship education program and funding.

• Prepare legal department budget in collaboration with finance manager, development, and service outcomes, as well as immigration law and policy developments that affect the organization and community.

• Represent clients in limited matters applicants before DHS, EOIR, and appeals.

• Conduct presentations on immigration law and policy for community members and other stakeholders, including social service providers, funders and elected officials.

• Develop and maintain relationships with CBOs, law schools, foundations, government and other organizations.

• Participate in grant writing, including planning of grant proposals, drafting and reviewing drafts by development staff, conducting primary grant writing duties when necessary.

• Facilitate ongoing meetings with managing attorneys, as well as department-wide meetings.

Education, Experience & Competencies

• Proven experience in a non-profit organization.

• At least 10 years of immigration law experience required, including success in non-profit management (or equivalent in a for-profit role); and experience working with an Executive Director and Senior Management Team.

• Law degree and active admission to the bar of any state (CA strongly preferred with willingness to test for CA bar).

• Excellent legal skills and broad knowledge of immigration law, with a strong preference given for extensive removal defense experience.

• Demonstrated commitment to mission and goals of CARECEN.

• Excellent written and oral communication skills.

• Commitment to working in a diverse professional environment.

• Ability to develop and implement innovative models of service delivery with limited resources and leverage other community resources.

• Ability to effectively work, communicate and build rapport with diverse groups of individuals, including representatives of government, foundations, English/Spanish media, and other grassroots organizations.

• Fluency in spoken and written Spanish.

• Deep knowledge of non-profit organization best practices in operations, policies and procedures, strategic planning, budgeting and quality improvement.

• Experience developing alignment and efficiency across diverse legal service programs.

• Experience achieving financial, operational, and programmatic results in a dynamic, evolving environment where external forces are uncertain and stakeholders may resist change.

Classification and Work Schedule

This is a full-time, exempt position. Office hours are from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday, with flexibility required based on the needs of the organization. The normal workweek for this position is 35 hours, but a greater emphasis is placed on meeting the responsibilities assigned to the position. Exempt employees do not receive overtime compensation, compensatory time off, or additional compensation beyond the salary assigned to the position.

Work Environment and Physical Demands

This position is based in a professional office setting and involves tasks such as lifting files, opening filing cabinets, and bending or standing as needed. Work may be conducted in various locations, including CARECEN's offices, work from home, community libraries and various government facilities.

Travel Requirements

This position is based out of CARECEN’s Los Angeles office and requires occasional travel to CARECEN’s Van Nuys and San Bernardino offices. The position also requires occasional travel to Immigration Courts, USCIS offices, and immigration detention centers. The position may comprise up to 50% of travel time. Mileage reimbursement is available. Ability to drive with a valid CA license and a registered vehicle is preferred.

Benefits

CARECEN offers a generous health insurance package that has medical, dental, vision, life insurance and a Flexible Spending Account (FSA). Supplemental insurance and a 403(b) retirement savings plan are also available. Paid time off is provided along with 13 paid holidays, paid birthday holiday and paid winter break.

If selected to interview, a writing sample (no more than 10 pages) and three references will be required. Candidates are urged to be specific regarding level of Spanish proficiency. Only those applicants selected for interviews will be contacted.

CARECEN is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

All qualified applicants shall receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, ethnic group identification, ancestry, sex, age, marital status, political affiliation, condition of physical or mental disability, or sexual orientation, in accordance with requirements of Federal and State laws.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $150,000.00 - $185,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Education:

• Doctorate (Required)

Experience:

• deportation defense: 5 years (Required)

Language:

• Spanish (Required)

License/Certification:

• CA Bar membership (Required)

Ability to Commute:

• Los Angeles, CA 90005 (Required)

Willingness to travel:

• 50% (Preferred)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Los Angeles, CA 90005

Salary : $150,000 - $185,000