Directing Attorney (Capacity Building/Technical Assistance)

Brief Description

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 is in partnership with the Central California Immigrant Resilience Fund, CCIRF, to provide technical assistance and professional support to partners across the state of California to expand access to quality legal services and move forward ImmDef’s mission of realizing Universal Representation for all individuals in removal proceedings.

ImmDef seeks a full-time Directing Attorney to administer the CCIRF program. As a member of ImmDef’s management team, the Directing Attorney will have the opportunity to help develop and advance our mission-driven organization. Directing Attorneys serve in senior leadership roles responsible for program oversight, staff supervision, strategic planning, and high-level legal and advocacy work. These roles ensure the delivery of high-quality services while strengthening ImmDef’s impact across Southern California. The Directing Attorney for CCIRF will work closely with program partner, Immigrant Legal Defense (ILD), to advance zealous removal defense representation at CCIRF-funded organizations. The role includes providing mentorship and technical assistance to legal service providers, conducting regular office hours, scheduling mentorship meetings, offering case management guidance and thorough review of briefs and other legal filings, and providing regular training sessions covering procedural and substantive immigration law topics. This position will report to the Director of Capacity Building.

Directing Attorney Responsibilities

The Directing Attorney serves in a senior leadership role responsible for program oversight, staff mentorship, strategic planning, and high-level legal and advocacy work. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Program Leadership & Strategy

• Lead the overall administration of ImmDef’s CCIRF program in partnership with Immigrant Legal Defense (ILD), focused on expanding high-quality removal defense capacity at CCIRF-funded organizations.
• Serve as a key member of ImmDef’s management team, working cross-programmatically with Directors, Directing Attorneys, Managing Attorneys, and Program Managers to advance ImmDef’s mission and legal strategy.
• Lead program planning, implementation, and evaluation to ensure effective delivery of technical assistance and capacity-building support.
• Contribute to organizational strategy and cross-program alignment in collaboration with ImmDef leadership.
• Contribute to ongoing evaluation and improvement of ImmDef’s capacity-building model to ensure it remains innovative and responsive to the field.
  
  

Technical Assistance, Training & Legal Mentorship (CCIRF)

• Provide technical assistance, consultation, and mentorship to CCIRF-funded legal service providers on removal defense practice, with a focus on Central California.
• Conduct regular office hours and mentorship meetings with partner organizations.
• Provide case management guidance and thorough review of briefs and other legal filings.
• Monitor and analyze developments in immigration case law, statutory and regulatory changes, enforcement trends, and local detention and court practices; synthesize and share updates with partners.
• Design, coordinate, and facilitate regional trainings; ensure training materials and shared resources reflect current law, policy, and best practices.
• Promote high-quality, trauma-informed, and client-centered legal representation through guidance, model strategies, and practical tools.
• Support complex case strategy and skill development across partner organizations by sharing litigation approaches, templates, and jurisdiction-specific practice insights.
  
  

Collaboration & External Engagement

• Foster collaboration among regional providers by facilitating discussions on emerging challenges, trends, and effective advocacy strategies.
• Develop and maintain shared regional resources, including referral lists, practice advisories, and contributions to collaborative brief and motion banks.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with legal service providers, community partners, and other stakeholders throughout California.
• Represent ImmDef in meetings, coalitions, trainings, and other public-facing spaces related to removal defense capacity building.
• Support community education efforts and broader advocacy initiatives related to immigrant rights and universal representation.
  
  

Legal Oversight & Direct Representation

• Ensure high-quality, trauma-informed, and client-centered legal services across the program’s work.
• Provide guidance on complex removal defense case strategy and evolving legal developments.
• Opportunity to maintain a small, reduced caseload of complex removal defense matters, as appropriate, to model litigation strategy and support skill transfer.
  
  

Supervision & Organizational Leadership

• Supervise attorneys or program staff as applicable and provide mentorship and professional development support.
• Foster a collaborative, mission-driven, and inclusive team culture.
• Ensure compliance with grant requirements, contracts, and reporting obligations associated with the CCIRF program.
  
  

Additional Responsibilities

• Travel periodically within California for partner meetings, court observation, trainings, and regional convenings.
• Perform other duties as assigned by ImmDef leadership.
  
  

Requirements

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree, or foreign equivalent with an LL.M.
• Active license to practice law in any U.S. state required; membership in the State Bar of California strongly preferred.
• 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.
• Recent experience representing individuals detained in U.S. and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) custody strongly preferred.
• Recent experience representing individuals detained in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) custody strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to provide training, supervision, and mentorship to attorneys and legal staff across a range of immigration law topics.
• Strong public speaking and facilitation skills, with the ability to present complex legal information clearly and effectively to state partners, network organizations, and internal staff.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively across teams and organizations while managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail, including experience with data tracking and reporting systems.
• Passion for social justice for immigrants required.
• DACA Recipients are encouraged to apply!
  
  

Language Proficiency

Spanish language proficiency is strongly preferred for all attorney positions.

Application Information

Cover letters are strongly encouraged. To learn more about ImmDef’s programs and impact, please visit www.immdef.org

ImmDef will contact only those candidates selected for an interview.

Immigrant Defenders Law Center (“ImmDef”) is a next-generation, social justice law firm that provides high-quality, client-centered legal representation 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 model is a critical step toward that goal. Learn more at www.immdef.org.

Summary

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.