Managing Attorney, Removal Defense Programs

The Managing Attorney is a senior leader at PIRC, helping shape organizational strategy while overseeing critical legal programs serving detained immigrants. This role supervises and mentors attorneys and accredited representatives, ensuring high-quality, accountable legal services.

In addition to leadership responsibilities, the Managing Attorney maintains a focused caseload of detained clients, conducts outreach, and mentors pro bono attorneys on complex removal defense cases. The role also serves as the primary lead on budgets, contracts, and data compliance across multiple legal service programs, ensuring strong stewardship and program integrity.

Job Purpose & Activities

• Leads PIRC’s Removal Defense Programs consisting of direct representation of detained adults and unaccompanied children and Know-Your-Rights presentations, consultations, and pro se assistance to detained adults.

• Represents non-citizens in ICE custody in Pennsylvania. Cases include a wide scope of matters before immigration courts, the BIA, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals and District Courts primarily within PA. Case selection is dependent upon funding parameters, capacity, and organizational case selection criteria, currently under both vulnerabilities-based and universal representation models.

• Serves as PIRC’s primary budgetary, contractual, and data compliance liaison for the National Qualified Representative Program (NQRP), Unaccompanied Children’s Program (UCP), and the Pennsylvania Immigrant Family Unity Project (PAIFUP).

• Works with the Executive Director and Development Director to ensure compliance with contractual and grant requirements for PIRC’s Removal Defense Programs; captures and reports related data for funding purposes.

• Supervises direct reports, including one fully accredited DOJ Representative / Program Manager and at least one Supervising Attorney for removal defense. Other direct reports may include additional staff attorneys, fellows, program coordinators, and/or legal interns, depending on delegation. Provides mentorship, legal supervision of work product and legal strategy, and related administrative duties for staff and pro bono attorneys.

Qualifications

• Law degree and licensed to practice law before the bar of any state in the U.S.

• Excellent research, writing, and oral advocacy skills.

• Effective communication and interpersonal skills. Ability to communicate with people of different racial, ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds.

• Ethic of serving clients with compassion.

• Sense of personal initiative and ability to work independently with appropriate guidance and 

supervision.

• Ability to balance competing priorities and communicate as priorities shift. Ability to meet deadlines.

• Must be flexible and adaptable.

• Commitment to PIRC’s mission, immigration advocacy, and legal services.

• Fluency (reading/writing/speaking) in Spanish and/or other language preferred.

• 3-5 years of relevant experience / legal practice and supervision experience preferred.

Salary Range:

$75,392 – $93,520; depending on years of experience

Status:

Full-time; exempt

Benefits:

Benefits include health, vision and dental insurance, short term disability insurance, life insurance, professional liability insurance, retirement with employer contribution, and generous paid time off.

Location & Work Arrangement:

This position will require some travel to visit regional detention centers. Travel may also include occasional meetings and events across Pennsylvania to meet with partner organizations and stakeholders. PIRC's main office is located in York, Pennsylvania. This is a hybrid position, with office-wide in-person meetings required quarterly. Hybrid responsibilities at the York office are minimal; therefore, proximity to the office is not a significant factor.

To Apply: Please send a cover letter, résumé and 2-3 professional references to Andrew Baranoski, Executive Director, at employment@pirclaw.org. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled. The Hiring Committee will begin screening résumés upon receipt. Note: Applicants will be notified prior to contacting references.

PIRC is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive workplace. PIRC encourages applications from all qualified individuals, without regard to race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, disability, marital status, citizenship or any other consideration prohibited by law.

Commitment to Inclusion: The Pennsylvania Immigration Resource Center provides support and services to communities across PA and is committed to a workplace that reflects the diversity of those we serve. All applicants and employees of different backgrounds and perspectives, regardless of race, religion, age, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic disposition, neurodiversity, disability, veteran status, or any other quality that makes them exceptional, are valued and treated as equals.