THE ORGANIZATION
The
Florence Project was founded in 1989 to respond to a representation crisis for indigent non-citizens detained at the rural Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Detention Center in Florence, Arizona. Through our programs today, we provide services to the more than 10,000 men, women, and children detained in Eloy, Florence, Phoenix, and Tucson, Arizona on any given day. The Florence Project is nationally known for its legal and social services that ensure that detained people are empowered and have access to justice. The Florence Project provides high quality legal services and supports initiatives for national changes in immigration law and policy.
Detention in Arizona is growing, family separation continues, and recent changes to case law and policies have made bond and asylum incredibly challenging. The Florence Project is on the frontlines of immigration, fighting back against constant attacks on immigrants’ rights. We are looking for a creative manager to join our growing team to provide top notch mentorship and legal representation. Come join our team and be part of the change, fighting for immigrants’ rights in these challenging times.
POSITION DESCRIPTION: MANAGING ATTORNEY
The Florence Project is seeking an individual to join its staff as Managing Attorney within its Adult Detention Program. The position involves serving detainees in Florence and Eloy, Arizona. The Managing Attorney will supervise the legal work of staff attorneys and legal assistants, mentor legal staff, and provide legal representation to detained immigrants. On a limited basis, the Managing Attorney may assist with Know Your Rights presentations and legal screenings. The Managing Attorney will also oversee training and professional development initiatives for the legal staff in the Florence office and participate with program development and outreach activities, in conjunction with other Managing Attorneys, the Legal Director, and the Executive Director.
The Florence Project has three offices in Phoenix, Tucson, and Florence. The Florence office is headquartered approximately one hour southeast of Phoenix and one to one and a half hours north of Tucson. Our Florence office allows for staff to work from there and have quick access to clients detained in Florence and Eloy facilities. The position may work from any three of the offices, and we will discuss at the interviewing stage what location is best for the staff person and the program.
Duties include but are not limited to the following:
- Supervise staff attorneys, legal assistants, and any special project legal fellows (estimated 8-10 staff total). This includes overseeing and being responsible for the quality of services provided in Florence and Eloy, conducting case reviews as needed with the adult teams, and providing training, mentorship, and support to the legal staff. The Managing Attorney will work with other managing attorneys and the Senior Manager in providing this supervision and oversight.
- Provide direct representation to detained men and women in Florence, Eloy and La Palma facilities, with the opportunity to hand-select case load with a focus on challenging casework, appeals of particular importance, including cases involving individuals with severe mental health conditions or district court advocacy. Provide mentorship and second chair new attorneys in a wide variety of deportation defense cases.
- Oversee weekly case review meetings with legal staff, orientation for new hires, and plan regular trainings for legal staff.
- In conjunction with the Senior Manager, hire legal staff and interns.
- Manage stakeholder relations and address issues as they arise including but not limited to community organizations, detention facilities, and government actors.
- On a limited basis, provide Know Your Rights presentations, intakes, and pro se support to men and women detained in the Florence and Eloy detention centers, for coverage purposes.
- Participate in program development with colleagues, managers and the Senior Manager, including participating in annual strategic planning retreats with the Board and staff. Lead the implementation of any changes to the scope of legal services provided or the model for delivering those services.
- Oversee collection of data by the legal staff, complete quarterly reporting for funders, and participate in Legal Orientation Program calls, meetings, and trainings.
- Communicate with Senior Manager about possible advocacy initiatives and legal trainings for the community.
- Support Florence Project outreach and development activities as needed.
- Other administrative duties as needed.
QUALIFICATIONS
- J.D. and admission to any state bar.
- Must be fluent or have advanced proficiency in Spanish.
- Preferred 2 years of experience providing legal services to immigrants in removal proceedings. Must have knowledge of immigration law, specifically deportation defense and criminal-immigration law issues.
- Must have experience supervising staff or interns and demonstrated ability to inspire confidence in others and play a supportive role. Must demonstrate leadership potential and willingness to be trained to be an effective manager.
- Demonstrated commitment to advocating for indigent immigrant clients in a respectful and empowering way and zealous support of the Florence Project’s mission.
- Must be a hard-working team player with a sense of humor who is flexible, patient, respectful, and comfortable in a busy nonprofit setting.
- Prior experience working with trauma survivors or individuals with mental health issues is a plus, and must be comfortable working with people with criminal convictions.
- Ability to travel regularly, especially between offices and secondary work locations
- Must be able to clear basic background checks and obtain security clearance to enter detention facilities
SALARY AND BENEFITS
This is a full-time, salaried-exempt position. Salary is based on experience. and salaries are competitive for our non-profit network and public interest legal jobs in Arizona. Cost of living in Arizona is very reasonable. The Florence Project strives to create and uphold a positive, supportive, and inclusive work environment for staff. We offer excellent benefits, including medical, dental, vision, and life insurance, with full premiums paid by the Florence Project. We also provide mileage reimbursement for travel between offices and places of work. After one year of employment, staff members are eligible for the employer matching retirement plan. Paid time off includes one personal day each month in addition to fifteen days of vacation and twelve days of sick/medical leave annually, six weeks of parental leave (up to twelve weeks total, with option to use personal, vacation, and sick paid time off for unpaid portion), and bereavement leave. The Florence Project observes all federal holidays. After three consecutive years of employment with the Florence Project, staff members are eligible for an eight-week paid sabbatical.
APPLICATION PROCESS
This is an immediate opening. Please apply soon to join our exciting team! Complete the application below, upload your resume with three professional references, a cover letter detailing your interest in the position, and writing sample. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis, and applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. Only applicants selected for an interview will be contacted. The Florence Project values diversity in the workplace and strongly encourages applications from people of color, LGBTQ individuals, individuals with disabilities, and members of underrepresented communities.
This job announcement is for informational purposes only, and is subject to change and modification without notice. This job announcement includes a non-exhaustive list of responsibilities, qualifications and requirements of the position, but does not necessarily include all the job functions of the position.