**About Safe Passage Project
** ****Safe Passage Project (SPP) is a highly focused nonprofit immigration legal services organization that provides free lawyers to immigrant children facing deportation. Founded in 2013, SPP has grown to include 50+ employees, two offices, and an annual budget of over $5 million. It manages over 1,400 open cases a year.
To date, SPP has supported more than 3,000 young people in NYC and Long Island. The New York Immigration Courts, some of the busiest immigration courts in the US, have more than 15,000 juveniles on their dockets, many of whom are fleeing trauma in their countries of origin such as gang violence and recruitment, abuse, and sexual assault. Immigrant children are not afforded free legal representation by the government, regardless of their age. As a result, more than half of immigrant children in immigration proceedings must go to court without the aid of a lawyer. Among unaccompanied children with legal representation, immigration court data shows that 73% are allowed to remain in the United States, whereas only 15% of unrepresented children are allowed to stay. This is where Safe Passage Project steps in, both through providing immigrant youth with direct representation by staff attorneys and through a robust network of pro bono attorneys that SPP trains, mentors, and supervises.
**About the Role
** The Managing Attorney, NYC will be joining a group of exceptional public interest attorneys to directly impact the lives of immigrant children looking for safety and security in the U.S. The Managing Attorney will lead and oversee Safe Passage Project's New York City-based legal department, managing a team of attorneys and paralegals that provides legal representation to children in immigration and other related proceedings, including cases involving asylum, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, and other forms of immigration relief. The Managing Attorney, NYC participates in the leadership of Safe Passage Project and reports to the Executive Director.
Your responsibilities will include:
- Lead a team of attorneys and paralegals working out of Safe Passage Project's New York City office to represent minors in removal proceedings before the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), USCIS, and Family Court;
- Directly manage a team of NYC-based supervising attorneys and paralegals, conducting regular check-ins, case reviews, and performance evaluations;
- Carry a small caseload mentoring pro bono attorneys who represent minors in their immigration cases;
- Work closely with the senior legal management team and the Executive Director in the analysis and creation of legal strategies, as well as organizational policies and strategies for Safe Passage Project staff;
- Collaborate with other Safe Passage Project departments on specific projects and initiatives.
**Qualifications:
** The strongest candidates for this position will have most, though likely not all, of the following qualifications and characteristics:
- J.D. degree and admission to the New York State Bar
- Six (6) or more years of experience as an immigration attorney, with at least three (3) years of experience supervising other attorneys and support staff
- Strong database and computer skills (experience with Salesforce preferred)
- Excellent multitasking and project management abilities, with a proven track record of handling complex projects efficiently
- Excellent writing, communication, and interpersonal skills
- Exceptional organizational, time management, and record-keeping skills
- A high level of discretion in handling confidential information
- Proven adaptability and flexibility in a dynamic and fast-paced environment, with proactive problem-solving skills
- A spirit for collaboration and being a team player
- A demonstrated ability to understand, communicate with, and effectively interact with people across cultures, as well as sensitivity to and knowledge of the various dimensions of diversity, including gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age, disability, and socioeconomic status
- Fluency in Spanish is a plus
- A commitment to Safe Passage Project's mission and desire to make a difference in children's lives
**Compensation and Benefits
** Safe Passage Project offers a competitive salary in the range of $120,000-$140,000 annually and offers the following benefits:
- A hybrid work environment, staff currently work from our office 1 day a week.
- Open Paid Time Off
- Medical plans (which includes 1 plan that has 100% premium coverage).
- Dental plans, Vision plans, and telehealth services.
- Employer-sponsored retirement savings plan- we provide up to 6% employer match of your 401(k) contributions
- Leave of Absence Programs
- 12 weeks of Paid Family Leave along with Unpaid Leave of Absence
- Short-term disability (STD) & Long-term disability (LTD) Coverage
- Flexible spending accounts (FSA) and Health savings accounts (HSA)
- Commuter benefits (Transit & Parking)
- Voluntary Life Insurance plan
- Health Advocate to aid employees and their covered family members in navigating healthcare and insurance-related issues
- Higher Education and Loan Forgiveness: Safe Passage Project is a qualified employer for the purposes of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness
- Yearly Professional Development Stipend
- Pet Health Insurance
- Time off from December 24th to January 1st
- Home Office Stipend
- Paid Holidays
- Flexible work schedule
The team works on a beautiful campus at a terrific office location in Tribeca. Safe Passage Project is proud to have a top-down, bottom-up commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Safe Passage Project is an equal opportunity employer. Women, people of color, LGBTQ people, veterans, and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
For more information on how to apply for this position, please visit www.safepassageproject.org.