Deputy Legal Director

About the job

Deputy Legal Director

Department : Legal
Team: Legal
Reports To: Legal Director
Direct Reports: Managing Attorney
Employment Status: Permanent, Full Time/Exempt (40 hours/week)

Location: This position may be based in any of our offices in New York State, including New York City, Albany, Buffalo, or Rochester. This position will involve extensive in-person work in the field and regular travel across New York State. When not in the field, the position allows for 1 remote day per week, with the remaining days in the office.

Salary: $133,000/year

Overview of the Organization

The New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC) is an umbrella policy and advocacy organization for nearly 200 groups in New York State. We envision a New York State that is stronger because all people are welcome, treated fairly, and given the chance to pursue their dreams. Our mission is to unite immigrants, members, and allies so all New Yorkers can thrive. We represent the collective interests of New York’s diverse immigrant communities and organizations and devise solutions to advance them; advocate for laws, policies, and programs that lead to justice and opportunity for all immigrant groups; and build the power of immigrants and the organizations that serve them to ensure their sustainability, to improve people’s lives, and to strengthen our state.

Our organizational values: Inclusive & Representative; Fair & Just; Accountable & Trusted.

Position Overview

The Deputy Legal Director brings advanced experience in overseeing complex legal matters and is responsible for advising and supporting the overall strategy and implementation of legal services at the NYIC. The Deputy Legal Director, in coordination with the Attorney in Charge and Legal Director, will develop a comprehensive plan for delivery of limited scope and other legal services responsive to the needs of immigrant New Yorkers across several regions in New York State and beyond. The Deputy Legal Director will ensure that the legal services provided under this program, including at legal clinics, are of high quality, culturally- and linguistically-responsive, trauma-informed, and ethically responsible.

The Deputy Legal Director will help the Legal Director oversee the legal team and provide support to other programmatic personnel. The Deputy Legal Director will supervise a Managing Attorney. The Deputy Legal Director may also represent the NYIC with external stakeholders and partners including government agencies, legal service providers and community based organizations, and advocacy groups.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Oversee Staff and Delivery of Legal Services :

• In coordination with the Attorney in Charge and Legal Director, oversee and provide general guidance and support to a team of full-time and part-time contract staff, including attorneys, paralegals, legal assistants, and other non-legal support staff.
• Supervise the Managing Attorney, including setting expectations, supporting professional development, and managing performance.
• Coordinate, manage, and plan legal services including rapid response and longer-term sustainable services.
• Formulate legal program goals and objectives; develop related policies and procedures.
• As necessary, divide and collaborate with the Legal Director on different spheres of work within the legal team and ensure cohesion and efficiency throughout.
• Provide direct support and/or coverage as necessary to the Legal Director and Managing Attorney(s) related to rapid response needs, developing and incorporating special projects, contract staff supervision, and/or designing and implementing new workflows.
• Design and implement legal services models; monitor emerging trends and adjust service delivery to ensure a best practices approach.
• Oversee practice and supervision protocols, and develop new procedures as needed.
• Manage the implementation of internal trainings and capacity building on the legal team, including planning, designing, and delivering/delegating/arranging said trainings.
• Identify, recruit, and hire attorneys and other legal personnel with specific subject matter expertise as dictated by the needs of the program.
• Draft and/or review legal and other materials and templates for legal staff, community-facing materials, legal volunteers, and partners and stakeholders where appropriate.
• As needed, support direct limited scope legal services to individuals when necessary.
• Work closely with other teams to ensure the successful implementation of the program goals and objectives.

High-Level Reporting & Data Collection :

• Use available systems and reports to monitor the legal team’s progress against actual and anticipated legal service deliverables, needs, and goals.
• At a high level, ensure data collection, tracking, and reporting are efficient, accurate, and transparent of legal service deliverables and emerging trends.
• As needed, prepare or assist in the preparation of development proposals, budgets, and/or reports on program activities.

• Ensure that the legal team is adhering to protocols aimed at protecting personal identifying information and data privacy. If applicable, develop new policies and procedures to enhance this goal.

Other Responsibilities :

• In coordination with the Attorney in Charge and Legal Director, engage in strategic discussions involving litigation efforts and provide research and advice where appropriate.
• Along with the Attorney in Charge and Legal Director, serve as the lead in various coordination spaces and calls, with an emphasis on recognizing each leader’s regional expertise and relevant connections.
• Ensure appropriate communication and implementation of organizational policies.
• May occasionally move or carry materials weighing 50 pounds or less.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Licensed attorney admitted to practice in the United States; admission to New York preferred but not required.
• 6 to 10 years of relevant experience representing and supervising the representation of diverse immigrant communities in affirmative and/or defensive immigration postures.
• A minimum of 4 years of relevant direct supervision experience, 3 years of which spent supervising other attorneys.
• Demonstrated commitment to the NYIC’s mission.
• Strong skills in community organizing and community advocacy, specifically with underserved and diverse communities.
• Attention to detail, particularly in supervising and preparing applications and documents to be filed with various government agencies.
• Ability to facilitate cohesion among immigration legal staff, including attorneys, paralegals, and other support staff.
• Adaptability to changing work environments, processes, and emerging needs.
• Experience with fast-paced environments and juggling multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Experience with successfully developing and conducting strategic collaboration and events with diverse organizations and programs; experience conducting outreach in immigrant communities for legal services preferred.
• Bilingual English- and Spanish-language speaker preferred.
• Strong computer skills preferred, including proficiency in Legal Server, Salesforce, Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets), Canva, Microsoft Office Suite.

Must be legally authorized to work in the United States for any employer

Salary : $133,000/year**

**The NYIC has a transparent and equitable salary structure. Starting salaries for each position are set in advance with no room for negotiation.

In addition to a competitive salary, the NYIC offers a full benefit plan, unlimited vacation time after 90 days of employment, paid sick time, commuter benefits and a comprehensive retirement plan.

To Apply: Interested candidates should submit a resume and a cover letter through Breezy.

All qualified applicants will be afforded equal employment opportunities without discrimination based on race, creed, color, national origin, immigration status or citizenship, sex, age, disability or marital status.