About NYLAG

Founded in 1990, the New York Legal Assistance Group provides free civil legal services to low-income New Yorkers. The organization serves immigrants, seniors, the homebound, families facing foreclosure, renters facing eviction, low-income consumers, those in need of government assistance, children in need of special education, domestic violence victims, persons with disabilities, patients with chronic illness or disease, low-wage workers, low-income members of the LGBTQ community, Holocaust survivors, and others in need. The organization's annual operating budget is over $30 million. Serving more than 87,000 New Yorkers annually, New York Legal Assistance Group maintains a paid staff of approximately 290, supported by 2,200 pro bono attorneys and other volunteers and interns. For more information, applicants are encouraged to visit www.nylag.org.

Mission

The New York Legal Assistance Group uses the power of the law to help New Yorkers in need combat social and economic injustice. We address emerging and urgent legal needs with comprehensive, free civil legal services, impact litigation, policy advocacy, and community education.

Values that guide us

• We reduce the effects of poverty by providing high quality, effective civil legal services.
• We partner with our clients to help them transform their lives and strengthen their communities.
• We address our clients? multiple legal needs by collaborating across our practice areas.
• We are at the forefront of identifying and understanding New Yorkers? most pressing legal needs, rapidly adapting to meet these needs with innovative programs and partnerships.
• We assess need broadly, recognizing that need is not a function of income alone.
• We collaborate with community organizations and engage pro bono attorneys and volunteers to serve a greater number of people with unmet civil legal needs.
• We achieve systemic change through class actions, impact litigation and by advocating for just laws and policies.
• We work to create a welcoming and inclusive work environment that reflects the communities we serve.
• We teach and train the next generation of legal service professionals.

Immigrant Protection Unit (IPU)

NYLAG's Immigrant Protection Unit's (IPU) staff of 55 advocates provides New York's low-income immigrant communities with comprehensive legal services. IPU staff handle a range of immigration cases including adjustment of status, non-immigrant visas, asylum, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS), family petitions, consular processing, naturalization, VAWA self-petitions, petitions for U or T-nonimmigrant status, removal defense and other forms of immigration relief. In addition, staff works closely with community partners to develop and implement large scale clinics and know-your-rights trainings. 

Job Description:

The New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG) seeks a dynamic leader with a commitment to social justice for immigrant communities to serve as the Director of the Immigration Protection Unit. The Director will be responsible for leading a large team of innovative and passionate immigration advocates consisting of attorneys, accredited representatives and paralegals. The Director will work closely with senior management to establish and implement a strategic vision for the unit, undertake the management and reporting on grants and deliverables, and develop effective programs to meet client needs. In addition, the Director will oversee the supervision of unit staff and strengthen the unit's practice, particularly in removal proceedings. The Director will also partner with other NYLAG units and community partners to develop strategies to address new and emerging needs in immigrant communities as well as, maintain and create new relationships with community partners and elected officials to strengthen our ties with the communities we serve.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Provide leadership and direction over the unit's work.
2. Develop and implement creative litigation strategies that support and respond to the needs of NYC immigrant communities.
3. Oversee the management of grants to ensure data reporting requirements are met.
4. Partner with NYLAG's leadership to provide analysis of deliverables and budget in alignment with the unit's programs and grant requirements.
5. Train and advance professional development of staff.
6. Represent NYLAG at funder meetings, community events, advocacy committees, and task forces.
7. Conduct presentations, workshops, know-your-rights seminars, legal clinics and other outreach.
8. Work with a variety of third party stakeholders, including staff at government agencies and community based organizations.

Qualifications:

• Admitted to practice law (with a preference for admission to the New York State Bar).
• At least 8 years of immigration law experience representing immigrants in a variety of settings including humanitarian and family based petitions and removal defense work before EOIR and the BIA.
• Demonstrated commitment to working with immigrant communities and social justice.
• Prior supervisory experience.
• Strong management skills and experience.
• Exceptional organizational skills, including the ability to supervise a large staff working on a wide range of programs and activities.
• Understanding of financial and budgeting practices.
• Experience working with funders, including government agencies, foundations and individual donors.
• Excellent written, oral, and analytical skills.
• Fluency in a community language other than English is strongly preferred.

NYLAG's Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

NYLAG is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. People of color, women, people with disabilities, immigrants, veterans, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people, and those with lived experiences in the communities we serve are strongly encouraged to apply.