Technical Advisor, Legal Services (Afghan Legal Services)

Scope of Work: The Technical Advisor, Legal Services (Afghan Legal Services) will provide technical support, oversight, mentoring and guidance to local program offices in their provision and administration of legal services to Afghan evacuees and parolees, and works with the Immigration Unit to support the advancement of organizational strategic priorities for immigration programming, including through building national and global pro bono partnerships.

Location: Preferred locations for this position include, but are not necessarily exclusive to, Northern California (Oakland/Sacramento); Texas (Dallas); Atlanta, GA; Northern VA/DC metropolitan area (Richmond/Charlottesville/Silver Spring); Phoenix, AZ; New York, NY; New Jersey. The position, however, is considered roving meaning that the Technical Advisor will be spending significant time (e.g. weeks and/or months) at various IRC field offices across the United States to support implementation of legal services to assist Afghan parolees.

Major Responsibilities:

Technical Assistance and Training

·Train and mentor immigration field staff, including DOJ-accredited representatives and attorneys, on legal pathways and eligibility for relief for Afghan parolee clients.

·Establish tools to assess training and technical assistance needs; evaluate training effectiveness; establish training and technical assistance best practices; and weave training and post-training initiatives with broader IRC training goals.

·Provide remote and on-site monitoring of immigration program legal work, including quality of data collection and tracking; establish tools to assess and report on application of best practices.

·Work with IRC immigration legal staff at various IRC field offices to develop and implement tailored legal response efforts in support of Afghan parolee clients, including services related (but not limited) to Special Immigrant Visas, employment authorization, adjustment of status, family-sponsored petitions, in addition to humanitarian parole and other humanitarian-based forms of legal relief such as asylum.

·Develop materials, such as staff-facing practice advisories and client-facing legal orientations and Know Your Rights presentations for use across IRC’s national network of immigration legal services.

·Respond to inquiries from IRC immigration legal staff regarding specific Afghan parolee cases, and provide technical legal assistance to immigration field staff on complex client cases.

·Attend relevant trainings and stay current on immigration law and policy, especially as it relates to the Afghan parolee situation.

·Provide direct legal assistance as needed, including conducting legal intakes and consultations with Afghan parolee clients and community members; take on cases where needed.

Program Management

·Build pro bono partnerships with national and global law firms, with a view toward establishing systems and services to maximize legal assistance for Afghans both within and outside the US

·Develop systems to track progress of pro bono referrals and monitor quality of client services

·Liaise with various units within IRC to provide legal advice or pro bono referrals to IRC Afghan staff

·Prepare quantitative and narrative reports on Immigration programming and outcomes for internal and external use  

·Engage with the Immigration Unit and field offices in the planning, development and technical review of proposals for funding

·Participate in conferences, coalitions or working groups, collaborative events, and national and local calls concerning immigration law and access to legal services for immigrants 

·Recruit, manage, and train legal interns and volunteers as needed 

·Special projects and other duties as needed.

Qualifications:

·J.D. required (with bar membership in good standing in any U.S. state) or Department of Justice accreditation with equivalent work experience;

·Minimum of 5 years of progressive non-profit experience providing immigration legal services required;

·Demonstrated experience representing a range of immigration clients before both USCIS and EOIR, including clients pursuing asylum, family-based petitions, and citizenship, among other benefits and forms of relief from removal;

·Familiarity with the US Refugee Admissions Program desirable;

·Demonstrated experience building pro bono partnerships and networks;

·Excellent training, facilitation and presentation skills 

·Ability to work independently and as a team member in a highly collaborative and fast-paced social service environment;

·Strong critical thinking, research, and analytical skills;

·Evidence of capacity to be a strong team member in a; 

·Trauma-informed and sensitive listening and communication skills; 

·Personal integrity in handling ethically complex and confidential situations; 

·Strong computer literacy, research and analysis skills;

·Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills

·Deep commitment to working with humanitarian migrants; 

·Fluency in English, written and spoken;

·Preferred but not required: bilingual in one or more languages of the Afghan parolee population (e.g., Dari, Pashto);

·Ability to travel within the U.S. up to 60-75% (estimated); must have a valid driver’s license.

COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement: In accordance with IRC’s duty to provide and maintain a workplace that is free of known hazards and our commitment to safeguard the health of our employees, clients, and communities, IRC requires candidates who are selected for interview to furnish proof of vaccination against COVID-19 in order to be considered for this position.

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusivity: IRC is committed to building a diverse organization and a climate of inclusivity.  We strongly encourage applications from candidates who can demonstrate that they can contribute to this goal.  

Equal Opportunity Employer: We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

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