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Managing Attorney

South Dakota Voices for Peace
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Job Title:Managing Attorney

Reports to: CEO

Supervises: Attorneys &Paralegals, Case Manager, 

Community Health Worker (CHW)

Location: Sioux Falls, South Dakota

 

Specific Functions: Assist the CEO in maximizing the impact and ensuring the smooth and efficient functioning of the legal team. Serve as the administrative manager and immigration legal expert of the legal team, mentor and supervise attorneys and members of the legal team. Occasional travel will be required. Participation in organizational events and meetings will be required.

 

Administrative Management of Legal Program and Legal Team

  • Serve as day-to-day administrative and personnel manager of SDVFP’slegal staff and help foster an inclusive, collaborative and supportive work environment.
  • Identify and pursue ways to improveefficiency in work and information flow. 
  • Oversee coordination of grant management activities among attorneys and liaise with development staff regardinggrant management, includingfacilitating timely and accurate reporting to grant funders.
  • Assist in grant writing in coordination with grant management team.
  • Draft outreach materials highlighting the SDVFP’s case docket and victoriesfor external audiences.
  • Oversee coordination of communication activities among attorneys with communication staff.
  • Develop, implement and monitor the legal team’s annual budget and work to containcosts within the legal team in a manner that is consistent with any strategic plan and/or programmatic objectives.
  • Monitor staff and other resourceallocation within the legal team (including approvalof legal team travel) and assist the Executive Director in resource allocation decisions in light of strategic and/or programmatic objectives.
  • Work to acquireresources for the legal team, including library and online research resources.
  • Oversee and managethe recruitment, hiring,and professional development of all legalstaff (final decisions regarding legal staff rest with the CEO.)


 

  • Oversee the orientation and training of legal staff,including training on new technology and ongoing professional development, in consultation with the Chief Operating Officer.
  • Implement the performance review process for legal staff in coordination with the CEO.
  • Oversee the case intake process, case strategy, and case problem-solving.
  • Oversee the management of the case docket and waitlist.
  • Oversee the use and implementation of the Case Database.
  • Stay up to date with dynamic immigration law and policy changes and impact on case docket.
  • Mentor legal team, providing both legal knowledge support and mental health support.
  • Identify and implement systems to ensurebest practices withinthe legal team, including with respect to retainer agreements, co-counsel agreements, billing rates, and compliance with professional ethics.
  • Assist with legal team recruitment, including law school interns/externs and CHW interns/externs, by forming relationships with law schools and other appropriate organizations to obtain quality candidates; attend job fairs, etc.
  • Cases may be assigned depending on case docket and licensing.

 

Organizational Strategy& Leadership

  • Serve as a member of SDVFP’s Management Team, providing insight, counsel and management assistance to the CEO and other Management Team members.
  • Work with the CEO and SDVFP Management Team to plan for and execute future legal team growth.
  • Assist the CEO withimplementation of any strategic planningand goal-setting processes, and with the implementation of a strategic plan and/or programmatic objectives within the legal team.

 

Governance &General Counsel Work

  • Review and approveretainer agreements, contract lawyer and co-counsel agreements with outside legal teams and organizations.
  • Oversee and manageorganizational compliance with all applicable laws and regulations pertaining to nonprofit organizations and South Dakota Ethical Rules of Professional Responsibility.
  • Work with the CEO to produce written reports regarding the legal team’s advocacy and case development work to SDVFP’sBoards of Directors as needed.
  • Work with SD Voices for Justice lobbyists to advance the goals of SD Voices and coalition partners. Support legislative advocacy with legal and policy analysis.
  • Provide staff supportand guidance to SDVFP’sBoards of Directors as needed.

 

Additional Information

Our clients are children and adults who may have experienced extreme trauma that may include sexual assault, sexual exploitation and trafficking, physical cruelty, neglect or abuse, and mental cruelty.  To work with and represent our clients, this position requires emotional resilience and crisis management skills that entail separating personal feelings and keeping professional boundaries with clients. 

 

Qualifications

  • Demonstrated commitment to the mission and goals of SD Voices for Peace and SD Voices for Justice. 
  • Licensed to practice law in any U.S. jurisdiction with the ability to join the South Dakota Bar (willing to take the next bar examination or waive in). 
  • 5+ years of immigration law experience; 5-8 years of experience practicing law.
  • Family law experience and state court process experience preferred.
  • Nonprofit and/or legal team management preferred.
  • Management experience in fast paced environment.
  • Solid financial skills,experience managing budgetspreferred.
  • Board management experience, a plus.
  • Excellent writer; effectivecommunicator.
  • Fluency in Spanish (written and spoken) preferred but not necessary. 
  • Proven ability to work independently as well as within a team.
  • Proven ability to remain empathetic and professional when faced with emotional distress and conflict.
  • Demonstrated resilience and effective coping strategies for managing vicarious trauma and stress.
  • Exceptional communication and active listening skills, even in emotionally charged conversations.
  • Strong sense of self-awareness and ability to process your own emotional responses to challenging and complex situations.
  • Creating firm boundaries between attorney and clients.
  • Understanding that cases may not be resolved in the manner advocated for.

 

SDVFP is an equal opportunity employer and values a diverse and progressive workplace. 

 

This is a full-time position. Competitive salary commensurate with experience. Health benefits; generous paid holidays; optional flexible schedule; student loan repayment; AILA membership, malpractice insurance and SD Bar dues included. 

 

To Apply: 

Email a one-page cover letter with salary requirements, resume (2 pages only) and one writing sample (1000 word max) in one PDF file to Executive Director Taneeza Islam taneeza@sdvfpeace.org . Please use the subject heading, “Managing Attorney Application” Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.