Litigation Project Manager-Habeas, NIJC

National Immigrant Justice CenterChicago, IL, United States

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About NIJC

The National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC) advances human rights and due process for immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers through direct legal services, impact litigation, advocacy, and public education. Headquartered in Chicago with offices in Washington, DC, Indiana, and San Diego, NIJC's team of 100 attorneys, paralegals, and professionals, along with 2,000 pro bono attorneys, is at the forefront of immigration reform.

Summary :

In recent months, the quickly changing landscape of federal immigration law and the substantial expansion of immigration detention prompted NIJC to work in collaboration with partners in Illinois to launch a Habeas Project to increase the availability of immigration representation in federal court petitions for a writ of habeas corpus. The project is aimed at delivering critical and quick legal relief in the form of release from detention and / or a bond hearing in immigration court.

The Habeas Project Manager is responsible for day-to-day logistics of the Project. This will include screening cases and quickly placing cases with pro bono counsel, assisting pro bono attorneys in their work on cases, working with partners to recruit and manage new pro bono attorneys, ensuring that all volunteer attorneys have completed required training, and maintaining case records. Please NOTE : while attorneys are welcome to apply for this job, this role does not involve representation of clients.

This role involves collaborating with legal teams, stakeholders, and clients to define project scope, set timelines, and allocate resources. The Habeas Project Manager acts as a liaison, facilitating communication, managing risks, and solving problems as they arise. They use project management methodologies and tools to optimize workflows, track progress, and ensure compliance with legal standards, ultimately driving the successful delivery of legal services and solutions. The project manager may also be responsible for supervising a paralegal or intake specialist and for coordinating across multiple projects for purposes ensuring prompt case identification.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities :

Coordinate the acceptance of cases for representation across NIJC and partner organizations. This requires working both with individual noncitizens as potential clients and with attorneys representing this population in immigration court.
Assign cases and manage pro bono attorneys with respect to the logistics of case completion.
Oversee all phases of the habeas project from intake and assignment to case completion.
Supervise paralegal and other NIJC staff and volunteers engaged in case screening and acceptance procedures.
Communicate with clients and immigration counsel about case developments
Liaise between legal teams, clients, and other stakeholders to ensure clear communication and accurate management of data pertaining to cases completed within the project.
Develop, implement, and maintain project plans, timelines, and workflows.
Monitor project progress and adjust plans as necessary to meet deadlines.
Conduct regular meetings with legal team members to review project status and address any issues.
Prepare detailed project status reports and updates for management, clients, funders, and stakeholders.
Gather and organize critical documents and evidence for legal proceedings.
Review and analyze data to assess project performance and areas for improvement.
Support legal team in drafting, reviewing, and finalizing project-related documents.
Ensure proper documentation and archival of all project-related materials.
Develop and implement best practices and methodologies for legal project management.

Qualifications : To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and / or ability required.

Bachelor's degree or JD or related field, which may include business management, quality assurance or organizational development.

At least 3-5 years of prior experience in immigration work.

Fluency in Spanish.

Demonstrates skills in project management and outcomes measurement highly desirable.

Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills.

Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.

Excellent training and development skills

Excellent time management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines.

Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

Ability to prioritize tasks and to delegate them when appropriate.

Proficient with Microsoft 365 or related software.

Physical Abilities Statement

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Must be able to remain in a stationary position 50% of the time.

The person in this position occasionally needs to move about the inside of the office to access filing cabinets, office machinery, etc.

Constantly operates a computer and other office productivity machinery, such as a copy machine.

It is the policy of NIJC not to discriminate against any applicant for employment, or any employee because of age, color, sex, disability, national origin, race, religion, or veteran status.

By submitting your application, you acknowledge and consent to undergo a comprehensive background check as part of the employment process. This background check will be conducted in compliance with applicable state and federal laws.

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Litigation • Chicago, IL, United States