Habeas Supervising Attorney

About the role

The Habeas Supervising Attorney will play a critical role in supporting the strategic development and execution of I-ARC’s New York Habeas Program. This position will oversee the quality of litigation handled through the program, provide expert guidance and mentorship to volunteer attorneys and legal partners, and help shape legal strategy in an evolving immigration enforcement landscape.

Responsibilities

• Oversee Litigation Quality: Monitor active habeas and bond cases handled by volunteer attorneys and mentors, provide ongoing guidance, and ensure high-quality representation and effective case strategy.
• Provide Expert Legal Guidance and Representation: Serve as the program's subject matter expert on immigration habeas corpus litigation and bond hearings. Act as back-up counsel and provide direct representation in complex, emergency, and high-stakes matters before federal and immigration courts.
• Mentor and Supervise Volunteers: Provide mentorship, supervision, and technical assistance to volunteer attorneys and habeas mentors, stepping into cases directly when needed.
• Collaborate with Pro Bono Partners: Work closely with pro bono law firms and legal partners to support case strategy, strengthen advocacy efforts, and expand access to representation.
• Develop Trainings and Legal Resources: Create and maintain legal templates, practice guides, and other practice materials, and design and deliver trainings for volunteers and partners.
• Support Program Administration: Assist with funder reporting requirements and other programmatic responsibilities to ensure compliance with grant deliverables.

Qualifications

• A Habeas Litigation Expert: Deep expertise in immigration habeas corpus litigation and substantial experience representing detained noncitizens in federal court. Comfortable navigating complex legal issues, developing litigation strategy, and advocating effectively in high-stakes matters.
• A Strategic Litigation Leader: Experience overseeing complex litigation and guiding case strategy across multiple matters simultaneously. Skilled at evaluating legal approaches, identifying risks and opportunities, and making sound decisions in fast-moving and time-sensitive situations.
• An Educator and Capacity Builder: Passionate about strengthening legal advocacy through mentorship, training, and technical assistance. Experience developing practical legal resources, leading trainings, and supporting attorneys in building expertise and confidence in complex areas of law.
• A Collaborative Partner: Excellent at building relationships and working across teams and organizations. Experienced collaborating with pro bono law firms, legal service providers, and other stakeholders to advance shared goals and expand access to high-quality legal representation.
• An Adaptable Problem Solver: Thrives in fast-paced environments and manages multiple priorities at once. Exercises sound judgment, works independently when needed, and remains calm under pressure when handling emergency or time-sensitive legal matters.

Compensation and Benefits

• Compensation: $100,000 - $110,000 annual salary
• Experience: JD (Juris Doctor) from an accredited law school and active New York bar admission required. A minimum of five (5) years of litigation experience representing detained noncitizens before federal and/or immigration courts is required. Substantial experience litigating immigration habeas corpus petitions and federal court matters is required. Admission to practice before at least one federal district court in New York is required; admission in New Jersey and/or Pennsylvania is a plus. Experience supervising attorneys, managing complex litigation, developing legal training materials, and working with pro bono legal partners is strongly preferred. Proficiency with collaboration and case management platforms such as Google Workspace, Slack, Asana, Airtable, Jotform, Zoom, or similar tools is required.
• Benefits: Flexible schedule, medical and dental (fully covered for employee, 50% for dependents), flexible PTO policy, sick days, retirement matching up to 3% after 90 days, professional development opportunities, wellness perks, other benefits as applicable.

Location

Remote. Candidates must reside in New York, as some travel will be required across New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania as needed.

Pay and Schedule

This is a grant-funded position with a term of July 1, 2026 - June 30, 2027. Renewal is contingent upon continued funding and organizational need.