Managing Attorney - Immigrant & Refugee Services

About the role

The Managing Attorney will provide strategic leadership for Lutheran Services in Iowa's Immigration Legal Services (ILS) program, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, compliant, and mission-driven legal services to immigrant and refugee communities across multiple sites. The position is responsible for program implementation, development, and growth, including supervision of DOJ Accredited Representatives and Legal Assistants; provision of direct legal representation, primarily in affirmative applications before USCIS; and oversight of staff capacity-building, data integrity, and program compliance.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for Lutheran Services in Iowa's Immigration Legal Services (ILS) program
• Ensure the delivery of high-quality, compliant, and mission-driven legal services to immigrant and refugee communities
• Supervise DOJ Accredited Representatives and Legal Assistants
• Provide direct legal representation, primarily in affirmative applications before USCIS
• Oversight of staff capacity-building, data integrity, and program compliance
• Collaborate with IRCS leadership and community partners to strengthen service delivery, advance advocacy efforts, and respond effectively to evolving immigration policies

Requirements

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an ABA-accredited law school
• Active license to practice law and eligibility for admission to the Iowa Bar
• A minimum of five years of immigration law experience, including at least two years in a supervisory or management role

Qualifications

• Demonstrate competency in the following areas:
• Technology: Able to use technology that is necessary to perform job responsibilities; use available technology effectively (voice mail, computer software, data information system as required)
• Client Relationships: Demonstrate the ability to build and maintain meaningful professional relationships with volunteers using strong interpersonal skills, sensitivity techniques, and rapport-building abilities, while considering linguistic and cultural factors
• Crisis Management: Demonstrate the ability to effectively manage volunteer program crises by conducting immediate assessments, emergency planning, taking decisive action, and providing timely follow-up to ensure resolution
• Service Delivery: Demonstrate the ability to deliver services in a culturally and linguistically appropriate manner, collaborating with staff and community partners to coordinate services
• Team Relationships: Demonstrates the ability to work effectively and collaboratively with others in defined work teams through interpersonal sensitivity, independence and teamwork balance, and through knowledge of community resources and services