Senior Managing Attorney, Detention Project

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a strategic vision for the Detention Project.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen and expand services for detained individuals and develop initiatives to respond to emerging needs.
• Supervise Detention Project staff and fellows and oversee the delivery of legal services to detained clients, including case screening and assessment, custody/bond representation, habeas litigation, removal defense, and related advocacy.
• Oversee day-to-day project operations and establish systems to monitor case outcomes, ensure timely case handling, and support continuous improvement.
• Develop and maintain expertise in habeas litigation and serve as a resource to ILAP attorneys on case strategy and developments in law and policy.
• Prepare and litigate habeas petitions in federal court. Serve as co-counsel on habeas petitions and other complex detention-related matters.
• Maintain ILAP’s network of private attorneys who accept low bono and pro bono habeas cases referred by ILAP. Oversee handling of externally referred cases, including case placement, case tracking, and invoice review processes.
• Represent ILAP in meetings related to the work of the Detention Project. Develop and maintain relationships with attorneys and other service providers working with detained individuals at the state, regional, and national levels.
• Ensure coordination and alignment between the Detention Project and other ILAP practice areas. Promote consistency in services across detained and non-detained work.
• Participate in ILAP team meetings and collaborate with ILAP attorneys and legal staff.

Qualifications

• J.D. degree from an ABA-approved law school.
• Admitted to practice law in at least one state or the District of Columbia.
• At least 5 years of experience practicing immigration law, with a focus on habeas corpus litigation.
• Experience supervising staff and managing projects.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Strong organizational and problem-solving skills.
• Experience with federal habeas corpus litigation.
• Experience working with detained individuals and their advocates.
• Experience with developing and implementing strategic plans.