Legal Manager

Overview

The organization is seeking a Legal Manager to join the Legal Action team. This role ensures projects run smoothly and align with the organization’s theory of social change and program work goals, under the guidance and supervision of the Legal Director.

This position focuses on cross-border collaborations to support migrants’ access to portable justice through international cooperation between advocates based in the United States and human rights defenders based in Mexico and Central America.

Note: The organization does not provide direct legal representation to clients. This position does not include direct legal services.

Responsibilities

Key responsibilities include supporting cross-border case collaboration and managing related projects across the Defender Network.

• Case Collaboration Management (40%)

  • Manage cross-border case collaborations involving advocates in the U.S. and members of the organization’s Defender Network in Mexico and Central America.
  • Conduct intake conversations with advocates and assess cases identified for potential Defender Network collaboration.
  • Provide guidance to advocates and Defenders on portable justice issues and help troubleshoot communication and coordination challenges.
  • Track case collaborations through regular follow-up, check-ins, and evaluation.
  • Coordinate administrative aspects of case collaboration, including payments, invoices, documentation, and outcome tracking.
  • Prepare narrative summaries and reports documenting case progress, outcomes, and lessons learned.

• Project Management (20%)

  • Manage special projects advancing portable justice and access-to-justice strategies.
  • Develop and maintain project plans, workflows, timelines, and tracking systems.
  • Coordinate program implementation, administration, data collection, outcome reporting, and other project-related activities.
  • Facilitate meetings, convenings, and other collaborative activities involving internal and external stakeholders.
  • Identify and address project barriers, emerging needs, and opportunities for improvement.

• Relationship Management and Cross-Border Collaboration (15%)

  • Build and maintain working relationships with Defender Network members in Mexico and Central America.
  • Develop collaborative working relationships with U.S. advocates and organizations representing migrants who may benefit from Defender Network assistance.
  • Serve as a consistent coordination point across partners to support clear communication, shared expectations, and effective collaboration.
  • Navigate cross-cultural and cross-organizational relationships with professionalism, empathy, and cultural awareness.

• Legal Expertise, Analysis, and Advisory Support (15%)

  • Maintain substantive knowledge of immigration law and procedure, cross-border legal issues, and U.S. migration and labor policies affecting migrants from Mexico and Central America.
  • Provide legal analysis and guidance related to immigration enforcement, humanitarian relief, migrant rights, and portable justice.
  • Identify emerging legal or policy developments that may affect case collaboration work or communities served.
  • Share relevant legal knowledge and developments with colleagues and partners as appropriate.

• Legal Training and Writing (10%)

  • Develop and deliver training (virtual and in-person) in Spanish and English for advocates, Defenders, and other constituencies.
  • Draft legal practice resources, advisories, and other materials in English and Spanish related to migrants’ rights, immigration, and access to justice.
  • Translate complex legal and policy concepts into practical, accessible information for varied audiences.
  • Contribute to tools and resources that strengthen the capacity of advocates and Defender Network members.

Requirements

• Immigration legal experience: 5+ years of immigration legal experience representing clients from Mexico and Central America in humanitarian immigration matters.
• Education and licensing: Must hold a JD or LLM from an accredited U.S. law school and have experience practicing law in the United States.
• Cross-border case experience: Experience representing immigrant clients in cases with cross-border elements.
• Project management experience: Strong project management skills, including leading initiatives from start to finish and managing multiple workstreams with detailed plans and deadline tracking.
• Tech proficiency: Proficiency with Excel and Word, Google Workspace, Adobe Acrobat, and project management tools such as Asana. Experience with Salesforce or comparable case management systems is a plus.
• Professional bilingual fluency: Professional fluency in both English and Spanish (written and spoken). Fluency will be assessed as the first step of the hiring process.
  • Must be able to conduct complex professional and legal conversations in both languages, produce high-quality written materials in both languages without relying on external translation tools, accurately interpret nuanced and sensitive information in real time, and adapt tone, terminology, and cultural context appropriately.
• Travel: Willing and able to travel internationally and occasionally travel to Central America, Mexico, and within the U.S.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with federal civil litigation advancing civil rights claims on behalf of migrant clients.
• Experience living and/or working in multicultural environments and demonstrated ability to engage diverse communities with curiosity, empathy, and respect.
• Experience with or passion for migrant rights, access to justice, and cross-border advocacy.
• Familiarity with challenges facing migrant communities from Mexico and Central America.

Compensation & Benefits

• Employment status: Full-time, exempt; reports to the Legal Director.
• Union coverage: This is a union position covered by the organization’s collective bargaining agreement. Union employees are represented by the Association of Legal Aid Attorneys, UAW Local 2325.
• Salary: Based on the collective bargaining agreement scale, with a starting range of $76,000 (Step 6) to $84,750 (Step 11) depending on experience.
• Healthcare: 100% employer-paid healthcare for individual employees plus partial family coverage.
• Retirement: 3% 401k annual contribution.
• Work setup: Work-from-home and home office setup stipends.
• Time off and holidays:
  • Office closed 12/24–1/1 plus other paid holidays.
  • Additional PTO: 12 days paid vacation in the first year, 12 sick days, and 5 personal days.
  • Fully paid sabbatical offered after 7 years of service.

Location & Schedule

• Remote work: U.S.-based remote organization.
• Time zone: Eastern Time Zone hours.
• Travel requirements: Occasional domestic and international travel, including Central America and Mexico.

Equal Opportunity

The organization is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, or any other applicable status protected by state or local law.