United States onlyAbout KIND
Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) is a global leader in the protection of unaccompanied and separated children who are forcibly displaced from their countries of origin. Launched in 2008, KIND champions a world in which every child’s rights and well-being are protected throughout their journey to safety.
Building on its extensive programming and successful model in the United States, KIND is expanding in the Americas and Europe to bring its experience to bear in working with unaccompanied and separated children. Our work focuses on addressing the legal and mental health needs of this population; building strong partnerships and engaging in training and capacity strengthening with governments, NGOs, and the private sector; and advocating for systemic and pragmatic reforms to advance the rights of unaccompanied and separated children.
Position Summary
KIND has an immediate opening for an experienced litigator whose portfolio will span both impact litigation and habeas litigation, reporting to the Senior Director, Legal Strategy. To enhance KIND’s capacity to serve youth seeking relief from unlawful detention, the Senior Litigation Attorney will litigate habeas petitions in multiple federal courts nationwide and will develop a coordinated in-house program to identify client needs and provide strategy and practice guidance to attorneys (on staff and pro bono) working to secure their clients’ release from detention. And in partnership with fellow nonprofits and pro bono partners, the Senior Litigation Attorney will support impact litigation focused on protecting the rights of unaccompanied children, primarily in federal courts. This position requires significant experience in habeas litigation and immigration litigation before federal (Article III) trial and appellate courts.
This is a remote position based from any location in the U.S.
This position is contingent upon continued funding.
Essential Functions
- Leads an in-house initiative to provide legal representation to youth challenging immigration detention. Prepares and litigates habeas corpus petitions, primarily on behalf of youth who arrived in the United States as unaccompanied children, and provide training and mentorship to attorneys pursuing clients’ release from detention.
- Develops legal strategies for challenging detention, monitor related policy and litigation developments, and contribute to KIND’s national repository of samples, guidance, and trainings.
- Collaborates with field office teams, legal programs management, and external partners to identify, anticipate, and rapidly respond to needs of clients served by KIND’s 15 field offices and pro bono partners.
- Builds and maintains relationships and referral channels with pro bono attorneys, non-profits, law school clinics, bar associations, and other partners.
- Supports the Senior Director, Legal Strategy and collaborates with external partners to design and execute impact litigation strategy; conduct research and prepare memoranda to guide litigation strategy.
- Individually or with co-counsel, prepares and reviews court filings; participate in discovery; prepares for and, as needed, appears at hearings and party conferences.
- Prepares requests under the Freedom of Information Act; reviews, appeals, and litigates results as necessary.
- Counsels and confers with individual and organizational plaintiffs.
- Evaluates proposals to support litigation of interest through expert declarations or amicus briefs; works independently or with co-amici and pro bono counsel to draft or review briefs and non-party declarations.
- Monitors policy and litigation developments, and prepare alerts for KIND staff and other stakeholders.
- Confers across KIND’s teams to identify potential impacts on children and youth and develop potential strategy responses.
- Collaborates with KIND’s Global Policy and Advocacy team on comments on proposed regulations, policy analysis, and similar projects.
- Supports KIND’s Communications team with information for media, web updates, and other public outlets
- Collaborates with the Vice President, Pro Bono Partnerships, to cultivate pro bono support for litigation and legal research projects
- Supports KIND’s development efforts by contributing to funding proposals and reports, as needed.
- Represents KIND at conferences, stakeholder meetings, and events.
- Other similar duties as needed.
Essential Functions
Challenging Detention
Impact litigation
Cross-Team Collaboration and Public Engagement
Qualifications and Requirements
- Juris Doctor and current admission to any state bar.
- Minimum of five years of experience litigating immigration matters in federal district and/or appellate courts, which must include habeas experience. Additional litigation experience, including in class actions and mediation, is a plus.
- Substantial experience in removal defense, preferably on behalf of children and/or detained clients.
- The highest professional ethics and integrity.
- Track record of producing high-quality legal analysis and written work product on tight deadlines; excellent organizational skills and ability to balance multiple projects.
- Experience training and mentoring other attorneys.
- Fluency in English and Spanish preferred to support direct communication with the clients we serve and their caregivers.
- Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (such as Teams, Excel, etc.).
- Ability to work collaboratively and multi-task in our KIND environment, managing numerous priorities and emerging opportunities.
- Excellent organizational skills with the ability to work on multiple projects in a deadline-oriented environment; ability to prioritize tasks and delegate as appropriate.
- Ability to multitask and work with a sense of urgency in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
- Committed to practicing and supporting wellbeing and a work-home life balance.
- Experience working and communicating in a remote environment preferred but not required.
Our Benefits
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance with KIND paying 100% of the employee only portion of the premium for one of the three medical plan options, dental, and vision.
- Pre-tax flexible spending account (FSA) for both medical and dependent care.
- Pre-tax transit and parking spending account.
- Employer-paid life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment insurance.
- Employer-paid short and long-term disability insurance.
For a complete list of benefits, please click here.
Our Focus on Wellness
KIND recognizes that our ability to help our clients starts with helping our team members. KIND has prioritized wellness for employees through Mindfulness and Wellness Trainings, Wellness Platforms, Employee Assistance and Resilience Programs, Time Away and Office Wellness Activities.
For more information regarding our Wellness initiatives please visit this link.
Application Instructions
To be considered for this role, please submit an employment application at supportkind.org/join-the-team, along with your resume and cover letter.
Disclaimer: KIND is committed to an ethical recruitment and hiring process and maintains a firm “no fees” recruitment policy. We will never charge a fee or ask for money as part of the application process. KIND also conducts all interviews via telephone or video conference, and at no time will KIND engage in a text or mobile app-based application or interview process. For more information, please visit the following website: https://supportkind.org/join-the-team/kind-employment-practices/.
