Citywide Deputy Director of Immigrant Justice

The role

The Citywide Deputy Director of Immigrant Justice will support the Director in leading the immigration practice and executing advocacy strategies across five boroughs. This role involves providing technical expertise to advocates and leading federal litigation for clients facing unlawful detention or deportation.

What you will do

• Develop and implement a shared citywide vision of the immigration practice
• Lead and support federal immigration litigation including habeas cases and petitions for review
• Manage calendaring deadlines and provide technical support to litigation teams and pro bono counsel
• Draft complaints, emergency briefings, and appeals
• Prepare clients, obtain declarations, and conduct oral arguments
• Engage in discovery, appear in court, and negotiate settlements
• Act as a point of contact for litigation directors on immigration issues
• Develop resources and templates related to federal litigation
• Coordinate cross-borough collaboration and rapid response to immigration developments
• Lead internal training, mentorship, and skill-building initiatives

Required qualifications

• At least six years of immigration law practice, which may include a federal clerkship
• Experience with complex immigration removal defense, humanitarian relief, and appellate work
• At least two years of experience in immigration habeas litigation
• Minimum of two years of supervisory or managerial experience leading attorneys and staff
• Demonstrated success in collaborative leadership
• Deep understanding of the systemic conditions shaping poverty, racial inequity, and immigrant exclusion in NYC
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills
• Fluency or proficiency in Spanish
• Commitment to community-centered, trauma-informed legal practice and to promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging

Nice to have

• Experience in litigating petitions for review in front of the federal circuit courts

Benefits

• Health, dental, and vision plans
• Contributions to a 403(b) plan
• Generous leave time
• Access to internal Justice Learning Center for free CLEs and trainer experience

Before you apply

• Submit a resume, cover letter, and two writing samples via the Greenhouse portal
• Only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted

About the company

Legal Services NYC (LSNYC) is the nation's largest civil legal services provider, fighting poverty and seeking racial, social, and economic justice for low-income New Yorkers.