Supervising Immigration Attorney, Higher Education Legal Services

Position Overview:

Serving low-income and vulnerable immigrants across San Diego and Imperial Counties, JFS offers legal representation and support tailored to each client’s needs. Services include removal defense, humanitarian relief, family-based petitions, naturalization, and administrative remedies. JFS provides representation before USCIS, ICE, CBP, and Immigration Courts, as well as in select cases before the Board of Immigration Appeals, federal courts, and San Diego Superior Court.

JFS also leads the Higher Education Legal Services (HELS) program, supporting immigrant and refugee students, faculty, and staff at two California State Universities and ten regional community colleges. Beyond direct services, JFS engages in advocacy to advance the rights and well-being of immigrants and refugees throughout the region.

Responsibilities:

Under the supervision of the Directing Attorney, the Supervising Immigration Attorney for the Higher Education Legal Services program will be responsible for the following:

• Direct Legal Representation: Provide high-quality immigration legal services to JFS-ILSD clients, including representation before DHS agencies (USCIS, CBP, Border Patrol, and ICE), the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), and related federal and state courts. Support the broader work of the JFS-ILSD team while maintaining the program’s strong record of effective legal advocacy.
• Supervision and Oversight: Supervise and review the work of HELS attorneys, DOJ-accredited representatives, and support staff who provide direct assistance and legal representation in both defensive and affirmative immigration matters, including appeals.
• Policy and Procedure Development: Collaborate with program leadership to develop procedures, protocols, and guidance that advance the JFS-ILSD mission and safeguard Higher Education Legal Services from legal malpractice.
• Education and Community Engagement: Design, oversee, and deliver accurate legal orientations, presentations, and educational materials on a wide range of immigration and rights-related issues faced by low-income immigrant communities in San Diego and Imperial Counties.
• Institutional Relationship Management: Maintain effective professional relationships with participating higher education institutions, supporting students, faculty, staff, and their family members who access Higher Education Legal Services.
• Legal Research and Updates: Stay current on rapidly changing immigration laws, regulations, and policies, and ensure that all program staff are regularly briefed and operating with the most up-to-date legal information.
• Quality Assurance: Ensure accurate legal analysis and appropriate legal strategies in all matters involving complex questions of law, eligibility for relief, and decisions to decline services.
• Compliance and Reporting: Adhere to and enforce JFS-ILSD and agency-wide policies, including case management, data management, and reporting requirements. Ensure staff compliance with all internal procedures.
• Grant Support: Participate in program reporting and contribute to the timely and accurate preparation of grant applications and funding renewals.
• Team Leadership: Foster a collaborative, supportive, and positive team environment both within the program and across partner agencies.

Skills/Experience/Abilities That Are a Must-Have:

• Law graduate
• Licensed to practice law in California preferred, but we will consider candidates with license to practice law in one of the 50 U.S. states.
• A deep commitment to providing culturally competent, trauma-informed, and expert legal services—and, when necessary, human rights defense—to noncitizens and newcomer communities in San Diego and Imperial Counties and the broader border region.
• 4–6 years of experience practicing immigration law.
• More than 2 years of experience in a supervisory role.
• Excellent interpersonal abilities, including strong communication, active listening, attention to detail, and a consistently professional demeanor.
• Strong supervisory and leadership skills, demonstrating effective communication, attentive listening, and professionalism in guiding and supporting staff.
• Proven skills in case management, legal research, and legal writing.
• Demonstrated capacity and eagerness to pursue innovative, evolving, or untested legal theories when appropriate.
• Ability to take initiative, manage competing demands, and perform effectively under pressure.
• Willingness to work flexible hours, including some evenings and weekends.
• A strong passion for social justice and advocacy on behalf of immigrant communities.
• Experience working with marginalized populations and survivors of trauma.
• A sincere and demonstrated commitment to serving low-income immigrant communities.

Skills/Abilities We’d Like You to Have:

• Ability to travel locally within San Diego and Imperial Counties.

Physical Requirements:

• Evening and weekend work will be required when we conduct workshops.
• Travel may be required for conferences, outreach meetings, or community events.
• While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to sit, talk, and listen.
• The employee frequently needs to stand, walk, use hands and fingers to operate a keyboard, handle documents, and reach for the telephone or other office equipment.
• The work environment has a moderate noise level, requiring the ability to concentrate and maintain good auditory perception.
• The employee must have the ability to lift, push, or pull up to 25 pounds as needed.

Position Title: Supervising Attorney – Higher Education Legal Services

Organization: Jewish Family Service of San Diego

Department: Immigration Legal Services

Position Type: Full-Time (37.5+ hours/week), Exempt

Work Setting: Fully Onsite

Reports To: Directing Attorney Higher Education and Affirmation Services

Pay Range: $88,000-$94,000/year

Total Compensation:

In addition to standard pay, compensation for this position includes:

• Comprehensive, low-cost healthcare coverage for employees
• Generous employer 401(k) contributions
• Employer-covered life insurance

Time Away from Work:

Being able to take time away from work is critical in bringing your best self to work. Time off benefits for this position include:

• Paid vacation time and sick leave
• 15 paid holidays, including Federal and Jewish holidays (as long as the holiday lands on a normal scheduled work day), and floating holidays
• 2 Wellness Days to be taken any time during the year to support employees’ mental wellness

About Jewish Family Service of San Diego
Jewish Family Service of San Diego is a client-centered, impact-driven organization working to build a stronger, more resilient community. For over 100 years, Jewish Family Service has been a trusted resource for the entire community, offering an array of services that are always life-changing, and often life-saving. At Jewish Family Service, we believe our employees are the backbone of our Agency. We strive to ensure that each employee is treated with dignity and respect. Our goal is your success. Come work at JFS and be our partner in Moving Forward Together. To learn more about JFS, please visit jfssd.org.

*Jewish Family Service is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.