The Immigrants’ Rights/International Human Rights Clinic at Seton Hall University School of Law in Newark, New Jersey, is seeking to hire an experienced attorney to serve as the Managing Attorney for the Detention and Deportation Defense Initiative (DDDI). The Managing Attorney will work with Professor Lori A. Nessel, Director of the Immigrants’ Rights/International Human Rights Clinic, and practitioners-in-residence, post-graduate immigration detention fellows, clinical faculty, and staff. This is a year-round non-teaching position, contingent on renewed funding.

The Immigrants’ Rights/International Human Rights Clinic is part of the Center for Social Justice, home to most of the Law School’s clinical and experiential programs. The Clinic is one of four partners in an exciting and innovative project, funded by the state of New Jersey, to provide legal representation to detained noncitizens. Seton Hall Law’s immigration detention project currently encompasses two practitioners-in-residence, two post-graduate immigration detention fellows, law students, and two full-time paralegals.

Seton Hall University School of Law is just a block from Newark Penn Station, a short train ride or drive from New York City.

Duties and Responsibilities:

The ultimate goal of the project is to provide universal representation to noncitizens detained in New Jersey. The Managing Attorney will represent detained noncitizens before the immigration court and Board of Immigration Appeals and/or in habeas petitions before the federal courts (depending on the successful candidate’s interest and experience). The Managing Attorney will also oversee DDDI operations, including case assignment, hiring, professional development of the office staff, contracting and invoicing, and budgeting; will engage in advocacy alongside partner organizations and attend stakeholder meetings; and will supervise the attorneys and law student interns providing assistance with the Initiative. The caseload for the position will be reduced to take into account these managerial duties.

Required Qualifications:

Position requirements:
• J.D.
• At least five years’ experience representing immigrants, preferably detained noncitizens, before the immigration courts, Board of Immigration Appeals, and/or the federal courts;
• Membership in a bar of any state and in good standing (NJ bar membership or willingness to become a member of the NJ bar is desired);
• Managerial and/or supervisory experience;
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team; and
• Strong written and oral communication skills

Desired Qualifications:

Fluency in another language, particularly Spanish, is a plus, though not required.

Licenses and Certificates:

J.D. or equivalent
Licensed to practice in at least one U.S. state and in good standing

Salary Grade:

AD200 - Administrative

Exempt/Nonexempt: Exempt

Physical Demands: General Office Environment

Special Instructions to Applicants:

Interested candidates should submit a cover letter, resume, writing sample, list of references, and unofficial law school transcript at their earliest convenience. The cover letter should address the position requirements listed above.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Seton Hall University is committed to programs of Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and the principles of affirmative action.

About Seton Hall University

Seton Hall University is a major Catholic university. In a diverse and collaborative environment it focuses on academic and ethical development. Seton Hall students are prepared to be leaders in their professional and community lives in a global society and are challenged by outstanding faculty, an evolving technologically advanced setting and values-centered curricula.

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