Immigrants' Rights Managing Attorney

The Opportunity

Position Title: Immigrants' Rights Managing Attorney

Department: Immigration

Location: Santa Clara, CA

Reports To: Executive Director; oversees Immigrants' Rights staff

Classification: Exempt

Status: Full-Time, occasional evenings and weekends required

Requirements: Must have access to reliable transportation

Compensation: $111,479-$139,332/annually commensurate with skills and experience

Join the team behind the mission.

Every day, people across California turn to the Council on American-Islamic Relations, California (CAIR-CA) when they face discrimination, threats to their civil rights, or challenges to their freedom to practice their faith. 

As the largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization in California, we protect constitutional rights, advance justice, and empower communities through legal advocacy, public policy, civic engagement, and education.

Since 1994, that work has been made possible by a dedicated team committed to serving individuals, families, and communities across California. Behind every case, campaign, and initiative are people working together to create meaningful change.

Whether you serve clients directly or support our mission behind the scenes, your work helps build a more just, inclusive, and equitable California.

Why CAIR-CA

Meaningful Work: Your work directly contributes to protecting civil rights, advancing justice, and strengthening communities throughout California.

Collaborative Culture: Team members value respect, teamwork, innovation, and continuous learning.

Professional Growth: We support your development through mentorship and opportunities to expand your skills and impact.

Purpose-Driven Environment: Colleagues create meaningful change and serve communities with dedication and integrity.

Statewide Impact: No matter your role, your contributions advance CAIR-CA's mission and create lasting impact throughout California.

How You'll Make an Impact

As the Immigrants' Rights Managing Attorney at CAIR California's San Francisco Bay Area office, you will lead our immigration legal services and advocacy across the region. You'll combine direct legal representation with team leadership, advocacy, and community engagement to ensure immigrants and their families have access to high-quality legal support and a strong voice in matters affecting their rights.

Your Impact

In this role, you will do the following:

Leadership and Supervision

• Provide leadership and supervision to the Immigrants' Rights legal team
• Oversee the day-to-day operations of the Immigrants' Rights team including management of intakes, immigrants' rights staff, clerks, and monthly, quarterly, and annual reporting
• Supervise casework of attorneys, coordinators, caseworkers, paralegals, and volunteers
• Oversee retained case load to ensure all intakes and retained cases are properly documented and advanced
• Participate in CAIR-SFBA's Management Team, including regular meetings, advice to executives, and facilitation of organizational goals

Legal Representation

• Conduct client intake, prepare applications, and petitions for submission to the appropriate agencies
• Represent clients before various government agencies and in litigation
• Communicate with outside parties such as attorneys, employers, law enforcement agencies, administrative agencies, elected officials, and media contacts
• Manage a sizeable, high-impact caseload, balancing short-term direct services and longer-term full scope retainers

Community Engagement

• Respond to intake requests from organizational leaders for key community stakeholders and members to ensure they are properly addressed
• Participate in community outreach and educational activities, including planning and conducting Know Your Rights events and Immigration Legal clinics
• Work in, lead, or form coalitions with other organizations and collaborate with civil rights partners
• Co-lead CAIR-SFBA's efforts on rapid response issues, alongside CAIR-SFBA's Management Team

Legal Research and Documentation

• Research and analyze law sources such as statutes, legal articles, and legal codes
• Prepare legal writing including, but not limited to, drafting complaints, discovery, briefs, letters, and memos; and non-legal writing including drafting community advisories, issue briefings, and reports
• Identify, develop, lead, and oversee litigation efforts including legal writing and review of complaints, demand letters, motions, discovery, and other litigation-related documents; conducting and defending depositions; attending legal hearings

Grant Management

• Assist with searches for and applications to immigrants' rights grants
• Manage grant requirements, deliverables, and reporting for current and future grants as received

Client Assessment and Referrals

• Assess clients for other legal services and immigrants' rights-related needs, as appropriate
• Grow referral database and utilize it strategically and thoughtfully to provide referrals to potential clients who CAIR is unable to assist

Marketing and Reporting

• Partner with the Executive Director, Communications Manager, and colleagues to strategize and implement marketing for CAIR-SFBA's immigrants' rights services and impact
• Assist other staff in the production of internal and external reports, including serving as the final reviewer where needed

All CAIR staff are required to assist in general duties such as answering phones, weekly outreach, and other office tasks.

What You Bring

Required

• A strong commitment to civil rights and CAIR's mission
• Law degree from an American Bar Association accredited school
• Licensed to practice law and a member in good standing of a state bar
• At least five years of immigration law, including at least one year of removal defense experience
• At least three years of experience supervising legal professionals
• Strong time management skills with a demonstrated ability to meet deadlines
• Demonstrated problem-solving skills with outstanding attention to detail
• Comfort working productively in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment
• Excellent oral and written communication skills including public speaking experience
• Experience working with people from diverse cultural and socio-economic backgrounds
• High degree of self-motivation and creativity
• Basic computer proficiency including knowledge of MS Office, MS Outlook, Adobe Acrobat, and LexisNexis
• Knowledge of cloud applications such as SharePoint and Office365
• Access to a working vehicle and the ability to drive throughout the greater Bay Area

Preferred

• Experience working with the American Muslim community
• Experience working in a non-profit organization
• Conversational proficiency in Arabic, Farsi or Urdu

What You'll Gain

At CAIR-CA, we believe our employees are essential to advancing our mission. We strive to provide a workplace where employees can grow professionally while doing meaningful work.

Depending on eligibility, our benefits include:

• Competitive Compensation
• Hybrid Work Schedule
• Generous Time Off: 12 Paid Holidays, 10 Sick Days, and 12 Vacation Days
• Comprehensive Benefits:
  • 100% employer-paid medical and dental insurance for employees and dependents
  • 401(k) retirement plan with employer match
• Perks:
  • Professional development opportunities
  • Paid parental leave
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • Sabbatical Leave

How to Apply

We encourage interested candidates to apply early. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

To apply, please submit:

• A cover letter explaining your interest in the position and why you are a strong fit for the role
• A current resume
• A brief writing sample
• The names and contact information for three professional references

Application Deadline: October 31, 2026

Equal Opportunity Employer

CAIR-CA is an equal-opportunity employer and adheres to all federal, state, and local laws prohibiting employment discrimination.

Empowering American Muslims. Protecting Civil Rights. Promoting Justice.