NOW HIRING

Legal Director

Location: Remote
Position Type: Full-Time
Reports To: Founder and Managing Partner, Katie Blankenship

Who We Are

Sanctuary of the South is a grassroots, private legal services organization with a mission - to build community power and action to sustain the rule of law, create a better democracy, and ensure justice. We do this by making legal representation more accessible and creating an equitable model that partners with our clients in advocating for their rights and supports our staff in their critical work. 

We provide legal representation, safety planning services, and community advocacy throughout the South. Our practice centers on direct legal representation for individuals in ICE custody and federal impact litigation to hold the government accountable. Our legal services are provided on a sliding scale, with a special focus on keeping immigrant communities safe from violence and preventing family separation caused by ICE enforcement, detention, and deportation.

About This Role

We are seeking a strategic and seasoned Legal Director with 8+ years of practice to lead our legal team. Reporting to our Founder and Managing Partner, the Legal Director will oversee our immigration defense and federal litigation work, supervise attorneys and legal staff, and set the standards that guide our casework. The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in immigration law and federal litigation, is fluent in Spanish, and has a track record of mentoring attorneys in a collaborative, fast-paced environment. This position offers the opportunity to shape a growing, mission-based practice and make a lasting impact on clients and communities across the South.

Key Responsibilities

  • Lead and oversee SOS’ legal practice, including removal defense, federal habeas, and impact litigation, in partnership with the Founder and Managing Partner

  • Supervise, mentor, and evaluate staff attorneys, volunteer lawyers, and paralegals through regular case reviews and work-product feedback;

  • Set litigation strategy and serve as lead or co-lead counsel on federal matters, including petitions for habeas corpus, Federal Tort Claims Act claims, and 42 U.S.C. § 1983 actions;

  • Carry a direct caseload of complex detained and non-detained immigration matters, including bond, asylum, and other defensive applications for relief;

  • Manage case intake and acceptance decisions, docket assignments, and attorney caseloads to balance client need with team capacity;

  • Review and approve complaints, briefs, motions, and other significant filings before submission;

  • Develop and maintain practice standards, templates, filing checklists, and training materials;

  • Oversee deadline management, conflict checks, court admissions (including pro hac vice applications), and professional responsibility compliance;

  • Onboard and train new legal staff and volunteers in immigration and federal litigation practice;

  • Serve as the escalation point with ICE, DHS, and government counsel on client matters, parole requests, and administrative complaints;

  • Partner with the Chief of Staff and Managing Partner on legal hiring, budgeting, and case management systems;

  • Build relationships with coalition partners, nonprofit organizations, and co-counsel to develop impact litigation and innovative legal programs;

  • Serve as a spokesperson about SOS’ work and engage with the media as necessary to further legal advocacy.

Qualifications

  • J.D. from an accredited law school.

  • Active license to practice law in good standing in any U.S. jurisdiction (state bar admission required; admission to a southeastern state bar preferred).

  • 8+ years of legal experience in immigration law and/or federal litigation, including substantial first-chair experience.

  • At least 3 years of experience supervising attorneys or legal staff.

  • Fluency in Spanish (written and spoken) required.

  • Exceptional legal research, writing, and analytical skills, with experience editing and reviewing the work of other attorneys.

  • Demonstrated ability to set priorities and manage a high-volume, deadline-driven docket across a team.

  • Strong leadership, interpersonal, and communication skills, with a client-focused approach.

  • Commitment to social justice and serving immigrant communities.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Extensive defensive immigration representation before the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), including detained dockets and appeals to the Board of Immigration Appeals;

  • Federal litigation experience through dispositive motions and trial, including petitions for habeas corpus, Federal Tort Claims Act, and/or 42 U.S.C. § 1983 cases, as well as appellate practice;

  • Admission to federal district courts in at least one state in the Southeast, or willingness to pursue admission in federal district courts in the Southeast;

  • Experience building or managing a legal program, such as practice protocols, training curricula, or quality-control systems;

  • Familiarity with immigration and federal case portals (ECAS and PACER) and case management software (e.g., Docketwise, CLIO, or similar);

  • Leadership experience in a small or boutique law firm environment or nonprofit legal services organization.

Compensation and Benefits

  • $125,000-150,000 depending on experience and qualifications

  • Benefits package including health, vision, dental, and 401k

  • Unlimited PTO

  • Meeting-free Fridays

How to Apply

Please submit the following to sos@sanctuaryofthesouth.com:

  • Cover letter detailing your interest, relevant experience, and approach to supervising and developing attorneys

  • Resume

  • Writing Sample

  • Two professional references, including at least one supervisor