Legal Director

Job Title: Legal Director
Reports To: Executive Director
 
Position Overview
The Legal Director provides strategic and operational leadership for all legal programs at Asylum Clinic Kansas City (ACKC). This role is responsible for ensuring the delivery of high-quality, trauma-informed immigration legal services while driving program growth, innovation, and regional impact.
 
As a key member of the leadership team, the Legal Director partners with the Executive Director to shape organizational strategy, expand services, and deepen ACKC’s impact on underserved immigrant communities. The Legal Director supervises and develops a growing legal team, strengthens systems for case management and compliance, and maintains a limited caseload focused on complex or high-impact matters.
 
This is a leadership role for an experienced immigration attorney who is both a strong manager and a strategic thinker, committed to advancing equity and access to justice.
 
Key Responsibilities
Program Leadership and Strategy

• Develop and implement strategies for ACKC’s legal programs, including growth in service areas, geographic reach, and case types.
• Partner with the Executive Director to develop organizational strategy, funding alignment, and programs.
• Identify emerging needs of ACKC client communities and adapt programs accordingly.

Supervision and Team Development

• Supervise, mentor, and support Staff Attorneys, DOJ-accredited representatives, and legal support staff.
• Foster a collaborative, accountable, and mission-driven team culture.
• Develop training plans and professional development pathways for legal staff.

 Legal Services and Quality Assurance

• Maintain a limited caseload, with an emphasis on complex, precedent-setting, or high-impact cases.
• Ensure high-quality legal representation through case review, mentorship, and implementation of best practices.
• Oversee compliance with legal ethics, funder requirements, and internal policies.

 Operations and Systems

• Partner with the Director of Operations to design and refine systems for client intake, case assignment, case tracking, and performance metrics.
• Use data to evaluate program effectiveness, improve outcomes, and support grant reporting.
• Strengthen infrastructure to support sustainable program growth.

External Relations and Advocacy

• Build and maintain partnerships with community organizations, pro bono attorneys, government agencies, and other stakeholders.
• Represent ACKC in public forums, coalitions, media, and advocacy efforts.
• Support resource development efforts, including grant proposals and funder engagement.

 Subject Matter Leadership

• Monitor changes in immigration law and policy and guide organizational response.
• Support legal team training and ensure services reflect current law and best practices.

 
Required Qualifications

• J.D. from an accredited law school and active bar membership in good standing.
• Minimum of 7 years of immigration law experience, including at least 3 years in a supervisory or leadership role.
• Deep expertise in humanitarian immigration law (asylum, SIJS, U visas, T visas) and removal defense experience in the Immigration Court.
• Demonstrated experience serving vulnerable immigrant populations, including asylum seekers, unaccompanied minors, or survivors of violence.
• Strong leadership, management, and organizational skills, with the ability to oversee multiple programs and priorities.

 Preferred Qualifications

• Bilingual Spanish/English proficiency.
• Experience managing grant-funded legal programs and compliance requirements.
• Experience scaling or building legal programs in a nonprofit setting.

 Compensation and Benefits

• Salary range: $110,000–$120,000, commensurate with experience.
• Comprehensive benefits package including fully paid health, dental, and vision insurance for employees.
• 11 paid federal holidays and generous paid time off.

Work Schedule
This is a full-time, in-person position based in Kansas City, Missouri. Standard hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with flexibility as needed and a possible one day per week offered hybrid after 6 months of employment.
 
How to Apply
Please submit a cover letter, resume, and three references to clare@asylumclinickc.org with the subject line “Legal Director – [Your Name].” Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. No phone calls, please.
  
About Asylum Clinic Kansas City
Asylum Clinic Kansas City is a rapidly growing nonprofit providing high-quality immigration legal services across Kansas City. We serve individuals and families navigating complex humanitarian immigration processes, often under urgent and high-stakes circumstances.
Our mission is to promote justice by delivering accessible, excellent legal services that empower underserved immigrants and refugees. We are committed to advancing dignity, equity, and due process, and to building systems that expand access to representation for those most in need.

Equal Opportunity Employer 

ACKC is an equal opportunity employer. ACKC does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability or any other legally protected status.