Removal Defense Chair at Wilner & O'Reilly in Costa Mesa, CA

Position Title: Chair of Removal Defense Department

Location: This position is available at any W&O' office.

Department: Removal Defense

Reports To: Firm Partners

Job Type: Exempt

Salary: 8% increase

Position Effective Date: August 03, 2026

Position Summary:

The Chair of the Removal-Defense Department will provide leadership, direction, and oversight for the removal defense immigration department within W&O'. This role involves working with a team of attorneys, case managers, and legal assistants while ensuring that personal caseload is handled in compliance with established standards. The Chair will be responsible for strategic planning, learning development, and continuous improvement within the department. Additionally, this position will serve as the department’s primary representative and oversee professional development and compliance with W&O's standard operating procedures.

Key Responsibilities:

Leadership:

• Provide leadership to attorneys, case managers, and legal assistants within the Removal-Defense Immigration Department.
• Set clear department goals and expectations, ensuring alignment with organizational values and overall mission.
• Foster a positive, collaborative work environment focused on teamwork, high standards, and achievement of department objectives.
• Encourage a culture of continuous improvement and high ethical standards.

Strategic Planning:

• Lead the development and implementation of strategic plans for the Removal-Defense Services Department to enhance and expand its practice.
• Monitor trends in removal defense immigration law and community needs to guide the department's strategic direction

Business Development:

• Edit and publish blog posts on legal issues relevant to the department, collaborating with the media team to enhance visibility.
• Coordinate with the marketing team on initiatives to promote removal based services and highlight key departmental achievements.

Representation:

• Serve as a representative of the department and the organization in interactions with clients, opposing counsel, courts, and regulatory bodies.
• Establish and maintain the department's professional reputation through strong client advocacy and legal representation.

Case Management:

• Supervise case handling within the department, ensuring that work is assigned efficiently, deadlines are met, and client expectations are fulfilled.
• Monitor case progress and provide guidance to attorneys and staff to ensure timely and effective resolution of cases.
• Ensure that all work adheres to the firm’s standard operating procedures (SOPs) and legal best practices.

Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs):

• In collaboration with the Operations team, Managing Attorneys, and firm Partners, regularly review and revise SOPs to ensure that they reflect the best practices and regulatory changes within family immigration law.
• Ensure all department team members comply with updated SOPs in day-to-day operations.

Client Relations:

• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, ensuring client needs are addressed and concerns are resolved promptly.
• Work with the operations team to handle client matters and ensure satisfaction with the services provided.

Professional Development:

• Oversee the professional development, onboarding, offboarding and training of attorneys within the department.
• Provide mentorship and coaching attorneys and staff, fostering a culture of growth, skill development, and leadership within the team.
• Ensure that staff receive ongoing education and training on legal developments, family law trends, and firm policies.

Compliance and Risk Management:

• Ensure that all attorneys and staff within the department adhere to the highest ethical standards and comply with relevant laws and regulations.
• Mitigate risks associated with removal defense immigration law matters by maintaining a strong compliance framework.
• Conduct regular audits of department practices to ensure legal and regulatory compliance.

Collaboration:

• Work collaboratively firm leadership to align departmental objectives.
• Share best practices and foster interdepartmental communication to improve overall firm performance.

Qualifications:

Education:

• Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school.

Licensing:

• Admission to the Bar in the United States.

Experience:

• Minimum of 2 years of experience in removal-defense immigration law

Skills:

• Strong leadership and managerial skills, with the ability to mentor and motivate staff.

• Expertise in removal defense-based immigration law.

• Excellent communication, business development, and client relations skills.

• Knowledge of legal compliance standards and risk management in family immigration law.

• Ability to develop and implement strategic plans to grow and enhance the family-based department.

Additional Information:

• 8% Salary Increase
• Annual AILA Membership

Other:

Please include any relevant certifications or work samples. This job description outlines the primary duties and responsibilities of the Chair of the Removal-Defense Department but is not an exhaustive list. The role may evolve based on organizational needs and department growth.