Managing Attorney

 

The Opportunity

The Presidents’ Alliance is seeking a mission-driven attorney with deep experience in immigration and employment-based immigration law to serve as the Managing Attorney, a core legal resource for the organization.  Reporting to the Vice President of Legal Strategy and State Policy, the Managing Attorney has three primary areas of responsibility: (1) developing and reviewing legal resources, FAQs, issue briefs, regulatory comments, and other policy materials; (2) supporting the organization’s strategic engagement in litigation, including litigation-related support, and other legal interventions; and (3) managing the Legal Pathways That Work (LPTW) initiative.

The Managing Attorney will guide legal direction, develop and maintain legal resources, manage key partnerships, and ensure that institutions, advisors, and noncitizen students, including international, immigrant, and displaced students, have access to accurate, practical guidance on employment-based and related immigration pathways. This position is ideal for a legally trained professional who excels at translating complex immigration frameworks into accessible guidance, coordinating multi-organization initiatives, and supporting strategic legal engagement. The role does not involve serving as litigation counsel or directly litigating cases; when the Presidents’ Alliance engages in litigation, all legal representation is provided by external counsel. The attorney provides general legal information via resources and strategic guidance, but does not offer institution-specific or individual legal advice or representation.

The Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration launched the Legal Pathways That Work (LPTW) initiative in 2024 to expand access to employment-based immigration pathways for college and university students and graduates in temporary or precarious immigration statuses. Each year, talented noncitizen graduates seek to apply their skills in high-need sectors such as education, healthcare, and STEM, yet many institutions lack the capacity to effectively support these pathways. LPTW addresses this gap through a multi-pronged approach serving students, campuses, and employers. 

Specific Position Responsibilities

Organization-Wide Legal Resource Development & Technical Expertise (40%)

Serve as a central legal resource for the Presidents’ Alliance across all issue areas, including:

Resource Development

• Draft legal explainers, FAQs, fact sheets, policy analyses, and guidance documents on a broad range of immigration topics impacting higher education, with a particular but not exclusive focus on issues impacting international students and employees, with a particular but not exclusive focus on issues impacting international students and employees.
• Support the development of organizational legal priorities and provide legal vetting of resources produced by other teams.
• Track legal and regulatory developments affecting students, campuses, and immigration pathways, and integrate updates into external and internal materials.

Technical Assistance

• Provide guidance to institutions seeking to expand access for international, undocumented, DACA, refugee, and other immigrant-origin students; such guidance is general in nature and does not constitute legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship.
• Offer subject-matter expertise for cross-team initiatives involving state policy, federal policy, campus engagement, or communications related to legal issues. 
• Engage with partner organizations, partners, and networks to represent the Presidents’ Alliance’s legal expertise, including supporting the Vice President with staffing the Presidents’ Alliance Legal Advisory Council.
  
  

Support for Litigation Engagement (30%)

When the Presidents’ Alliance participates in litigation—whether through amicus briefs or as a plaintiff—the attorney will support the Vice President of Legal Strategy and State Policy and contribute to coordinated legal engagement by:

• Supporting Vice President of Legal Strategy with internal coordination and communication with external counsel and partner organizations.
• Gathering, organizing, and synthesizing declarations, institutional statements, student narratives, and other factual materials needed for legal filings.
• Conducting legal and factual research to support the development of amicus briefs or plaintiff filings, including working closely with the Manager of Research to identify, gather, and synthesize data, evidence, and research findings that strengthen legal arguments and inform related resources.
• Helping ensure accuracy, clarity, and consistency in factual development and legal narratives.
• Participating in internal discussions and providing input regarding opportunities and considerations for organizational litigation engagement.

• Preparing updates, summaries, and resource materials for member institutions and stakeholders regarding ongoing litigation and related legal developments.
• Responding to member and partner inquiries related to the organization’s litigation engagement, including explaining participation, procedural status, implications for campuses, and available resources.
  
  

Lead the Legal Pathways that Work Initiative (LPTW) (25%)

• Serve as the legal lead for LPTW initiative, ensuring accuracy and quality across all employment-based immigration content.
• Develop, edit, and maintain legal resources including FAQs, explainers, guides, training materials, and curated resource lists.
• Oversee the
  LPTW hub
  on the Higher Ed Immigration Portal and supervise the associate managing LPTW work.
• Oversee the Legal Pathways Learning Tool & Legal Consultations, including management of screening questionnaires and coordination with external legal partners who review submissions and provide individualized legal consultations, as appropriate.
• Coordinate with national partners—including American Immigration Council, Path2Papers, Niskanen, Open Avenues Foundation, and others—to co-develop educational materials and avoid duplication.
• Provide technical assistance to member institutions and partners related to LPTW resources, program scope, and implementation considerations, and facilitate referrals to external legal counsel when individualized legal advice is required.

Other as needed (organizational needs) (5%)

• Provide legal review, analysis, and guidance to support the Presidents’ Alliance’s organizational and strategic needs, including advising on discrete matters, cross-functional initiatives, and time-sensitive priorities requiring legal judgment.

QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

The top candidates for this position will have an extensive understanding of immigration law, experience with employment law, a strong interest to support immigrant and international students,  excellent communication and organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously. We strongly encourage applications from individuals with lived experience in the communities we serve or whose identities are underrepresented in the immigration profession.

Required. A JD and at least 3-5 years of experience in immigration law or a combination of immigration and employment law, which can include work as an attorney, on a campus, in legal advocacy or in policy, as a legal assistant, legal support, caseworker, or paralegal work.  A minimum of two years of supervisory responsibility is preferred. 

• The successful candidate will be creative, thoughtful, and adept at collaboration, building relationships, and communicating effectively with a diverse group of partners.
• Experience with campus immigration issues, including issues impacting international students and employees  Experience with campus immigration issues, including issues impacting international students and employees  
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and collaboration skills, including ease in in-person and virtual formats, ability to work with colleagues across programmatic areas and from a variety of backgrounds, and communicate effectively with a diverse range of groups and constituencies
• Strong organizational and time management skills, including attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple incoming tasks and prioritize a wide range of duties, while meeting deadlines.
• Ability to deliver, accept, and incorporate feedback, while helping to find creative solutions to obstacles.
• High degree of comfort with technology, including Microsoft Office, Google Suite, Zoom, Adobe Pro, Asana, and Wordpress.

POSITION LOCATION & STRUCTURE

The salary range for this position is $110,000-$120,000. The Presidents’ Alliance office space is based in Washington, D.C.; however, the work of the organization is conducted primarily remotely and provides staff with a great deal of flexibility. Some travel to member campuses, conferences, and events may be required.

Reports to: Vice President of Legal Strategy and State Policy

Location: Remote-first; office based in Washington, D.C.                  

This full-time position is structured as a staff employee of the Presidents’ Alliance, which honors work-life balance with generous paid time off annually. Our very attractive benefits package includes medical, dental, and vision insurance premium coverage; fully covered life and long-term disability insurance; availability of pre-tax FSA (health care and dependent care) accounts; and a 401(k) employer contribution and employer match, totaling up to 10% of salary. Additionally, we provide professional development opportunities and mentorship as needed or requested, a start-up laptop and office supplies package, and monthly tech reimbursement for all employees.