Legal Assistant
The Immigrant and Refugee Law Center (IRLC) is a unique and fast-growing nonprofit organization that provides pro bono immigration legal services to low-income immigrant and refugee families in the Greater Cincinnati area. Join our dynamic team!
Job Summary
We are seeking a bilingual, detail-oriented and compassionate Immigration Legal Assistant to join our team. In this role, you will support attorneys by managing casework, communicating with clients, and ensuring all documentation is accurate and timely. You will play a vital role in assisting individuals and families navigating the immigration process, handling tasks such as preparing immigration forms, gathering evidence, and maintaining case files.
This position is subject to future available funding. Continuation of the position is contingent upon the continued receipt of these funds.
POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES
- Plan and coordinate ORR facility duties with IRLC staff and liaise with ORR facility staff for up-to-date placement of unaccompanied children and provision of legal services for detained unaccompanied minors in local ORR facilities.
- Coordinate and provide in-person “Know Your Rights” (KYR) presentations and individual legal screenings for detained unaccompanied minors in local ORR facilities or released unaccompanied minors.
- Coordinate and provide virtual “Know Your Rights” (KYR) presentations and legal screenings for unaccompanied minors who were released from local ORR facilities to anywhere in the U.S. without legal services.
- Complete referrals of released youth to legal service providers around the country.
- Provides support to attorneys, including liaising with clients; preparing client case files; drafting correspondence; filling out immigration benefits and other standard forms, drafts affidavits and basic motions; assisting with hearing and interview preparation; maintaining case files and data entry in the case management database; and other tasks as needed.
- Serve as point of contact for clients, proactively ensuring that case files and case management system reflect current contact information and status updates on case developments and child’s wellbeing.• Conducts regular check-ins with the child for direct representation cases, particularly in cases in which case adjudication is delayed; updates attorney regarding new developments, as needed.
- Direct and assist clients with social service and benefits needs.
- Interpret for clients and/or attorneys at interviews, hearings or presentations and prepare written translations of documents as needed.
- Participate in outreach activities and information sessions for immigrants and social services agencies. Outreach may require occasional evening and weekend events.
- Perform all other duties as needed and/or as directed by supervisor.
QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS
- Bachelor's or undergraduate degree or equivalent work experience in the legal field;
- Fully bilingual in Spanish and English (read, write and speak);
- Experience in non-profit immigration practice or legal services, preferred;
- Experience working with children, preferably at-risk youth, immigrants or refugee children, and/or working with vulnerable populations, survivors of abuse, human trafficking, or other trauma, preferred;
- Demonstrated commitment to advocating on behalf of immigrant rights and/or children’s rights;
- Excellent organizational, time management skills, and attention to detail;
- Demonstrated ability to work independently, solve problems and exercise sound judgement;
- Knowledge and experience with MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, Access) and Adobe Acobat;
- Ability and willingness to travel frequently in and around the service area to attend hearings and interviews and engage with clients and community partner;
- Must be willing to submit to an extensive background check, including FBI, statewide repository, and sex offender registry checks.
Salary and Benefits:
Salary range $23-25/hr depending on experience.
How to apply:
Send resume, cover letter, and list of three references to admin@irlawcenter.org by December 31, 2024. No phone calls please.