Paralegal

Job Description

Job Description

JOB DESCRIPTION 

Position: Immigrants’ Rights Paralegal or Legal Advocate

Reports to: Immigrants’ Rights Supervising or Managing Attorney 

Bargaining Unit: Yes 

FLSA: Non Exempt 

Type: Full time 

Position Summary 

Centro Legal de la Raza’s Immigrants’ Rights Practice specializes in direct representation of noncitizens before the federal immigration agencies and federal and state courts. We provide deportation defense and affirmative immigration legal services to some of our most marginalized community members, including individuals facing the risk of detention or deportation, families living in poverty, unaccompanied minors, survivors of violent crimes, and survivors of domestic and sexual violence. In addition to full-scope direct legal representation, we provide know-your-rights education and limited-scope legal services through clinics and workshops. We specialize in removal defense with a heavy emphasis on asylum, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS), habeas petitions and release advocacy, and U visas for survivors of violent crimes. We are seeking a legal advocate or paralegal to support and enhance our provision of legal services and education as we continue to advocate zealously in the face of the federal government’s attacks on immigrant communities. This position is open immediately.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Assist immigration practitioners in all aspects of immigration legal representation, including preparing legal documents for practitioners’ review, handling administrative tasks on immigration legal cases; and maintaining accurate and complete client records, both in case management database and physical and electronic client files;

• Work directly with clients and community members to: conduct initial legal intakes, complete necessary paperwork and document collection, develop declarations and other evidence in support of their cases, maintain communication regarding case status, and respond to client communications; 

• Participate in and coordinate immigration legal clinics/workshops, including group-based legal clinics in collaboration with community partners, as well as legal orientations and know-your-rights presentations;

• Engage in volunteer coordination and outreach; 

• Provide Spanish-English or Mam-English interpretation and translation as needed; and

• Perform other special projects and other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications 

The applicant must profoundly share Centro Legal’s mission and vision of racial, economic and social

justice. Qualifications include: 

• A Bachelor’s degree, or associate’s degree combined with relevant experience;

• Fluency in English; fluency in Spanish or Mayan Mam

• Highly competent writing skills in English; if applicant is bilingual in Spanish, this position also requires competent writing skills in Spanish;

• Excellent word-processing and computer skills, including knowledge of Microsoft Word and Excel as well as G-suite;

• Must be well organized, efficient, highly motivated, able to handle multiple tasks at once, work well under pressure, and take initiative;

• Strong written, verbal and interpersonal skills and high attention to detail; 

• Demonstrated commitment to immigrant justice and to serving low-income immigrant communities; 

• Ability to work independently as well as within a team; 

• Willingness to participate in training and outreach activities across Alameda and Contra Costa counties; and

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with immigrant communities in an immigration legal setting, including experience working with asylum seekers, unaccompanied minors, and/or Indigenous language-speaking immigrants; 

• Experience working with individuals in crisis or who are recent trauma survivors; and 

• Experience using Salesforce-based or other client case management system.

Compensation

The salary range for this position is $31.39-$34.56 per hour, commensurate with experience.

Benefits and Perks 

We offer a competitive and comprehensive benefits package to include: medical, dental, vision, long term disability and life insurance. 

• Centro Legal provides 100% employer-paid Kaiser medical coverage for employees and 50% coverage for dependents, spouses, and partners. Alternative medical plans are also available at an additional premium cost.

• Additional benefits include Health Care FSA, Dependent Care FSA, commuter benefits, pet insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program.

• PTO: Vacation accrual is based on length of service: 0–2 years: 10 days per year; 2–4 years: 12 days per year; over 4 years: 14 days per year. Employees also receive 2 wellness days per calendar year and 12 sick days per year.

  • Note: Vacation amounts are based on Centro Legal’s four-day, 32-hour workweek. For example, 10 vacation days is equivalent to 2 weeks and 2 days off.

• Paid Holidays & Winter Closure: