Paralegal / Intake Specialist

About NYLAG:
Founded in 1990, NYLAG is a leading civil legal services organization combatting economic, racial, and social injustice by advocating for people experiencing poverty or in crisis. Our services include comprehensive, free civil legal services, financial empowerment, impact litigation, policy advocacy, and community partnerships. NYLAG exists because wealth should not determine who has access to justice. We aim to disrupt systemic racism by serving individuals and families whose legal and financial crises are often rooted in racial inequality. NYLAG goes to where the need is, providing services in more than 150 community sites (e.g. courts, hospitals, libraries) and on our Mobile Legal Help Center. During COVID-19, most of our services were virtual to keep our community safe. NYLAG’s staff of over 400 impacted the lives of nearly 129,000 people last year.

Job description:
NYLAG seeks a highly motivated, full‐time, permanent paralegal / intake specialist to serve as the point person for all referrals, both external and internal, coming into the Immigrant Protection Unit (IPU). Under the supervision of a Supervising Attorney and/or a Supervising Paralegal, the intake specialist will field referrals from other units and partners; conduct comprehensive intakes for clients; contact individuals who are eligible for assistance; make appointments; gather documents; support preparation of affirmative applications for immigration status and relief; handle cases and clients; and track and collect data. Applicants must be prepared to learn about IPU’s grants and eligible provision of services, handle a high volume of correspondence, and interact with clients and partners in a trauma-informed and professional manner.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Assist with clearing and returning calls and emails received through the IPU hotline and intake email;
• Conduct pre-screening of clients for basic eligibility requirements, track contacts made, and collect documents;
• Screen clients for eligibility for immigration relief and complete necessary data entry for referrals;
• Be a primary case handler: Assist clients to obtain the documents necessary to apply for relief, fill out appropriate forms to be submitted to USCIS and other agencies, and follow up with clients via phone, mail and email;
• Assist in preparation for pro bono, community and internal clinics, including screening, making appointments and confirming attendance
• Attend pro bono, internal and community clinics under the supervision of an attorney and/or supervising paralegal and conduct necessary follow-up
• Work towards partial DOJ -accreditation in order to represent clients before USCIS
• Manage data entry in internal and external data management systems and assist with generating reports;
• Assist unit attorneys and case handlers with document translation and verbal interpretation at immigration interviews and evaluations;
• Provide internal referrals for financial counseling and other wraparound services, and external referrals to partner organizations;
• Maintain regular contact with partner organizations;
• Any other job duties as required.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree required
• Fluency in Spanish is required
• 1-3 years of immigration experience strongly preferred, but not required
• Ability to work collaboratively, communicate effectively, manage multiple tasks and creatively problem solve
• Experience working with immigrant communities of color, including LGBTQIA+, youth, survivors of violence, and other marginalized communities
• Excellent written, oral and analytical skills
• Excellent time and project management skills
• Commitment to social justice and anti-racism

NYLAG’s Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
NYLAG is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. People of color, women, people with disabilities, immigrants, veterans, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people, and those with lived experiences in the communities we serve are strongly encouraged to apply.

Employment type:
☒ Full-time

Professional Level:
☒ Entry Level

Salary Range: NYLAG is a unionized workplace, and salaries are set pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement. The current salary range for this position is between $67,793 - $72,442.


Benefits: Medical, dental, vision, 401k, life insurance, long term disability, commuter benefits, flexible spending accounts (FSA) for Medical and Dependent care.

Application Instructions: Please save resume and cover letter on one pdf.

Covid Vaccination Policy: Please note, to safeguard the health and well-being of our employees and clients, NYLAG requires all employees to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19, unless a medical or religious exemption is approved.

NYLAG is committed to a hybrid work policy for staff whose work does not require their full-time presence in the office. NYLAG’s current policy is that most staff are required to work in NYLAG’s offices or do other in-person work at least two days each week. This policy is subject to change.