Bilingual Immigration Paralegal, Pro Se Program

Jacob A Riis Neighborhood Settlement • Long Island City, NY

11d • Onsite

About The Position

Jacob A. Riis Neighborhood Settlement (Riis Settlement), a community-based nonprofit serving youth, adults, older adults, immigrants, and families in Western Queens, is seeking a full-time bilingual English/Spanish Immigration Paralegal for its nonprofit legal services program in Queens. The organization is dedicated to civic engagement and organizing to build and strengthen underserved communities and act as a catalyst for change.

Under the supervision of the Immigration Attorney, the Paralegal provides high-quality legal assistance to immigrant New Yorkers through free legal screenings and immigration application assistance, with a focus on pro se services for newly arrived immigrants seeking asylum and other relief. The position is part of a legal team that includes two attorneys, one DOJ-accredited legal navigator, and three paralegals. Case types may change according to program capacity and community needs.

Requirements

• Bilingual English/Spanish proficiency is required.
• Bachelor’s degree.
• Excellent organizational and communication skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines.
• Ability to maintain complete and accurate data with attention to detail.
• Personal integrity when handling ethically complex and confidential situations.
• Ability to work as a strong team member in a collaborative nonprofit environment.
• Commitment to providing service sensitively to people from diverse cultures and backgrounds.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and Google Suite.

Nice To Haves

• Additional language skills are preferred.
• Two years of previous experience in immigration legal services and knowledge of immigration law and procedures are strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Schedule intake appointments with prospective clients and manage the waiting list for people seeking legal assistance.
• Under attorney supervision, conduct comprehensive legal screenings to assess eligibility for immigration benefits or relief and provide information about immigration processes.
• Under attorney supervision, prepare pro se immigration applications and filings, including asylum applications and declarations, employment authorization applications, requests to restart the asylum clock, change-of-address notifications to USCIS, ICE, and EOIR, change-of-venue requests, FOIA requests, and court filings.
• Help clients complete applications and gather supporting documents for applications and immigration court submissions, including photocopying, scanning, and mailing documents.
• Notify clients by phone, email, video conference, or mail about case-related matters and conduct follow-up as needed.
• Provide English/Spanish translation and interpretation, including translating legal documents, drafting correspondence, and interpreting for client meetings.
• Maintain current client data in the LawLogix immigration case management system and internal databases.
• Monitor and evaluate client outcomes in accordance with program deliverables.
• Submit data and narrative reports to funders by required deadlines.
• Coordinate internal referrals with legal, case management, and other Immigrant Services team members.
• Refer clients to other organizations that can provide direct representation for cases the program cannot accept, when such referrals are available.
• Stay informed about immigration law and policy changes by attending regular legal trainings.
• Conduct outreach for legal services by phone, email, and at in-person events.
• Participate in team, organizational, and funder meetings.
• Perform other related duties as assigned by the Immigration Attorney or Director of Immigrant Services.

Benefits

• Paid time off package including 13 holidays, 12 sick days, 10 vacation days, and 6 personal days.
• Retirement plan with a 50% employer match up to 6% of total salary.
• Student loan assistance and education assistance.
• Health, dental, vision, LTD, AD&D, and life insurance.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) services.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level