Immigration Paralegal

Make the Road•New York, NY

4h•$61,808 - $66,113•Hybrid

About The Position

Make the Road New York (MRNY) builds the power of immigrant and working-class communities to achieve dignity and justice through organizing, policy innovation, transformative education, and survival services. MRNY operates community centers in Bushwick, Brooklyn; Jackson Heights, Queens; Port Richmond, Staten Island; Brentwood, Long Island and White Plains, Westchester County. With a membership of 28,000, MRNY tackles the critical issues facing our communities, including workplace justice, tenants’ rights, immigrant rights and civil rights, TGNCIQ justice, public education, health care access, and immigration reform. (TGNCIQ = transgender, gender non-conforming, intersex and queer). MRNY is a newly unionized workplace. MRNY is a multi-service organization. Our member-led organizing committees -- which work on the issues named above -- implement strategies to combat shared problems, and develop leadership and the capacity for civic participation. We also provide an array of high-quality bilingual services: We offer English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), citizenship preparation, and in-school and after-school youth programs. We have a robust legal program that offers direct representation across a spectrum of practice areas, including employment law, immigration law, housing and benefits, and TGNCIQ civil rights; we also take on impact litigation as a strategy for achieving broad change. Our health program offers facilitated enrollment into health insurance programs and SNAP benefits, a community health worker home visit program, nutrition education and emergency food pantries, health care navigation, and more. The Department of Legal and Support Services at MRNY works to strengthen MRNY’s organizing work by (1) helping to envision and implement leverage strategies (including strategic litigation) that help win our organizing campaigns; (2) providing technical legal support for policy work; and (3) providing legal and support services to low-income immigrants. The Department currently employs approximately 45 attorneys, advocates and case managers. Our legal team is integrated into all aspects of the organization’s work. Current Opening: We are hiring an Immigration Paralegal to join our dynamic immigration team to provide legal representation and support to community members. As a member of our immigration practice, the Immigration Paralegal will assist on a broad range of cases—including removal defense and other affirmative matters (such as, but not limited to, complex U/T visas and Special Immigrant Juvenile Status cases). MRNY staff are hybrid and required to be in-person at least 3 days per week in the office. The position is based in our Queens office. This position is included in a Union-represented collective bargaining unit, and specific employment terms and conditions are subject to collective bargaining.

Requirements

Eligible to work in the U.S
Bachelor’s degree
At least two-years of experience working in immigration legal services and willingness to seek DOJ accreditation
Excellent written and oral communication skills
Interpersonal and organizational skills of the highest caliber
Experience working with MRNY’s membership and client base–immigrants, survivors of domestic violence, LGBTQ identifying individuals, and youth
Ability to work in a fast-paced, high intensity environment
Willingness to travel between borough offices
Availability for occasional evening and weekend work
Bilingual English/Spanish is mandatory
Have experience working in a multi-cultural and multi-ethnic work environment

Nice To Haves

Team Player
Empathetic Outlook
Attention to Detail
Problem Solving Ability
Analytical Thinking
Ability to work independently
Interpersonal Skills
Organizational Skills
High level of accountability and initiative; needs to be a self-starter and eager to do team work to support the organization as a whole

Responsibilities

Conducting intakes
Preparing immigration applications, affidavits, and other supporting documents under attorney supervision
Managing client and agency correspondence
Making appropriate referrals
Organizing and maintaining physical and electronic case files (data management in Salesforce)
Conducting Know Your Rights workshops internally with MRNY members and externally at partner organizations and community events
Filing documents electronically or in person in immigration and family courts
Oral advocacy in immigration court proceedings and USCIS interviews
Participating in MRNY staff meetings including Justice League and All Team Meetings
Providing additional attorney support as needed (including carrying own docket of cases as an accredited representative)
Attending ongoing trainings to develop further immigration substantive expertise to become or maintain DOJ Accreditation as well as to provide high-quality legal services to clients