Temporary Immigration Paralegal, MD

Ayuda•Silver Spring, MD

17h•Hybrid

About The Position

Support attorneys in managing a diverse caseload by organizing client documentation, preparing immigration filings, drafting correspondence, and maintaining consistent communication to keep cases moving efficiently. Ayuda is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to providing direct legal, social and language access services, education, and outreach to low-income immigrants in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Since 1973, Ayuda has provided critical services on a wide range of issues, in the process acquiring nationally recognized expertise in several fields including immigration law, language access, domestic violence and human trafficking. Ayuda has office locations in Washington, DC, Silver Spring, MD and Fairfax, VA.

Requirements

Must be legally able to work in the United States and maintain proper work authorization throughout employment.
Must be able to meet the physical requirements of the position presented in a general office environment.
Must pass (or have on file) an FBI background check and a Child Protective Services (CPS) check for each state you have lived in for the past 5 years.
Bilingual in English and Spanish with strong written and oral communication skills in both languages required.
Must be willing to work from Ayuda’s MD office in person 2-3 days/week

Nice To Haves

Experience working with immigrants strongly preferred.
Experience working with children strongly preferred.
Proficient with Legal Server and Online Funder Platforms (UCORD, UCLS, etc).
Ability to work independently and as part of a diverse, multidisciplinary team.
Availability to begin work as soon as possible (contingent on funder approval) preferred.
Demonstrated commitment to social, racial and economic justice.
Detail-oriented and highly organized; able to manage multiple matters simultaneously and shift priorities as needed
Strong time management skills with ability to meet deadlines
Excellent written and verbal communication skills; able to communicate effectively with diverse internal and external audiences and exercise good judgment
Ability to work effectively and compassionately with survivors of trauma and diverse populations
Professionalism, discretion, and ability to maintain confidentiality
Strong problem-solving and analytical skills, with sound ethics and independent judgment
Ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a diverse, multidisciplinary team in a fast-paced environment
Proficiency with Microsoft Office

Responsibilities

Screen potential clients for eligibility for Ayuda’s services, under the supervision of attorneys, for both children’s legal services and immigration programs, including providing emergency assessments for survivors of trauma and, where appropriate, referrals;
Assist attorneys with preparing and drafting documents, including correspondence, immigration forms, client declarations, and court filings;
File and serve documents as required in court cases;
Maintain client information and documents using internal database;
Work with organizational partners to arrange dates and locations for educational outreach presentations concerning legal services provided by Ayuda;
Coordinate outreach and referrals to and from organizational partners to ensure potential clients are aware of and able to access Ayuda’s services;
Assist in recruiting volunteers & interns to assist Ayuda in providing legal services;
Provide front-desk coverage as needed when Ayuda’s intake specialist is out of the office;
Assist with grant reports as assigned;
Other duties as assigned

Benefits

Platinum-level medical insurance plan 100% employer-paid
Dental and vision insurance 100% employer paid
Long-term disability insurance 100% employer paid
Life and AD&D insurance 100% employer paid
Pre-tax 401(k) with Employer match on first 3% of salary
Vacation Days: 21 days per year until year 3, 27 per year in years 3-7 and 33 days per year after 7 years employment. Employees begin with 3 days of vacation leave.
New employees begin with 5 days of Health & Wellness (sick) leave and accrue an additional 5 hours per pay period plus emergency medical leave up to 12 weeks per year
12 weeks paid parental leave
24 days paid holidays and staff wellness days, including Winter Break the last week of the year
Job-related professional development fees (including annual state bar dues and professional memberships)
Flexible work schedules
Employees with federal student loan debt may be eligible to apply for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the Department of Education.