Bilingual (Spanish/English) Immigration Paralegal

Erie County Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Project•City of Batavia, NY

3d•$52,150 - $55,753•Hybrid

About The Position

The Erie County Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Project (VLP) is seeking a full-time Bilingual (Spanish-English) immigration paralegal for its law office in Batavia, NY. This office handles work under the Office of New Americans (ONA) State contract at the Buffalo Federal Detention Facility in Batavia. Paralegals work with VLP attorneys, social workers, and other paralegals to represent detained clients. This is a public defender model program where they represent all detained people facing deportation who are not otherwise represented. The position will work out of the Batavia, NY office with the ability to work a hybrid remote/in-office schedule after the successful completion of a 3-month introductory period. The office culture values work/life balance with reasonable working hours and discourages weekend work. The role offers generous PTO and benefits.

Requirements

Fluency in Spanish and English.
Ability to collect and manage data.
Ability to work independently, as well as collaboratively, with VLP staff and a variety of other partners, including volunteer attorneys, student interns, and court staff.
Excellent verbal and written skills in Spanish and English.
Ability to multitask, be proactive and flexible in an office with high volume that moves at a quick pace.
Must be organized and capable of tracking work carefully for the purpose of grant and contract reporting requirements.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, Outlook) is required as well as an understanding of case management systems such as LegalServer.
Knowledge of basic office technology such as mailing, faxing, scanning, and copying.
Sincere ability and desire to work with low-income immigrants and their families.
Positive attitude and a willingness to learn immigration law and procedure.
Local travel to and from the Buffalo Federal Detention Facility is required as well as occasional trips to the Buffalo office.
Valid driver's license and access to a reliable vehicle are required.

Nice To Haves

Paralegal degree or certificate
Prior immigration law experience and/or prior experience as a paralegal

Responsibilities

Perform client intakes and filings, as directed, at the Buffalo Federal Detention Facility
Assist attorneys with country conditions research and translations as well as preparing motions, compiling hearing evidence, gathering bond evidence, etc.
Maintain client files.
General office support work - data entry, filing, photocopying, phones, mail, etc.
On the job training.

Benefits

Employer paid benefits including 90% paid health insurance premiums
Health Reimbursement Arrangement account
Long-term disability insurance
Life/AD&D insurance
Pension contributions
Employee Assistance Program
Dental insurance (available through pre-tax employee contributions)
Vision insurance (available through pre-tax employee contributions)
FSA (available through pre-tax employee contributions)
Dependent Care FSA (available through pre-tax employee contributions)
Transportation account (available through pre-tax employee contributions)
403b plan (available through pre-tax employee contributions)
Eligibility for public service loan forgiveness
18 paid holidays including the time between December 24 and January 1
11 vacation days and 2 personal days in year 1
15 vacation days and 4 personal days in year 2 (vacation caps at 23 days starting in year 6)
10 sick days each year
2 additional flexible days off in the summer (prorated in year 1)
Flexible schedules, 35 hours per week
Ability to work remotely up to 2 days per week (after the successful completion of the 3-month introductory period)
Discourages weekend work, encourages utilizing PTO