Legal Assistant

Haitian Bridge Alliance•San Diego, CA

43d•Onsite

About The Position

Haitian Bridge Alliance, Inc. (HBA) also known as “The BRIDGE” is a 501(c)(3) grassroots nonprofit community organization that advocates for fair and humane immigration policies and provides migrants and immigrants with humanitarian, legal, and social services, with a particular focus on Black migrants, the Haitian community, women and girls, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and survivors of torture and other human rights abuses. HBA works to elevate the issues unique to Black migrants and build solidarity and collective movement toward policy change. HBA is looking for a legal assistant to work in person at our office in San Diego. The legal assistant will coordinate correspondence with asylum seekers and other immigrants and provide them with preliminary legal services, either in individual or group settings.

Requirements

Haitian Kreyol , and/or Sp anis h , and/o r French fluency is ;
Associate’s or Bachelor’s Degree or Paralegal certificate is preferred;
DOJ Accredited Representative is preferred, but not r equire d ;
2 -year s of direct experience providing legal assistant services immigration legal experience is preferred;
Working knowledge of immigration law, policies, and procedures;
Strong oral and written communication skills, including in both legal advocacy and client communications;
Able to provide trauma s ensitive information/referrals to clients with legal and humanitarian needs to partner service providers;
Applicants should be self-directed and self-reliant, highly organized, flexible, and able to juggle multiple projects at once;
Able to self-start on projects and to be proactive in anticipating the needs of the project;
Able to work in a fast-paced and often stressful environment;

Responsibilities

Regularly communicate with HBA staff and volunteers, including the attorney s
Monitor and provide notice to attorneys of legal correspondence, including court notices, agency communications, and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) responses.
Maintain accurate client files and case records in Docket wise and other case management systems.
Calendar hearings, filing deadlines, appointments, and other important case events.
Translate documents and client communications between French/Kreyol/Spanish and English.
Process incoming and outgoing legal correspondence, including scanning, mailing, and maintaining physical client files.
Generate legal team reports and provide administrative support for legal outreach and Know Your Rights presentations.
Collaborate with attorneys and other departments to ensure efficient case management and legal operations.
Participate in organizing and presenting know-your-rights trainings in the United States and Mexico; Help coordinate projects and events that advocate for fair and humane immigration policies.
Under the supervision of the HBA attorneys: Prepare, organize, and file legal documents, including motions, applications, evidence packets, and court filings.
Submit filings through the EOIR electronic filing system and assist with USCIS applications and related immigration forms.
Conduct country conditions and other legal research in support of immigration cases.
Assist in the preparation of case materials, hearing binders, and attorney hearing notes for court proceedings.
Communicate with courts, government agencies, clients, and external partners regarding case status and scheduling.
Assist clients with immigration-related appointments, applications, and annual asylum fee payments.