Managing Paralegal- Know Your Rights, Detained Adult Program

Amica Center for Immigrant Rights•Washington, DC

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Capital Area Immigrants’ Rights (CAIR) Coalition is now Amica Center for Immigrant Rights (“Amica Center”). Amica Center is the only non-profit organization in the Washington, D.C. area exclusively focused on providing legal assistance to adult and child immigrants detained by the government. The Detained Adult Program (DAP) works with hundreds of adults detained by ICE each year, providing information, support, and legal representation. The program emphasizes trauma-sensitive, person-centered services and values the autonomy of individuals navigating the immigration system. DAP staff are experts in the complex and changing immigration system, working collaboratively through case workshops and committees. They have a history of overcoming challenges through project-focused cohorts to address issues and implement strategies.

Requirements

At least 2 years of strong experience or legal training in immigration law.
Possess broad knowledge and adequate experience in immigration law and procedure.
At least 1 year of supervision experience required; informal and non-staff supervision experience considered.
Oral and written Spanish professional proficiency required, fluency preferred.
The employee demonstrates a firm understanding of relief eligibility to allow for meaningful contribution to client intakes, intake review and follow-up, and to support junior staff in casework with limited supervision.
The employee demonstrates a mastery of the understanding of legal information versus advice and educates others on this distinction and is familiar with preparing court filings and can support junior staff on doing so with limited attorney input.
The employee satisfactorily handles all required client, jail, and managerial obligations with limited supervision.
The employee manages their workload to allow for proper prioritization and thoughtful use of time and resources.
The employee can effectively supervise a team of paralegals, assist them with managing workloads, completing referral and intake responsibilities, and advancing professional development.
The employee ensures that all administrative aspects of their position and that of their direct reports are carried out without managerial intervention, including timekeeping, file management, database requirements, etc.
Must possess a valid driver's license and be comfortable operating a vehicle upon hiring.
Must be fully vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19.

Nice To Haves

Experience working within the detained removal defense sector preferred.
Experience managing data systems and processes preferred.

Responsibilities

Conducts detention facility visits within the DMV (currently the Farmville Detention Center and Caroline Detention Facility in Virginia), for the provision of Know Your Rights presentations, intakes and group workshops.
Ensures smooth program operation by implementing, managing and providing training on systems that support direct representation and Know Your Rights work in close coordination with the Managing Attorney for the KYR team.
Ensures that KYR-related pipelines are up to date, including monitoring referrals and updating information on the organization’s Legal Server and other shared databases.
Provides leadership and structure to DAP paralegals, including overseeing systems for KYR jail visit preparation and breakdown as well as case assignments, ensuring pro se guides and materials are up to date, and holding regular and ad hoc paralegal meeting spaces.
Provides direct and matrix supervision to junior paralegals.
Supports in tracking and monitoring patterns or trends in the field.
Serves as one of DAP’s Legal Server Administrators.
Provides leadership support on DAP’s recurring paralegal fellowships and/or DOJ Accreditation Program including recruitment and onboarding of KYR paralegal fellows.
Demonstrates advanced understanding of basic relief eligibility and provides insightful input during case strategy meetings, case workshopping, intake review, facility team meetings, supervision check ins, pro se case workshopping and other critical junctures.
Conducts additional case research and preparation of cases for pro bono placement or other follow up after intake review.
Supports junior staff in their professional development and provision of KYR and direct representation services.
Conducts training and supervises other staff on administrative tasks, including database maintenance and reporting to funders.
Work with DAP leadership, grants administrator, program associate(s), and others as necessary on data reporting to funders.
Troubleshoots data supervision system issues.
Assists program leadership in planning and implementation of program goals.
Assists other program staff in high-work/low-bandwidth periods.
Participates in stakeholder relationship activities, including in-person and telephonic meetings with community groups, governmental bodies and representatives, and other legal service providers, as needed.
Attend and participate in biweekly organization-wide leadership group meetings.

Benefits

Free gym access located in Washington, D.C (dependent on employee’s primary office)
Flexible working hours after successful completion of trainings and with approval of supervisor
Pre-tax commuter benefits for those living in the DMV
Subsidized health, dental insurance, and vision insurance (Amica Center pays a very high rate of the insurance package)
Life Insurance valued at $50,000
Long- and short-term disability
The option to set up a Flexible Spending Account
High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) with a one-time employer contribution of $350 to the Health Savings Account (HSA)
The option to set up a 403(b) savings account (the equivalent of a 401(k) account for non-profit organizations)
23 Personal Days per calendar year
Up to 20 days of Sick Time per calendar year
7 hours of Volunteer Time Off per calendar year
Federal holidays
Paid winter break closure
12 weeks of parental leave