Paralegal Client Advocate, Juvenile Rights Trial Office
About The Position
The Juvenile Rights Practice is seeking an experienced Paralegal Client Advocate (PCA) to address immigration needs for Juvenile Rights clients. The PCA is part of an interdisciplinary team of lawyers, social workers, and support staff representing children ages 0 to 21 who are before NYC family courts on child protective, PINS (Persons-In-Need-of-Supervision), juvenile delinquency, and termination of parental rights petitions. The PCA handles citywide immigration matters with an interdisciplinary team and is based across multiple Juvenile Rights Practice locations, including the Queens Trial Office and the downtown office at 49 Thomas Street. A minimum two-year commitment is required so the PCA can become a Board of Immigration Appeals Partial Accredited Representative with privileges to practice before U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Requirements
- Eligible candidates must have at least one of the following: a bachelor’s degree, which is strongly preferred, or a paralegal certificate from an ABA-accredited paralegal program.
- Experience in and/or commitment to advocacy on behalf of low-income people, immigrants, and children.
- Demonstrated skills in advocacy and interviewing.
- Experience assisting people in crisis.
- A minimum two-year commitment is required.
Nice To Haves
- Knowledge of immigration law is strongly desired.
- Experience preparing immigration applications is strongly desired.
- Ability to manage a reasonable volume of cases and solve problems creatively.
- Ability to work efficiently and under time constraints to meet deadlines.
- Ability to work in and value a collaborative team model.
- Excellent interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills.
- Excellent research, writing, and computer skills.
- Proficiency in other languages, particularly Spanish, is strongly desired.
- A bachelor’s degree is strongly preferred.
Responsibilities
- Support preparation of application packets, conduct factual and legal research, and perform administrative tasks, including compiling country-condition information for asylum applications and obtaining client records from agencies.
- Assist with litigation tasks, including drafting affidavits and compiling motions.
- Develop facts by meeting with clients, contacting family members abroad, and gathering information and documentation from clients and appropriate agencies.
- Interview, assess, and provide direct assistance to clients under attorney supervision.
- Prepare immigration relief applications for immigrant clients, including forms I-360, I-765, I-912, I-485, I-918, and I-589.
- Complete and manage a reasonable volume of individual immigration applications.
- Respond to emergent immigration policies affecting clients.
- Maintain and update the case management database.
- Liaise with court officials and other stakeholders to ensure clients’ immigration needs are met.
- Assist with motion practice, requiring advanced writing skills and legal understanding.
- Monitor compliance with court orders and support clients through the immigration process.
- Support organizational initiatives to create a uniform practice across all boroughs.
- Collaborate and communicate in an interdisciplinary environment.
- Participate in training modules and contribute to the professional development of interdisciplinary teams.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Benefits
- Health insurance
- Paid vacation
- Disability insurance
- Life insurance
- Eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness and other State and Federal loan forgiveness programs
- New York residents may be eligible for New York State loan repayment assistance, depending on years of practice
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
