Paralegal, Immigration Legal Services

Jewish Family Service of San Diego • San Diego, CA

2d • Onsite

About The Position

Jewish Family Service of San Diego is seeking a compassionate, mission-driven Paralegal to support the Immigration Legal Rights Program (ILRP) within Immigration Legal Services. Under the supervision of the Lead Paralegal, this position directly supports ILRP staff and legal representation of clients in immigration cases, including matters before EOIR, DHS, federal circuit courts, and state courts. The role includes case support, client intake and communication, coordination with courts and agencies, preparation of draft immigration filings, file and data management, and administrative support for attorneys and DOJ Accredited Representatives.

The position is fully onsite, full-time (37.5 or more hours per week), and non-exempt. Some evening and weekend work is required, including potential client visits at detention facilities outside JFS business hours. Travel may be required for conferences, client meetings, court hearings, or community events. The pay range is $23–$26 per hour.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Paralegal certificate or equivalent experience.
• One to two years of work experience in a nonprofit setting.
• At least one year of experience with immigration law.
• Exceptional attention to detail and the ability to produce accurate work, identify discrepancies, and prevent errors in complex documents and processes.
• Strong oral and written communication skills in English, including interpersonal, communication, and active-listening skills.
• Ability to record accurate data.
• Strong relational skills and a professional attitude.
• Strong case management, legal research, and legal writing skills.
• Ability and willingness to zealously defend immigrants’ rights.
• Ability to take initiative and work under pressure.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively with a team.
• Ability to work flexible hours, including some evenings and weekends.
• Ability to prioritize, multitask, and stay organized in a fast-paced, fluid environment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, and Outlook.
• Program and project management experience and supervisory skills.
• Willingness to attend immigration law trainings, including ethics trainings.
• Passion for social justice for immigrants and for JFS’s mission and work.
• Commitment to culturally competent, trauma-informed services for noncitizens and newcomers in San Diego County, Imperial County, and the San Diego border region.
• Dedication to serving immigrant communities, with a sincere commitment to working on behalf of low-income immigrants.

Nice To Haves

• Multilingual ability in English and Arabic, Spanish, Farsi, Dari, Haitian Creole, French, Russian, and/or Portuguese.
• Experience working with immigrant populations and in multicultural settings.
• Experience working with detained immigrants or other incarcerated populations.
• Experience working with marginalized populations and survivors of trauma.
• Paralegal certificate or equivalent experience.

Responsibilities

• Support case work requests from ILRP attorneys and DOJ Accredited Representatives.
• Communicate with Immigration Court and DHS agency representatives to advocate for clients and schedule meetings.
• Manage requests for ILRP services and coordinate legal screenings or dismissals when applicants are ineligible because of income or funding restrictions.
• Support the Intake and Referral Coordinator with the general immigration phone line, email, and postal-mail requests for services.
• Provide and coordinate intakes for potential ILRP clients, including detained and non-detained individuals.
• Organize physical and electronic case files.
• Help clients prepare immigration filings, including draft applications, motions, and declarations, for attorney review.
• Assist attorneys and DOJ Accredited Representatives with FOIA requests and affirmative applications for assigned cases.
• Maintain regular communication with clients about the status of their pending immigration cases.
• Interpret during meetings and translate documents when able to speak another language.
• Support legal team visits to clients at Imperial Regional Detention Facility and Otay Mesa Detention Center.
• Help the Lead Paralegal maintain the waiting list for potential clients detained at Otay Mesa Detention Center and coordinate weekly intakes with Otay Mesa staff.
• Enter data for ILRP cases.
• Provide administrative support to attorneys and DOJ Accredited Representatives, including mailings, scheduling, reimbursements, and assistance to other immigration programs as needed.
• Attend trainings on immigration law, ethics, and related legal or policy changes.

Benefits

• Comprehensive, low-cost healthcare coverage for employees.
• Generous employer 401(k) contributions.
• Employer-covered life insurance.
• Paid vacation time and sick leave.
• 15 paid holidays, including federal and Jewish holidays when they fall on a normally scheduled workday, and floating holidays.
• Two wellness days each year.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level