Paralegal, Detention Project, NIJC

National Immigrant Justice Center•Chicago, IL

About The Position

The Detention Project Paralegal is a member of the National Immigrant Justice Center’s Detention Project. The role primarily conducts detention intake and provides case support, including research, case review, document preparation, and other tasks supporting the project’s operations and the work of staff and pro bono attorneys. The paralegal is encouraged to seek Department of Justice accreditation if appropriate. The position requires regular communication with clients in Spanish and proficiency in spoken and written Spanish. Applicants should submit a resume and a brief cover letter describing their interest, connection to NIJC’s mission, and relevant experience.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree.
Demonstrated experience working with immigrants, refugees, and/or asylum seekers.
Proficiency in spoken and written Spanish.
Strong legal research and writing skills.
Experience analyzing the impact of laws on vulnerable populations and advocating for improved laws and policies.
Ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously, work independently, and collaborate effectively in a fast-paced environment.
Ability to solve practical problems and handle situations with limited standardization.
Ability to interpret instructions in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.
Excellent writing, editing, organizational, and computer skills.
Ability to manage multiple tasks efficiently and perform well under strict deadlines.

Nice To Haves

At least one year of experience working with immigrants, refugees, and/or asylum seekers is preferred.
Seeking Department of Justice accreditation, if appropriate, is encouraged.

Responsibilities

Conduct intake interviews with detained non-citizens and their family members.
Present intake interviews for legal assessment.
In coordination with the assigned attorney, conduct legal and country-conditions research to assess claims and eligibility for immigration relief.
Staff the weekly phone intake hotline and monitor and respond to intake-line voicemails outside intake hours as needed.
Manage and respond to mail and faxes from individuals in ICE custody, as well as mail from non-citizens in state custody.
Respond to referrals from community and legal organizations seeking to refer detained cases.
Prepare case acceptance packets and case-closing letters for attorneys.
Organize and scan closed case files.
Prepare immigration cases for filing with attorneys.
Prepare affidavits and indexes and gather supporting documents.
Conduct country research and draft country-conditions sections of filings.
Assist attorneys in preparing pre-hearing statements.
Participate in trainings and review legal materials to remain current on immigration law and policies.
Perform other duties as assigned.