Paralegal Client Advocate

About the Role

The Juvenile Rights Practice is seeking an experienced Paralegal Client Advocate to work on immigration needs for Juvenile Rights clients. The Paralegal Client Advocate (PCA) is part of an interdisciplinary team of lawyers, social workers, and other supporting roles that will work on the legal representation of children, ages 0 to 21 years, 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 will handle citywide immigration matters with an interdisciplinary team. This position is based across multiple Juvenile Rights Practice locations. A minimum two-year commitment is required to enable the PCA to become a Board of Immigration Appeals Partial Accredited Representative with privileges to practice before the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

Key Responsibilities

• Provide support in compiling application packets, conducting factual and legal research, and performing other administrative tasks as assigned.
• Compile country conditions for asylum applications and obtain clients’ records from agencies.
• Assist with litigation tasks, such as drafting affidavits and compiling motions.
• Assist in fact development 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 on behalf of immigrant clients, including but not limited to forms: I-360, Classification as a Special Immigrant Juvenile; I-765, Applications for Employment Authorization; I-912, Fee Waiver; I-485, Application for Permanent Residence; I-918, U-Visa Application; I-589, Application for Asylum and Withholding of Removal, etc.
• Complete and manage a reasonable volume of individual immigration applications.
• Respond and address emergent immigration policies that affect clients.
• Maintain and update 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.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Bachelor’s degree (strongly preferred).
• 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.
• Knowledge of immigration law (strongly desired).
• Experience preparing immigration applications (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 language (strongly desired).

Qualifications

• Eligible candidates must have at least one of the following:
• A bachelor’s degree (strongly preferred).
• 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.

Preferred qualifications include knowledge of immigration law, experience preparing immigration applications, ability to manage caseloads, creative problem-solving, efficient work ethic under deadlines, collaborative teamwork, excellent communication, organization, research, writing, and computer skills, and proficiency in Spanish.

Salary and Benefits

• Salary Range: $64,307 - $98,477
• The Legal Aid Society offers a generous benefits package including health insurance, paid vacation, disability, and life insurance.
• Qualified employer for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF).
• Eligibility for State and Federal loan forgiveness programs.
• Potential assistance from New York state for loan repayments.

Work Authorization

• All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States for any employer without sponsorship for a work visa or permit.
• The Legal Aid Society is unable to sponsor employment visas or permits.
• For citizens of Canada and Mexico, LAS will provide a letter documenting employment status needed to obtain a TN visa.