Senior Paralegal, Immigration Impact Lab

About the position A senior paralegal in the Lab focuses on (i) working with detained people and their attorneys throughout the course of federal court litigation and immigration court removal proceedings and bond hearing, including assisting with client communications, case preparation, filing mechanics, case maintenance, and USCIS filings, and (iii) supporting the program’s provision of services as a whole, including through intakes and administrative tasks such as database maintenance, pro bono attorney coordination, and reporting to funders.

Responsibilities

• Client Services: Supports attorneys representing detained and released clients before federal district courts and immigration courts in Maryland, Virginia, and remote locations (virtually), USCIS, and ICE. This includes representation in the following types of cases: habeas petitions, bond motions, class actions, and post-release client needs such as employment authorization applications and change of address forms. Support includes assistance in client intake and screening; scheduling calls with clients in detention; interviewing potential plaintiffs and declarants; developing client and witness declarations; drafting and preparing evidentiary and other court filings; submitting federal court filings on ECF; managing service of process; interpreting for attorney client communications; maintaining client files and court deadline tracking; updating clients on case developments; gathering evidence in support of and preparing for bond hearings; and input in case strategy.
• Completes intakes and provides follow up after intakes to evaluate eligibility for habeas petitions and relief from removal, including legal research, securing criminal records, and obtaining additional information from family and other community members.
• Conducts client intakes, meetings, and communications in jurisdictions where people are detained including Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Georgia, and other regions as needed .
• Assists with the staffing of the detention hotline and oversight of volunteers for jail visits, the jail hotline, or translation/interpretation volunteer work, as needed.
• Carries out administrative tasks, including database maintenance and reporting to funders.
• Actively engages in Lab’s training and advocacy efforts, as needed.
• Interfaces with social services staff, where needed, in preparation and execution of post release and social services plans.
• Organizational Services: Ensures the inputting and accuracy of data and case information into shared databases in a timely fashion.
• Assists other program staff in completion of their workload during high-work/low-bandwidth periods.
• Takes part in stakeholder relationship activities, including in-person and remote meetings with community groups, governmental bodies and representatives, and other legal service providers.
• Engages with internal Amica Center committees and working groups to lend a voice to the growth and strategy of the organization.

Requirements

• At least two years of experience working as a paralegal or similar role involving experience with trauma-informed client support, immigration law, and detention
• Very high level of organization, timeliness with deadlines, and attention to detail
• Written and oral Spanish proficiency
• Experience managing case systems and dockets
• Willingness to become a DOJ Accredited Representative, based on program needs
• Dedication to immigrants’ rights
• Demonstrated ability to adapt to changing priorities, strategies, and circumstances
• It is expected that the candidate will need to travel for work-related business. As a result, the candidate must be willing to travel occasionally. However, qualified individuals with disabilities may be accommodated in a reasonable manner under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Nice-to-haves

• Immigration law experience
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word legal formatting (i.e. using table of contents and table of authorities functions for legal briefs) and Legal Bluebook cite-checking
• Experience with routine USCIS applications (i.e. for work authorization)

Benefits

• Free gym access located in Washington, D.C or Baltimore, MD (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, for which we can provide additional information)
• Life Insurance valued at $50,000, as well as 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) account (the equivalent of a 401(k) account for non-profits) which the organization has the option, for all employees on an annual basis, to match at a certain percentage after one year of continuous employment
• Paid time off includes:
• 23 personal days per calendar year
• Up to 20 days of sick time per calendar year
• 7 hours of volunteer time off
• Federal holidays
• Paid winter break closure
• 12 weeks of parental leave

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