The Family Immigration Services (FIS) program is seeking a fully bilingual (English/Spanish) legal assistant to manage our busy front desk and provide legal support to the director and DOJ-accredited immigration counselors (legal representatives).

Since 2009, Family Immigration Services has provided high-quality, low-cost immigration legal services to immigrants and refugees in our community. Our staff is passionate, mission-driven, and team-oriented.

The Family Immigration Services legal assistant is critical to the success of our program and is a vital member of our team. We offer a supportive and collaborative work environment, on-the-job training, and the opportunity to do work that matters in service to the immigrant community.

Success in this position means providing exceptional services to each client and supporting the ability of the immigration counselors and director to provide exceptional legal representation to each client. Success also means continually learning about immigration law, approaching clients in a compassionate and culturally sensitive manner, and maintaining organized and accurate client and program records.

Essential Duties

• Provide excellent and timely customer service. Provide a timely response to inquiries from walk-ins, clients and potential clients, courts, agencies, and members of the public. Maintain a log of contacts and responses.
• Applying basic concepts in immigration law (with training), screen potential clients to determine who may benefit from a consultation with one of the legal representatives. Where appropriate, schedule and assist the legal representative with preparation for the consultation.
• Where FIS cannot serve a potential client or contact's needs, provide targeted referral information.
• Schedule appointments for legal representatives according to parameters set forth by the legal representative.
• Collect fees (for client services and/or fees to be paid on clients' behalf to agencies or courts). Work with the finance department to manage incoming cash and non-cash payments. Maintain accurate records and receipts in accordance with standard operating procedures.
• Process incoming mail and other documents according to standard operating procedures. Update and maintain calendar and docketing information.
• With direction from the assigned legal representative, gather and organize evidence and client documents, and communicate with courts, agencies, witnesses, and clients.
• Provide updates to clients regarding case status, new appointments and interviews, and other developments under the direction of the legal representative.
• Support legal representatives as requested by working on immigration forms, locating and collecting information and evidence from clients and others, making copies, processing mailings, making phone calls, or otherwise.
• Open and close client files following standard operating procedures.
• Organize, update and maintain client paper, database, and electronic files in accordance with standard operating procedures and direction from the legal representatives.
• Assist with creating, organizing and maintaining records sufficient for statistical reports required by our funding sources, our accrediting agency (the U.S. Department of Justice), and Catholic Charities.
• Provide English-Spanish oral interpretation and written translation services for clients and staff as needed.
• Arrange oral interpretation and written translation services for clients who speak languages other than English or Spanish.
• Assist clients with technical competencies necessary to receive legal services, such as signing onto videoconferencing platforms, submitting documents, and signing up for necessary services or memberships.
• Draft cover letters, immigration forms, and other documents under direction from the legal representative.
• Delegate tasks to and provide mentorship and oversight to volunteers as appropriate.
• Work with the director and staff to improve standard operating procedures and FIS systems.
• Represent Catholic Charities within agency guidelines.
• Serve as a notary public for Catholic Charities.
• Support the director and staff as requested.

Competencies

• Excellent attention to detail.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, and Adobe Acrobat Pro; ability to learn other computer systems.
• Demonstrated self-starter. Ability to work independently with little supervision and collaboratively within a team.
• Detailed and strong time management and organizational skills, with ability to prioritize multiple important tasks, meet deadlines, and work under pressure.

Work Environment

• A majority of the assigned duties are performed in an office environment.
• The employee is subject to both inside and outside environmental conditions.
• Reasonable accommodation can be provided to enable people with disabilities to perform the described essential functions of this position.

This description is not intended, and should not be construed, to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills, efforts, or working conditions associated with this job. It is intended to be an accurate reflection of the principal job elements essential for making compensation decisions.

• High School diploma/equivalency. Associate's degree or at least two years towards a bachelor's degree preferred.
• At least five years of experience working in a fast-paced, detail-oriented office setting or at least two years of experience working in an immigration law office preferred.
• Basic understand of and experience using legal terminology preffered.
• Fully Bilingual Spanish/English required.

Compensation

The salary range for this position is $15.68- $18.81. Salary is determined based on the applicant's incoming skills and experience, and the budget at time of hiring.

Position Classification

• Nonexempt
• Full Time: 40 hours per week
• Schedule: Monday - Friday

Benefits

• Discretionary Time Off (used for sick leave and vacation)
• Spiritual Enrichment (2 hours monthly)
• Employee Assistance Program
• Paid Holidays
• Paid Leave and Unpaid Leave
• Dental Insurance
• Medical Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Short-term Disability Insurance after 30 days of employment
• Long-term Disability Insurance after 6 months of employment
• Workers' Compensation Insurance
• Life Insurance
• $2,000 Dependent Life Insurance for spouse and each eligible child
• $50,000 Term Life/AD&D (accidental death & dismemberment) Insurance
• Pension Plan (6-8% of wages plus interest) with 20% vesting after 1 year of service
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness

Equal Employment Opportunity

Catholic Charities is dedicated to the principles of equal employment opportunity. We prohibit unlawful discrimination against applicants or employees on the basis of age 40 and over, race (including traits historically associated with race, such as hair texture and length, protective hairstyles), sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, color, religion, national origin, disability, military status, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable state or local law. This prohibition includes unlawful harassment based on any of these protected classes. Unlawful harassment includes verbal or physical conduct which has the purpose or effect of substantially interfering with an individual's work performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work environment.

Applicants and employees need not be Catholic. However, all employees are governed by Canon Law or the teachings of the Catholic Church.

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