Immigration Legal Assistant
Location: Baltimore, MD
Requisition ID: req45340
Salary: $22 per hour
A part of RAI, IRC's immigration legal services program serves more than 14,000 individuals in 23 sites throughout the U.S. each year, providing accessible and critical legal representation and advice to immigrants and their families in order to acquire the highest level of immigration status available, keep families together, access their full rights, and successfully integrate in the U.S.
The Immigration Legal Assistant (Family Reunification) supports legal practitioners (attorneys and/or Department of Justice (DOJ) accredited representatives) in representing clients before United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Legal services focus on naturalization, adjustment of status, and family reunification. Under the supervision of a practitioner, the position also coordinates the completion and submission of family reunification applications, identifies current clients potentially eligible to file such applications, and conducts community outreach to advertise the programs, and prepares draft submissions for practitioner review and submission to Headquarters Technical Unit.
Note: this is a full-time, one-year limited term position with the possibility of extension or promotion to regular status, depending on funding. The position is eligible for full benefits.
Major Responsibilities:
- Under the supervision of the program manager/practitioner, provide clients information on immigration benefits before USCIS, work with clients to gather documents, and assist clients to complete applications.
- Respond to inquiries from clients regarding case status and submit inquiries on case status to USCIS and Department of State (DOS).
- Process correspondence from USCIS and DOS, including notifying clients, assisting clients to prepare responses to notices or evidence requests as appropriate, and following up with relevant parties.
- Maintain accurate and up-to-date physical and electronic files and detailed case notes, enter required data in a timely manner, meet all case reporting requirements within established timelines and standards, and assist in the completion of statistical, narrative, and financial reports.
- Represent the IRC with clients, community members, and partners by receiving and returning phone calls and emails, scheduling appointments, supporting events (including group processing events), and conducting outreach for legal services.
- Maintain strict client confidentiality and observe all other ethical practices/obligations as outlined in IRC’s Immigration Program Policies Manual.
- Pursue Department of Justice accreditation by successfully completing all vital training.
- Manage intern and volunteer support as needed.
- Participate in training webinars hosted by IRC headquarters on family reunification programs of focus, including Lautenberg applications and/or P3 AORs and/or P2 CAM AORs.
- Communicate program eligibility and requirements to clients; collect documentation from clients in order to complete applications on their behalf.
- Complete applications in the IRIS database; monitor database for updates and corrections needed; communicate with IRC headquarters staff on any questions or corrections needed.
- Track applications in order to respond to client inquiries after submission.
Job Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree in relevant field.
- Demonstrated success working and communicating effectively in a multi-cultural environment and with Limited English Proficient populations.
- Able to work effectively in a team environment, as well as take independent initiative.
- Excellent attention to detail and strong organizational skills.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook) and comfortable utilizing online software and programs.
- Excellent communication skills with proficiency in written and spoken English is required.
- Proficiency in Arabic, French, Spanish or Swahili strongly preferred.
- Demonstrated dedication to immigrant rights, social justice, and/or human rights based on work experience, volunteer service, or educational activities.
Preferred experience & skills:
- Previous experience with immigration legal or social services is strongly preferred.
- Familiarity with immigration software and experience with data entry and management are a plus.
- Community-based outreach and/or work promoting immigrant rights experience is preferred.
