Description

Immigration Legal Assistant

Inspiritus’ Refugee & Immigrant Services (RIS) Department works to build welcoming communities for refugees and immigrants and accompanies newcomers on a path from surviving to thriving. RIS provides supportive, supplemental, and legal services to the refugee and immigrant community in Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee. The Immigration Legal Assistant performs administrative tasks as required for the functioning of the Immigration Legal Services program.

Position Details:

• Full Time, hourly position
• Location: Burmingham, AL
• Department: Refugee & Immigrant Services
• Hourly pay range $19.23 - $21.64/hour
• Reports to Immigration Services Program Manager
• Travel up to 25%
• Work Environment: This is a hybrid full-time position. Some duties can be done remotely while some others require operating in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines.
• Full range of benefits, including health care, vision, dental, voluntary life insurance, voluntary short term and long term disability, sick leave, flexible paid time off, 403(B) with 3% match for eligible employees after 1 year of service, and vesting for employees after 1000 hours of employment.

Responsibilities:Under the supervision of a licensed or accredited legal practitioner, the Immigration Legal Assistant will:

• Provide clients with information about immigration benefits available through 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/or 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.
• Receive and return phone calls and emails from Inspiritus clients, community members, and partners.
• Schedule appointments, supporting events (including group processing events), and conduct outreach for legal services.
• Maintain strict client confidentiality and observe all other ethical practices/obligations as outlined in Inspiritus ’s Immigration Program Policies.
• Pursue Department of Justice accreditation by successfully completing all vital trainings.
• Manage intern and volunteer support as needed.
• May assist with translation of documents, forms, letters and affidavits.
• Participate in regular team meetings, working cooperatively with other team members to guide program growth.
• Comply with and adhere to agency Security Policy and HIPAA laws.
• Maintain personal and professional boundaries in the performance of the job.
• Forge mutually respectful partnerships with clients, co-workers, and volunteers.
• Participate in training and professional conferences to keep abreast of current trends.
• Conform with and abides by all regulations, policies, work procedures, and instructions.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Qualifications:

• Associate degree or bachelor's degree and minimum of two years of previous direct work experience in culturally diverse environment or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Documented experience planning and organizing appointment schedules.
• Experience working with people from a variety of cultures and ethnic backgrounds.
• Excellent time management skills.
• Ability to write, read, and speak English fluently.
• Basic knowledge of Microsoft Word, email, and the Internet.
• Ability to forge a mutually respectful partnership with persons served and their families in which they are helped to gain the skills and confidence to address any issues and problems they face.
• Conviction about the capacity of people to grow and change.
• Ability to work in partnership with other team members.
• Ability to set limits and maintain the helping role of the practitioner and to intervene appropriately to meet the needs of the persons served or other family members.
• Must have the ability to communicate with all persons in a culturally competent manner.
• Must be sensitive to the service population’s cultural and socioeconomic characteristics.

The Immigration Legal Assistant role detailed in this description is not a comprehensive list of all duties that may be requested for the successful completion of this role and may garner some circumstantial duties deemed critical to meeting performance goals.

Physical Demands:

Regularly required to talk and hear. Required to stand, walk, sit, use hand to finger, handle or feel objects, tools and controls: and reach with hands and arms. Required to operate personal vehicle.

Inspiritus Supports a Diverse and Inclusive Culture:

Inspiritus is dedicated to providing equal opportunities and equal access to all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, ethnic or national origin, gender, genetic information, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and veteran's status. Inspiritus does not discriminate in employment on the basis of any factor stated above or prohibited under applicable law. Inspiritus complies with Executive Order 11246, as amended, Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, the Vietnam Era Veteran's Readjustment Assistance Act, and applicable executive orders, federal and state regulations regarding nondiscrimination, equal opportunity and affirmative action. Inquiries regarding this policy should be directed to the Inspiritus Department of Human Resources, 731 Peachtree St NE, Suite B Atlanta, GA 30308