Position Title: Paralegal

Organization: Jewish Family Service of San Diego

Department: Immigration Legal Services

Position Type: Part-Time (up to 15 hours/week), Non-Exempt

Work Setting: Hybrid

Reports To: Managing Attorney

Pay Range: $23/hour

Total Compensation:

In addition to standard pay, compensation for this position includes:

• Generous employer 401(k) contributions

Time Away from Work:

Being able to take time away from work is critical in bringing your best self to work. Time off benefits for this position include:

• Sick Pay – 1 hour for every 30 hours
• 2 Wellness Days to be taken any time during the year to support employees’ mental wellness

Position Overview:

Jewish Family Service of San Diego (JFS) is one of four refugee resettlement agencies in San Diego County, a Department of Justice Recognized organization, and a core partner of the San Diego Rapid Response Network (SDRRN) - a group of 40 immigrant rights and social service organizations, attorneys and community leaders who educate, protect and assist immigrant individuals and families – including refugees and asylum seekers – with legal support and social services. JFS has a large Immigration Legal Services Department (ILSD) where it not only coordinates the legal services for SDRRN, but also has a large team of lawyers, DOJ accredited representatives, and support staff working on a wide range of services for low-income and vulnerable immigrants in San Diego and Imperial counties. This position will work within the ILSD team at JFS. The ILSD team specializes in removal defense, family-based petitions and applications, administrative relief, naturalization, and humanitarian relief. The ILSD team has experience and regularly practices immigration law before Department of Homeland Security (DHS), such as with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Border Patrol (BP) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), as well as before the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) at the San Diego, Otay Mesa and Imperial Immigration Courts and Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA), and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. The ILSD team also represents clients in relevant immigration matters before San Diego Superior Court on probate guardianship matters. The ILSD is also the legal service provider which coordinates the Higher Education Legal Services (HELS) program at 2 CA State Universities – San Diego State and CSU San Marcos, in addition to 9 community colleges in San Diego and Imperial counties.

The Paralegal will undergo a training certification program to become a Department of Justice Accredited Representative, for partial accreditation. Under the supervision of the Managing Attorney, the Paralegal will be responsible for providing direct support to all ILSD’s programs but may focus most of the time on the Affirmative Services and Higher Education Legal Services Programs. The Paralegal must have the skills and experience listed below.

Responsibilities:

Under the supervision of the Managing Attorney, the Paralegal will be responsible to

• Assist attorneys and DOJ accredited representatives with management of client’s physical and electronic files
• Support in the organization of paperwork and data entry for ILSD clients
• Interpret during meetings and translate documents if you speak another language
• Provide additional administrative support to the attorneys and DOJ Accredited Representatives as needed
• Conduct immigration legal screenings including eligibility and risk assessment for individuals and families seeking immigration representation before the USCIS
• Prepare immigration filings including DACA, naturalization, consular processing, adjustment of status, family-based, and humanitarian immigration petitions
• If capacity allows it, support with removal defense cases
• Advocate before necessary agencies for clients who are facing an immigration-related issue
• Attend any immigration law or other training required by your position as determined by the Managing Attorney
• Coordinate and document client communications in our shared database
• Comply with data and program reporting requirements, as well as internal program policies and procedures
• Provide the information to complete the required reports by grant funders
• Perform case management and any additional administrative tasks

Skills/Experience/Abilities That Are a Must-Have:

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience
• A paralegal certificate or equivalent experience
• A passion for social justice for immigrants
• A passion for providing culturally competent, trauma-informed, services to noncitizens and newcomers in San Diego County, Imperial County, and generally in the San Diego border region
• 1-2 years of work experience in a nonprofit setting
• A willingness to undergo extensive immigration law-focused legal training and complete required bi-annual ethics training
• A minimum of 2 years of experience with immigration law
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including good communication and active listening skills
• Detail oriented and self-directed with strong oral and written communication skills in English
• The ability to record accurate data
• Strong relational skills and professional attitude
• Strong case management, legal research, and legal writing skills
• A demonstrated ability and willingness to zealously defend the rights of immigrants
• A demonstrated ability to take initiative and work under pressure
• An ability to work both independently and in a group and with a team
• Ability to prioritize, multi-task and organize in a fast paced and fluid environment
• Proficient in Microsoft software including Excel, Word, and Outlook
• A passion for our mission and work
• Experience working with immigrant populations and in multi-cultural settings
• Experience working with marginalized populations and survivors of trauma
• Dedication to serving immigrant communities with a sincere commitment to working on behalf of low-income immigrants
• Access to a car and valid driver license

Skills/Abilities We’d Like You to Have:

• Multilingual English/Arabic, Spanish, Farsi, Haitian Creole, Russian and/or Portuguese – desired

Important Notice:

Incomplete submissions will not be considered. Please, no phone calls. Please, principals only. Please, local candidates only (relocation is not provided).

About Jewish Family Service of San DiegoJewish Family Service of San Diego is a client-centered, impact-driven organization working to build a stronger, more resilient community. For over 100 years, Jewish Family Service has been a trusted resource for the entire community, offering an array of services that are always life-changing, and often life-saving. At Jewish Family Service, we believe our employees are the backbone of our Agency. We strive to ensure that each employee is treated with dignity and respect. Our goal is your success. Come work at JFS and be our partner in Moving Forward Together. To learn more about JFS, please visit jfssd.org. 

*Jewish Family Service is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.