Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center

Job Description | Legal Program Administrator 

ABOUT LAS AMERICAS IMMIGRANT ADVOCACY CENTER

Las Americas is a nationally recognized organization dedicated to serving immigrants and asylum seekers with high quality legal services, advocacy and support. Las Americas is binational with a geographic footprint of El Paso, TX, southern New Mexico, and Ciudad Juárez, Mexico.

Founded in 1987 by the visionary co-founders of Annunciation House, Las Americas was designed to address the unmet legal needs of Central Americans fleeing civil war and political unrest in the 1980’s. Since its founding, Las Americas has served nearly 50,000 persons, while advocating for a robust asylum system, working to reunify separated families, and advocating for systemic change to US immigration policy and practices. 

Today, Las Americas serves individuals and families as they navigate the US immigration system in three programmatic areas: 

1. Cross Border Program serves migrants seeking access denied entry into the U.S. to seek asylum as the result of dangerous policy; 
2. Community Migrant Advocacy Program serves members of our community, not currently in detention, seeking immigration relief for themselves and/or their families, with a particular focus on advocacy for crime victims.
3. Detained Deportation Defense Program serves asylum seekers currently being held in CBP and ICE detention in west Texas and southern New Mexico.

POSITION OVERVIEW: This position supports the director of advocacy and legal services and Las Americas’ legal program areas. This position reports directly to the director of advocacy and legal services. Essential duties outlined below may shift or change as programmatic priorities and/or immigration policies change impacting our areas of work:

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIESExecutive Support 

• Support record maintenance including, but not limited to, member information and meeting minutes in coordination with the director of advocacy and legal services 
• Support the director of advocacy and legal services with special events and projects including planning and implementing legal clinics on a monthly basis
• Serve as the official representative on behalf of the director of advocacy and legal services in internal and external meetings, as needed.

Financial Management Support 

(In close partnership with the financial manager and executive director)

• Provide support regarding the organizational budget and cost control measures on behalf of the director of advocacy and legal services 
• Adhere to proper filing procedures to ensure all print and digital documents are organized and accurate
• maintain communication with front office staff to ensure client payments are processed in a timely, organized way and in compliance with legal ethical requirements
• Manage petty cash, money orders and safeguards office keys and valuables on behalf of the director of advocacy

Coordinated Legal Programs 

• Maintain legal program efficiency and monitor systems in close coordination with the support coordinator and office coordinator. This includes, but is not limited to, assisting in monthly case audits across legal teams
• Support overall workflow processes, system development, and execution (paper and cloud filing, calendars, case opening and closing procedures, intake systems, pro se program, forms, etc.)
• Develop a legal manual that can be used to onboard and retrain staff to ensure overall compliance with legal systems, legal ethics, and to support grant reporting
• Manage all legal software accounts and systems (Cytracom, fax, Adobe, Microsoft, MyCase, etc)
• Intranet maintenance and internal job tickets, forms, and other forms of support 
• Manage legal program phone systems including outgoing voicemail messages, phone extensions, cell phones, and WhatsApp business accounts in close coordination with the office coordinator 
• manage the creation of an internal, internet-based resource library for use by legal and non-legal staff within the organization
• liaise with cross-border program to maintain a functioning, responsive, and quality shelter program

IDEAL CANDIDATES WILL HAVE:

• Exemplary customer service
• Excellent project management and organization skills
• Experience in immigration law and policy
• Experience working with people from diverse backgrounds, including low- income populations, people who are marginally housed, immigrants, LGBTQ individuals, people of color and/or persons with disabilities;
• Experience working with marginalized populations and survivors of trauma
• Ability to take direction and work independently;
• Direct services experience
• Spirit of collegiality, creativity, and initiative
• Love and respect for our borderland region
• Bilingual fluency in English and Spanish
• Previous office coordination/management experience preferred

REQUIRED SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree; DOJ accredited representative designation preferred (candidates with accreditation are welcome to share if they are interested in maintaining a small caseload to maintain accreditation status and expertise)
• Minimum 3 years of experience in legal program settings
• Detail-oriented, self-motivated and able to work well under pressure
• Excellent written, analytical, oral, organizational, and time management skills;
• Must maintain professional demeanor and excellent work ethic at all times;
• Demonstrate passion for social justice for immigrants;
• Proficiency with computers, common office equipment, Microsoft Office and Google Workspace 
• A willingness to problem solve and troubleshoot to meet the evolving needs of legal program areas
• Willingness to travel in and around New Mexico and Mexico
• Bilingual (English/Spanish)

SALARY: Salary ranges from $50,000 - $65,000 commensurate with experience. May include some nights and weekends. 

BENEFITS

• Health insurance benefits with paid employer contributions;
• Flexible work environment and schedule (hybrid work weeks are available after a successful 90-day evaluation of the staff member); 
• Paid time off includes personal, sick, vacation, and all federal holidays;
• Professional development fund (renewed annually).

TO APPLY

Please submit resume, cover letter, and (3) references through Bamboo.

Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center is an equal opportunity employer and offers equal employment opportunities in recruitment, selection, and advancement with no regard to race, cultural heritage, nationality, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, or any other status protected under the law.