What are the responsibilities and job description for the Immigration Paralegal position at Des Moines Elder Law?
Job description
An established Elder Law firm is expanding its services to include immigration and citizenship matters and seeks an experienced Immigration Paralegal to help develop and support this growing practice area.
The Immigration Paralegal will manage all aspects of immigration casework, supervise support staff as needed, and serve as a primary point of contact for immigration clients. This role requires a strong working knowledge of U.S. immigration procedures, particularly family-based petitions, green card applications, naturalization, visitor visas, consular processing, and parole in place.
The firm’s additional practice areas include litigation, probate, benefit planning, guardianship, fiduciary services, estate planning, corporate law, and real estate. Candidates with experience in any of these areas are strongly preferred, as the role may involve cross-departmental support, particularly within the litigation department. The ideal candidate will independently manage an immigration caseload while providing assistance to the litigation team (entry-level litigation experience is acceptable).
Key Responsibilities
- Prepare, file, and monitor immigration applications, including family-based petitions, green card applications, naturalization, and parole in place filings.
- Conduct comprehensive case assessments and draft immigration forms, affidavits, legal correspondence, and client declarations using the ICM system.
- Communicate professionally with clients, government agencies (USCIS, NVC, EOIR), and external professionals.
- Track case deadlines and maintain organized case files using the Equifax Immigration Case Management (ICM) System (formerly LawLogix) and related document management systems.
- Assist in training and supervising junior paralegals or legal assistants as the immigration practice expands.
- Collaborate with attorneys and staff to effectively integrate immigration services within the firm’s elder law practice.
Qualifications
- Minimum 4–5 years of experience as an immigration paralegal, including demonstrated case management or leadership responsibilities.
- Strong knowledge of U.S. immigration law, processes, and procedures.
- Excellent organizational, writing, and communication skills, with strong attention to detail and the ability to work compassionately with clients from diverse backgrounds.
- Spanish fluency is preferred.
- Experience working with vulnerable populations—such as elderly clients, immigrants, or caregivers—is highly desirable.
- Bachelor’s degree or Associate degree with paralegal certification required.
- Successful completion of background and reference checks is required.
Position Details
This is a full-time, in-office position (hybrid work is not available). Flexible scheduling is available within the firm’s operating hours of 7:00 AM to 5:30 PM, with a total workload of 37–40 hours per week.