Bilingual Immigration Paralegal Advocate

Job Classification: Full Time, Non-Exempt

Department: Center for Legal Services

Position Reports to: Managing Attorney, Immigration Team

Location: This opportunity is based in Westchester County, New York in our White Plains office. Hybrid work schedule (subject to change)

Description and Responsibilities:

The Bilingual Immigration Paralegal Advocate provides critical services to victims of domestic violence and human trafficking. The Bilingual Immigration Paralegal Advocate’s responsibilities include:

Duties:

• Screen callers for eligibility and schedule intakes with immigration attorneys.
• Handle routine communications and transactions with clients including scheduling calls.
• Provide internal and external referrals to clients.
• Interpret for clients during attorney meetings, phone calls, and other settings as needed.
• Translate legal documents, letters and emails for attorneys.
  • Assist the immigration law team with gathering legal documents, completing USCIS applications and other related forms, collecting signatures and preparing for trials.
  • Maintain client records, close case files, send files to storage.
  • Maintain statistics and complete monthly and quarterly grant reports for funders.
  • Assist the managing team with administrative support and special projects, including research, assistance developing presentations, advocacy initiatives, and other projects.
  • Attend and participate in department staff meetings and ongoing training.
  • Perform other duties as assigned by supervisor.

• Support our philosophy and guiding principles.
• Participate in agency-wide and community events, initiatives and committees to help strengthen our organizational goals.
• Work collaboratively across departments.
• Participate in on-going education and training opportunities.
• Collaborate with people and synthesize diverse sets of institutional perspectives
• Ability to maintain a professional demeanor in all situations and be able to withhold confidential agency information.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree preferred or equivalent experience.
• Bilingual Spanish oral and written skills highly preferred.
• Non-profit domestic violence and/or social service work experience preferred.
• Ability to work independently, assess priorities, multi-task and meet deadlines.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Proficiency with word processing, Excel spreadsheets, Microsoft Outlook and database programs. Willing to learn and grow in developing this proficiency.
• Willing to develop and conduct trainings for members of the legal center, agency and community partners.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to work collaboratively and to interact with management and program staff.

Team Overview: MSP’s Center for Legal Services meets the urgent needs of clients and their families by providing legal advice and representation in the areas of family and immigration law in the context of our holistic range of supportive services.

Organizational Overview: At MSP, we strongly believe that integrating a world-changing approach into all areas of our work is essential to ending domestic violence and human trafficking. Our dynamic and diverse team of compassionate advocates is working to create a world in which every individual has the basic human right to be free from gender-based violence and to engage in relationships that embrace the principles of respect, equality, and safety.

MSP responds to domestic violence and human trafficking in Westchester County, New York, providing multi-lingual, trauma-informed legal and supportive services. We bolster our work with clients by engaging in extensive outreach and community education, strengthening the systemic response to all forms of gender-based violence.