What are the responsibilities and job description for the Senior Paralegal, Immigration Impact Lab position at National Legal Aid & Defender Association?
Position Description
Who We Are
The Capital Area Immigrants’ Rights (CAIR) Coalition is now Amica Center for Immigrant Rights (“Amica Center” for short). Click here to learn more about our new name. Since our founding in 1999, we have grown significantly and added new services to support immigrants in detention. Recently, Amica Center has outgrown our name, expanding beyond our initial services and geographic boundaries.
“Amica” is the Latin word for “friend,” and that echoes the way we approach what we do. Just as friends stand with one another, Amica Center stands with our clients to achieve the safety, stability, and opportunity we all deserve.
We are the only non-profit organization in the Washington, D.C. area that is exclusively focused on providing legal assistance to adult and child immigrants detained by the government in the Capital Region and beyond.
Our Work Environment
We have a highly collaborative work environment. We are committed to providing high-quality, trauma-informed legal and social services and a culture of professional growth and support for staff. Although aspects of our work are completed in smaller teams, we work towards integrated and client-focused services across the organization by embracing interconnectivity. We strive to create efficient systems that provide structure while actively fostering innovation and adaptability to advance our mission.
The Immigration Impact Lab (“the Lab”) is Amica Center’s impact litigation shop. The Lab responds to the failings of the immigration system by strategically appealing cases, developing impact litigation, and launching advocacy efforts that have the potential to transform the system and establish new legal precedents for immigrants nationwide.
Position Summary
A senior paralegal in the Lab focuses on (i) working with detained people and their attorneys throughout the course of federal court litigation and immigration court removal proceedings and bond hearing, including assisting with client communications, case preparation, filing mechanics, case maintenance, and USCIS filings, and (iii) supporting the program’s provision of services as a whole, including through intakes and administrative tasks such as database maintenance, pro bono attorney coordination, and reporting to funders.
General Duties and Responsibilities [1]
Client Services
Additional Role-Specific Details
Position Type
Full-time, Non-Exempt
Reports To
Program Director, with a potential transition to supervision by a Managing or Senior Attorney
Hiring Timeline
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Salary [2]
$50,000 - $72,600
[2] In 2018 Amica Center implemented a compensation framework to be more straightforward, transparent, and provide assurance of internal equity. The compensation model we use is based on an individual's position and years of relevant work experience to avoid salary discrepancies and to reduce the risk of racial, gender, or other forms of bias affecting a candidate's salary.
Location and/or Travel Requirements
This position will be based in the Washington, D.C. or Baltimore, M.D. Office. For court hearings, client matters, and important stakeholder meetings, occasional travel to other states is expected.
Telework
Amica Center operates a hybrid work environment. Most staff are required to work at least one day per week in-office, but some roles require more office/on-site attendance or travel.
Benefits
EEO Statement
Amica Center for Immigrants’ Rights is an equal opportunity employer. In accordance with anti-discrimination law, it is the purpose of this policy to effectuate these principles and mandates. Amica Center prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type and affords equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Amica Center conforms to the spirit as well as to the letter of all applicable laws and regulations.
Our Anti-Racism Statement
https://amicacenter.org/becoming-anti-racist/
How To Apply
Submit your resume, a cover letter that explains your interest in this role, and a writing sample with your Paylocity application.
Who We Are
The Capital Area Immigrants’ Rights (CAIR) Coalition is now Amica Center for Immigrant Rights (“Amica Center” for short). Click here to learn more about our new name. Since our founding in 1999, we have grown significantly and added new services to support immigrants in detention. Recently, Amica Center has outgrown our name, expanding beyond our initial services and geographic boundaries.
“Amica” is the Latin word for “friend,” and that echoes the way we approach what we do. Just as friends stand with one another, Amica Center stands with our clients to achieve the safety, stability, and opportunity we all deserve.
We are the only non-profit organization in the Washington, D.C. area that is exclusively focused on providing legal assistance to adult and child immigrants detained by the government in the Capital Region and beyond.
Our Work Environment
We have a highly collaborative work environment. We are committed to providing high-quality, trauma-informed legal and social services and a culture of professional growth and support for staff. Although aspects of our work are completed in smaller teams, we work towards integrated and client-focused services across the organization by embracing interconnectivity. We strive to create efficient systems that provide structure while actively fostering innovation and adaptability to advance our mission.
The Immigration Impact Lab (“the Lab”) is Amica Center’s impact litigation shop. The Lab responds to the failings of the immigration system by strategically appealing cases, developing impact litigation, and launching advocacy efforts that have the potential to transform the system and establish new legal precedents for immigrants nationwide.
Position Summary
A senior paralegal in the Lab focuses on (i) working with detained people and their attorneys throughout the course of federal court litigation and immigration court removal proceedings and bond hearing, including assisting with client communications, case preparation, filing mechanics, case maintenance, and USCIS filings, and (iii) supporting the program’s provision of services as a whole, including through intakes and administrative tasks such as database maintenance, pro bono attorney coordination, and reporting to funders.
General Duties and Responsibilities [1]
Client Services
- Supports attorneys representing detained and released clients before federal district courts and immigration courts in Maryland, Virginia, and remote locations (virtually), USCIS, and ICE. This includes representation in the following types of cases: habeas petitions, bond motions, class actions, and post-release client needs such as employment authorization applications and change of address forms. Support includes assistance in client intake and screening; scheduling calls with clients in detention; interviewing potential plaintiffs and declarants; developing client and witness declarations; drafting and preparing evidentiary and other court filings; submitting federal court filings on ECF; managing service of process; interpreting for attorney client communications; maintaining client files and court deadline tracking; updating clients on case developments; gathering evidence in support of and preparing for bond hearings; and input in case strategy.
- Completes intakes and provides follow up after intakes to evaluate eligibility for habeas petitions and relief from removal, including legal research, securing criminal records, and obtaining additional information from family and other community members.
- Conducts client intakes, meetings, and communications in jurisdictions where people are detained including Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Georgia, and other regions as needed .
- Assists with the staffing of the detention hotline and oversight of volunteers for jail visits, the jail hotline, or translation/interpretation volunteer work, as needed.
- Carries out administrative tasks, including database maintenance and reporting to funders.
- Actively engages in Lab’s training and advocacy efforts, as needed.
- Interfaces with social services staff, where needed, in preparation and execution of post release and social services plans.
- Ensures the inputting and accuracy of data and case information into shared databases in a timely fashion.
- Assists other program staff in completion of their workload during high-work/low-bandwidth periods.
- Takes part in stakeholder relationship activities, including in-person and remote meetings with community groups, governmental bodies and representatives, and other legal service providers.
- Engages with internal Amica Center committees and working groups to lend a voice to the growth and strategy of the organization.
Additional Role-Specific Details
Position Type
Full-time, Non-Exempt
Reports To
Program Director, with a potential transition to supervision by a Managing or Senior Attorney
Hiring Timeline
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Salary [2]
$50,000 - $72,600
[2] In 2018 Amica Center implemented a compensation framework to be more straightforward, transparent, and provide assurance of internal equity. The compensation model we use is based on an individual's position and years of relevant work experience to avoid salary discrepancies and to reduce the risk of racial, gender, or other forms of bias affecting a candidate's salary.
Location and/or Travel Requirements
This position will be based in the Washington, D.C. or Baltimore, M.D. Office. For court hearings, client matters, and important stakeholder meetings, occasional travel to other states is expected.
Telework
Amica Center operates a hybrid work environment. Most staff are required to work at least one day per week in-office, but some roles require more office/on-site attendance or travel.
Benefits
- Amica Center’s benefits package includes:
- Free gym access located in Washington, D.C or Baltimore, MD (dependent on employee’s primary office)
- Flexible working hours after successful completion of trainings and with approval of supervisor
- Pre-tax commuter benefits for those living in the DMV
- Subsidized health, dental insurance, and vision insurance (Amica Center pays a very high rate of the insurance package, for which we can provide additional information)
- Life Insurance valued at $50,000, as well as long- and short-term disability
- The option to set up a Flexible Spending Account
- High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) with a one-time employer contribution of $350 to the Health Savings Account (HSA)
- The option to set up a 403(b) account (the equivalent of a 401(k) account for non-profits) which the organization has the option, for all employees on an annual basis, to match at a certain percentage after one year of continuous employment
- 23 personal days per calendar year
- Up to 20 days of sick time per calendar year
- 7 hours of volunteer time off
- Federal holidays
- Paid winter break closure
- 12 weeks of parental leave
EEO Statement
Amica Center for Immigrants’ Rights is an equal opportunity employer. In accordance with anti-discrimination law, it is the purpose of this policy to effectuate these principles and mandates. Amica Center prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type and affords equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Amica Center conforms to the spirit as well as to the letter of all applicable laws and regulations.
Our Anti-Racism Statement
https://amicacenter.org/becoming-anti-racist/
How To Apply
Submit your resume, a cover letter that explains your interest in this role, and a writing sample with your Paylocity application.
Salary : $50,000 - $72,600