Immigration Legal Services Associate

Immigration Legal Services (Unaccompanied Children and Special Immigrant Juvenile Status)

*Spanish Fluency Required. Applicants who are not fluent in Spanish will not be considered.*

Through Project Rousseau’s Immigration Legal Services, we provide a pathway to hope and opportunity. We believe that every young person, regardless of their circumstances, deserves the chance to pursue their educational goals with dignity and without fear. We empower young people to navigate the complexities of the immigration system, understand their rights, and pursue pathways to legal status and stability. We aim to ensure that young people have access to high-quality legal representation and support as they seek to build their futures.

Project Rousseau is a partner of The Acacia Center for Justice Unaccompanied Children Project. This national network of legal service providers embodies the spirit of compassion and justice, ensuring that every child who enters the United States as an unaccompanied minor receives the support and guidance they deserve, regardless of the perceived strength of their case or their immigration history.

Project Rousseau is seeking an Immigration Legal Services Associate who shares our passion for justice and our unwavering commitment to empowering young people. This associate will play a pivotal role in supporting our legal services through our Unaccompanied Children’s Program and Special Immigrant Juvenile Status Project.

This is a full-time on-site position located in Manhattan (New York). The successful candidate will be expected to support young clients drafting affidavits in support of their pursuit of Special Immigrant Juvenile Status and provide related paralegal and administrative support to attorneys.

Responsibilities include:

• Provide direct support to youth and their guardians in drafting detailed personal affidavits in support of SIJS and related immigration applications, ensuring narratives are accurate, trauma-informed, and aligned with legal strategy.
• Assist clients in gathering, organizing, and preparing supporting documentation, including identity records, court findings, and corroborating evidence, and help draft supplemental affidavits as needed.
• Complete biographical forms and other required application materials with a high degree of accuracy, working closely with attorneys
• Monitor case progress and proactively flag issues, missing documentation, or time-sensitive needs to supervising attorneys to support efficient and high-quality case management.
• Translate and interpret with accuracy from Spanish to English and English to Spanish
• Facilitate internal and external referrals to education, healthcare, and other essential services to ensure holistic support for clients.
• Maintain accurate documentation and reporting of service delivery to ensure compliance with funding requirements and uphold organizational standards.
• Proactively identify and propose additional responsibilities aligned with the organization's mission and the candidate's skills and interests to best serve underserved youth
• Some student drop-in responsibilities and other tasks at the discretion of the organization’s Executive Director

Qualifications and Requirements:

• Experience:
• At least 1 year of demonstrated experience in a paralegal role or community-based role
• Preferred: 2 years of experience in immigration law or a related field.
• Skills and Attributes:
• Fluent in Spanish
• Strong interest in adopting a comprehensive approach to addressing the needs of young people.
• Demonstrated creativity in problem-solving and a knack for innovative thinking.
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Excellent organizational skills, including time management, record-keeping, and the ability to manage multiple assignments and deadlines independently.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills, enabling effective collaboration with young people, management, and program staff.
• Values and Commitment:
• Deep commitment to social justice and a passion for serving immigrant communities.
• Demonstrated ability to handle complex and sensitive matters with discretion, empathy, and sound judgment.

Work Schedule:Full time, 35 hours per week

Job Location: 1560 Broadway, NY, 10036. Please note this is an in-person role.

Salary Range: $55,000 to $65,000/year

Benefits: Employer contribution to ICHRA (Healthcare Reimbursement)