Immigration Paralegal (Bilingual)

Life Span seeks a bilingual Immigration Paralegal to assist survivors of domestic and sexual violence who seek legal representation This is a hybrid-remote position at our Chicago, Illinois office.

Life Span is a nationally known leader in the provision of services to survivors of violence and their children. Our comprehensive services include criminal court advocacy, representation in civil protective order cases, expert representation in family law cases, immigration services and counseling for survivors and their children. Our work encompasses such issues as police domestic violence, human trafficking, immigration, employment issues, sexual assault civil no contact orders, the effects of trauma on clients and their children, teen dating violence, and the criminalization of survivors. Our agency has two sites, one in Des Plaines and one in Chicago. Our services are available in many languages including English, Spanish, Polish and Arabic and are free of charge. Our agency provides national leadership in policy work and systemic advocacy, and our staff has trained advocates, lawyers, judges, counselors and other professionals in Illinois and across the country on critical issues and innovative practices.

Life Span values staff who reflect the communities we serve-in strengths, backgrounds and lived experiences. It is essential that our staff and leadership reflect the communities that we serve.

We are committed to creating an anti-oppression framework and seek candidates who share this commitment.

General Job Description: Assist survivors of domestic and sexual violence who seek civil legal representation and/or criminal court advocacy and provide paralegal support and additional assistance to attorneys as needed.

Essential Job Functions

Paralegal:

• Conduct client prescreens and intakes.
• Explain Life Span services and direct them to agency services as needed.
• Generally explain the Illinois Domestic Violence Act, domestic relations and immigration legal remedies available to survivors of domestic/sexual violence.
• Assist clients with creating a safety plan and provide clients with referrals to other needed services.
• Accompany clients and attorneys to court and/or USCIS.
• If bilingual, translate written documents and interpret at client interviews and assist clients in court and other agencies as needed.
• Assist Life Span lawyers in providing legal services including: interviewing clients, preparing paperwork and forms, and gathering evidence.
• Accompany clients to the police station, State’s Attorney’s Office and to criminal court proceedings to represent client’s interest or coordinate with advocates as they relate to the client’s immigration matters.
• Provide crime victim compensation advocacy including information, advice, referrals and application assistance.
• Organize and maintain case files.
• Maintain complete client statistics and submit as required on a timely basis.
• Actively participate in required staff meetings and trainings.
• Attend and participate in training and outreach as assigned.

Office Support:

• Assist with answering main line calls during busy times by providing Life Span information, screening callers and directing calls.
• Help field calls during scheduled prescreen times when additional staff support is needed to complete the process.
• Provide document notarization and maintain unexpired certification.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Arts Degree &/or Paralegal Certificate.
• Bilingual proficiency in English and Spanish, Polish or Arabic language skills is required to ensure clients receive language-accessible services.
• Commitment to working in the not-for-profit/public interest sector; prior experience in working in a social service agency or with survivors of domestic and/or sexual violence preferred.
• 40 hour DV certification.

Location and Hours:

The Immigration Paralegal position is a full-time, 40-hour per week role based in the Chicago Loop office. Life Span is a few blocks from the CTA Pink, Orange, Purple and Green line EL station, the Blue Line subway, and is also accessible via the Metra rail Union or Ogilvie stations.

Hybrid Remote Position:

This is a hybrid-remote position after onboarding and completion of training. Remote work up to 16 hours per week at the discretion of Life Span. Internet access is required. Must be accessible and available during work hours by phone and email to perform essential functions of this position.

Benefits include very generous PTO and holidays, Summer Fridays, life and disability insurance; a 403b plan, health, dental and vision insurance, pre-tax public transit, an Employee Assistance Plan, FSA and DCA benefit plan options.

Loan Forgiveness Benefit: Life Span is a qualifying employer for the federal PSLF program.

Bilingual proficiency in English and Spanish, Polish or Arabic language skills is required to ensure clients receive language-accessible services.