Immigration Paralegal Removal Defense Program

La Raza Centro Legal, San Francisco has provided free legal services to the city of San Francisco and surrounding counties for over 50 years. We are a non-profit legal aid agency and a leader in the provision of excellent legal services by licensed attorneys to the Spanish-speaking and wider immigrant and low-income community in the counties of San Francisco, San Mateo, and the Bay Area. Bilingual Spanish-speaking attorneys and paralegals provide all services in a culturally competent manner and utilizing a trauma – informed approach. At La Raza Centro Legal, lawyers partner with the community, so that justice may prevail.

The Immigration Paralegal will support the work of Removal Defense Program. Clinical and Casework Responsibilities

• Provide administrative support for the program, including inputting client information into databases, preparing grant reports, and opening and closing cases.
• Assist attorneys in detained and non-detained removal defense casework by drafting declarations, gathering evidence, translating documents, and communicating with clients and their family members, among other things.
• Draft applications for asylum, withholding of removal, and protection under the Convention Against Torture; LPR and Non-LPR Cancellation of Removal; Special Immigrant Juvenile Status; U visas; T visas; VAWA; and employment authorization, among others.
• Maintain a calendar with the program’s clients’ EAD renewal deadlines and ensure that renewal applications are timely filed.
• Act as a liaison with social services/psychological evaluation/law enforcement/medical services/other external contacts to help clients with cases.
• Meet regularly with removal defense attorneys to discuss case strategy.
• Ensure that work is consistent with agency mission and with ethical guidelines as promulgated by the State Bar of California and other entities.
• Assist at immigration law clinics with prospective clients and pro bono volunteers.

Assist in researching country conditions and maintaining resource materials pertaining to asylum law and other related topics in immigration law.

Community Education and Outreach

• Participate in the program’s pro se filing assistance initiative for community members.
• Provide appropriate referral lists to community members during information sessions.
• Assist in conducting immigration information sessions for immigrant community and media as well as assisting with outreach to community fairs.
• Draft informational materials on asylum law and keep abreast of changes in immigration law.

Program Responsibilities

• Participate in weekly check-ins with supervisor and weekly program meetings.
• Maintain a contemporaneous case log of all activities performed for a case and all client interactions.
• Assist in ensuring that the funding requirements of the immigration law work are being met, including (i) inputting into database case information, (ii) assisting with reports for the program, (iii) and attending collaborative meetings.

Agency Wide Responsibilities:

• Attend regularly scheduled staff meetings.
• Participate in committees as needed.
• Represent the agency to the community at collaborative meetings, grantor meetings, community meetings, public events, and other forums.

Qualifications:

• Fluent, bilingual and biliterate in English and Spanish.
• B.A. or B.S.
• Competent in using Microsoft Word, Excel, and online case management systems.
• Skilled in administrative duties and interested in finding ways to improve data collection and workflow.
• Able to work well under pressure and meet important deadlines.
• Strong writing skills.
• Team player, positive demeanor, self-starter, willing to learn new aspects of asylum and immigration law.
• Dependable, reliable, and solid work ethic.
• Sensitive and capable of working with survivors of trauma and harm.
• Strong interest in receiving training, mentorship, and working in a collaborative setting, and to, over time, mentoring others, including volunteers.
• Passionate about immigrant justice.
• Prior immigration legal services experience is a plus.

La Raza Centro Legal San Francisco Equity and Inclusion Statement

La Raza Centro Legal San Francisco actively promotes and recognizes principles of fairness, equity, and social justice in relation to, and across, intersections of race, age, color, national origin, ethnicity, citizenship, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, religion, disability, ancestry, and all other identities represented among our diverse employees.

By appreciating the importance of inclusion, we acknowledge that the collective and individual talents, skills, and perspectives of our staff foster a culture of belonging, safety, collaborative practice, innovation, and mutual respect. La Raza Centro Legal San Francisco is committed to the transformation of attitudes and systems that deprive any person or group of these principals.