Legal Orientation Specialist

ORGANIZATIONAL PROFILE

Ayuda is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to providing direct legal, social and language access services, education, and outreach to low-income immigrants in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Since 1973, Ayuda has provided critical services on a wide range of issues, in the process acquiring nationally recognized expertise in several fields including immigration law, language access, domestic violence and human trafficking. Ayuda has office locations in Washington, DC, Silver Spring, MD and Fairfax, VA.

WHY DO YOU WANT THIS JOB?

Because, just like everyone at Ayuda, you believe:

• In seeing communities where all immigrants succeed and thrive in the United States.
• In the overall success of our organization and all our programs.
• That families should be healthy and safe from harm.
• That all people should have access to professional, honest, and ethical services, regardless of ability to pay or status in this country.
• That diversity and equality make this country better.

WHAT WILL THIS JOB ENTAIL?

The Children’s Legal Services team contracts with the Acacia Center for Justice to provide legal services to unaccompanied immigrant children who are either currently in or released from the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) custody.

Core responsibilities of the position include the following (other duties may be assigned):

• Provide in person child-friendly and age-appropriate legal orientations via Know Your Rights presentations (most commonly in Spanish/English, or in other languages with an interpreter) to detained and non-detained unaccompanied children in a classroom climate. The presenter is to be positive, organized, outgoing, confident, and compassionate to inform children regarding immigration removal proceedings and access to representation.
• Conduct individual trauma-informed, child-friendly, and age- and language- appropriate legal screenings with detained and non-detained unaccompanied children to determine legal relief eligibility and obtain their consent for required legal referrals.
• Send referrals to legal service providers around the country for unaccompanied children released from ORR custody.
• Maintain positive relationships with key stakeholders, including staff at the ORR facilities we serve and government field staff.
• Participate and engage in regular training regarding provision of child-friendly service delivery, including services tailored to special needs populations, such as pregnant/parenting, tender-age, non-Spanish speaking, and LGBTQIA+ youth.
• Share relevant detention trends and challenges in services delivery, including via mandatory attendance at biweekly team meetings.
• Stay apprised of current legal framework relevant to legal orientation and interviewing related to unaccompanied children, as well as current events affecting child migration from Central America and any other region commonly affecting detention facilities in Virginia.
• Collaborate with team members to proactively support the maintenance of the Children’s Legal program, including but not limited to country conditions research, creating and editing program materials, and running data entry audits.
• Maintain clear records and conduct data entry for clients and services performed while meeting deadlines to facilitate ongoing grant compliance activities.
• Assist with administrative and clerical work such as sending out referral letters, checking court dates, file maintenance, photocopying, and covering the front desk when necessary.
• Assist Ayuda attorneys with document translations, filling out forms, intakes, arranging meetings, and other tasks involved in client representation when necessary.

Note that this job requires frequent travel (at least once per week) to ORR facilities in or near Richmond, VA and Fairfax, VA. Ayuda reimburses such travel using the federally approved mileage rate. Please also note that Ayuda is not a fully remote workplace. We have a hybrid schedule and expect employees to come to the office in person 2 days per week.

HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU CAN DO THIS JOB?

Eligibility Requirements:

• Must be legally able to work in the United States and maintain proper work authorization throughout employment.
• Must be able to meet the physical requirements of the position, which include regular attendance, keyboarding, sitting for long periods of team, driving, and the ability to use computer, phone, and copy machine.
• An FBI background check and a Child Protective Services (CPS) check for each state you have lived in for the past 5 years is required.
• A valid driver’s license and access to a vehicle is required.
• Bilingual Spanish skills required.

Qualifications:

The following qualifications are the qualities, experiences, and skills we seek in a candidate. Candidates who don't feel that they meet every single qualification, but who still believe they’d be the right fit for this role, are encouraged to consider applying! We're eager to meet people that believe in our mission and can contribute to our team in a variety of ways -- not just candidates who check all the boxes.

• Demonstrated empathy, patience, and ability to connect with clients.
• Effective at communicating with others including minors, including trauma survivors, and across language and cultural barriers.
• Deep commitment to immigrants, children and legal justice; experience working with immigrants, children, and/or survivors of trauma a plus.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to liaise across various stakeholders and program management.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a diverse, multidisciplinary team.
• Leadership, team building, critical thinking, and creative problems solving skills.
• Commitment to a culture of feedback and continuous learning.
• Demonstrated commitment to social, racial, and economic justice.
• Commitment to learn and advocate for workplace practices in alignment with diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism principles.
• Commitment to intercultural responsiveness, sensitivity, and awareness.

We are proud of the benefits we can offer that include:

• Platinum-level medical insurance plan 100% employer-paid
• Dental and vision insurance 100% employer paid
• Long-term disability insurance 100% employer paid
• Life and AD&D insurance 100% employer paid
• Pre-tax 401(k) with Employer match on first 3% of salary
• Vacation Days: 21 days per year until year 3, 27 per year in years 3-7 and 33 days per year after 7 years employment. Employees begin with 3 days of vacation leave.
• New employees begin with 5 days of Health & Wellness (sick) leave and accrue an additional 5 hours per pay period plus emergency medical leave up to 12 weeks per year
• 12 weeks paid parental leave/family leave
• 24 days paid holidays and staff wellness days, including Winter Break the last week of the year
• Job-related professional development fees (including annual state bar dues and professional memberships)
• Flexible work schedules

Employees with federal student loan debt may be eligible to apply for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the Department of Education. For more information, go to https://myfedloan.org/borrowers/special-programs/pslf.