LIBRE Project Coordinator & Benefits Assistor

Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County (Legal Aid SMC) aims to ensure that the social safety net works for everyone. Our lawyers provide free civil legal services to low-income San Mateo County residents, helping clients navigate complex legal systems including immigration, public benefits, and other safety net services. We also work to empower clients to advocate for themselves, and to fix broken systems through policy change.

Legal Aid SMC seeks a spirited and organized person who is passionate about immigrant rights to support the LIBRE program and help low-income families and children access immigration law services. LIBRE (Linking Immigrants to Benefits, Resources, and Education) is a multi-agency collaboration that offers community outreach and education concerning eligibility for public benefits and immigration-related issues, application assistance, and legal services to access public benefits and immigration relief. Our immigration legal services focus on helping survivors of child abuse, domestic violence, and other crimes apply for humanitarian relief. Project Coordinators support the LIBRE program to help eligible clients access immigration law services and public benefits.

The LIBRE team is looking for a Project Coordinator to assist attorneys with client services, including Spanish interpretation, Spanish translation and administrative tasks, coordinating community outreach and contract support. Depending on program needs, the person may spend half-time at Legal Aid SMC supporting public benefits and immigration attorneys, and half-time as a Benefits Assistor based at (and co-supervised by) the Fair Oaks Community Center, a multi-service facility offering a variety of services to the broader Redwood City Community.

We are looking for a highly motivated self-starter who cares about community satisfaction, enjoys collaborating with community partners, and wants to provide direct services to a diverse low-income client population. The right candidate can juggle multiple responsibilities, work efficiently and compassionately, use systems to organize data, and has a passion for helping people. They will be comfortable taking the initiative on projects but will also enjoy supporting the attorneys’ work.

Legal Aid SMC seeks candidates who share our aspirations for a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace. We are committed to affirming differences in race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, and gender identity and expression.

Responsibilities:

• Community Outreach and Trainings - Coordinate community outreach with LIBRE partners, assist in training community outreach workers, and represent LIBRE and Legal Aid SMC at community events and meetings with collaborative partners, funders, and government agencies, including occasionally on weekends and in the evenings.
• Client Services - Schedule appointments for LIBRE attorneys, follow up with clients, collect and upload relevant client documents, and enter data on case activities. Collaborate with other Legal Aid programs and community partners regarding referrals, outreach, and other initiatives as needed.
• Interpretation and Translation - Help attorneys communicate with Spanish-speaking clients by interpreting in client interviews, telephone calls, and court (where certification not required). Translate written documents from Spanish to English and English to Spanish.
• Administrative Support - Assist attorneys with administrative tasks, including copying, scanning, mailing, obtaining signatures and documents from clients, and uploading documents to case files.
• Contract Support - Help obtain data needed for reports from partner agencies, coordinate work with assistors and community outreach workers, follow up with LIBRE partners to distribute materials and coordinate meetings.
• Benefits Application Assistance - Respond to inquiries about safety-net benefits; screen potential applicants; help individuals and families apply for benefits; enter case data into databases; track cases to successful approval or resolution; advocate on behalf of applicants as needed; and provide other support at Fair Oaks Community Center.

Required Qualifications:

• A.A. degree or equivalent education and experience
• English and Spanish fluency (oral and written) and multicultural experience
• Excellent communication skills
• Working knowledge of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
• Demonstrated organizational skills and attention to detail
• Access to a car and ability to drive
• Available to work in person at our Redwood City office and Fair Oaks Community Center
• Ability to pass a background check

Preferred Qualifications:

• B.A. degree
• Familiarity with public benefits programs (Medi-Cal, CalWORKs, CalFresh, SSI)
• Familiarity with immigration cases (U Visa, DACA, VAWA, SIJS, TPS) and practices

Compensation and Benefits

Compensation: From $31.28 per hour

Full-time nonexempt position; 35-hour workweek

Benefits: Legal Aid SMC pays 100% of premium for employee-only health coverage, and up to 95% for employee + dependent coverage depending on plan selected. Legal Aid SMC pays 100% premium for dental and vision insurance for employees and dependents. Full-time employees receive 16 days of vacation in the first year, plus 13 days of sick leave and 12 paid holidays. Employees become eligible for 3% employer contribution to 401(k) plan after the first year of full-time employment.

Hybrid Workplace: Legal Aid SMC is a hybrid workplace. Employee work schedules and work locations are determined by a combination of factors including client needs, organizational needs, workload demands, and personal preference. The Project Coordinator will initially be required to work in-person at our Redwood City office five days a week, with the potential to transition to a hybrid schedule for some days. All employees are expected to be available to commute to the office as needed. Proof of COVID-19 vaccination is required.

To Apply: Please send your resume and a cover letter to jobs@legalaidsmc.org.

Legal Aid SMC is committed to creating a diverse work environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Persons of color, persons with disabilities, immigrants, older adults and members of the LGBTQ+ community are strongly encouraged to apply.