Paralegal, Removal Defense

POSITION SUMMARY

Oasis Legal Services seeks a paralegal who is excited about working with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) people who have been persecuted for their sexuality and gender identity and are seeking safety in the United States. This paralegal supports a growing area of work at Oasis, the Removal Defense Project, and the ideal candidate is highly organized, proactive in seeking out solutions and support, and compassionate. We are excited to hire someone with experience providing immigration legal services, and is able to effectively communicate to clients in Spanish and English, without an interpreter or translator.

WHO WE ARE

Oasis Legal Services empowers low-income LGBTQ+ immigrants who have survived violence and persecution due to their sexuality, gender identity, and/or HIV status by increasing access to quality culturally-responsive legal representation and social services. Founded as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in May 2017, Oasis now serves more than 800 clients every year through two offices in California’s Central Valley and San Francisco Bay Area. We are proud of the work we do and our commitment to our clients. This exceptional team is known for our compassion, empathy, and deep expertise. Join us!

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS

Reports to the Supervising Attorney based in Berkeley CA. May support the training and orientation of interns and volunteers

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES

Direct Services for LGBTQ+ Immigrants

• Assist attorneys and U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Accredited Representatives in representing clients before Immigration Customs and Enforcement, removal proceedings and custody redetermination (bond) proceedings before the Executive Office of Immigration Review (EOIR), in habeas proceedings in Federal court, and in Special Immigrant Juvenile Status proceedings in State courts.
• Give first-level responses to client inquiries and other client communication for removal defense clients, including scheduling and confirming appointments. Make referrals to Social Services Program.
• Conduct initial case assessments and assist in managing removal defense waitlists.
• Collect biographical information for colleagues to prepare Form I-589, Applications for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal.
• Take client fingerprints and request criminal records, letters of support, and other evidence collection.
• Interpret for client meetings in Spanish and English, and translate documents from Spanish to English and vice versa, as needed.

Preparation of Legal Documents

• Prepare, mail, and log contractual agreements, referral letters, and orientation materials to clients.
• Draft and mail correspondence to immigration agencies, EOIR, and client employers.
• Complete and submit client Changes of Address to immigration agencies and EOIR.
• Prepare, complete, and mail Form I-765, Applications for Employment Authorization.
• File documents electronically, by mail, and in person with immigration agencies, EOIR, and California State Court.
• Prepare and submit Freedom of Information Act requests to federal and state agencies.

Administrative Support

• Enter data into spreadsheets and case management software. Scan and upload documents to client files.
• Complete case-opening and case-closing tasks and scan files.
• Assist Pro Bono Program with client communication and document collection, including scheduling client appointments.
• Assist in the maintenance of all hardcopy and electronic client case files, dockets, calendars, ticklers, and conflict of interest records under attorney and DOJ representative supervision.
• Assist in the planning and execution of legal clinics both in the Oasis offices and at external sites.
• Complete administrative tasks, such as those related to grant management, reporting, and client caseload management.

Other Responsibilities

• Attend outreach events as an Oasis representative.
• Participate in staff, departmental and program meetings, professional development activities and other required training, annual all-staff gathering, and performance review systems.
• Proactively raise issues with their supervisor to prioritize tasks and implement solutions, meet all deadlines and maintain accurate timesheets.
• Work collaboratively with all staff members to ensure effective, comprehensive support for clients. Build trusting, respectful internal and external relationships.
• All other duties assigned by their supervisor and Executive Director.

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR

• At least one year of cumulative experience working in immigration legal services, including professional, internship and/or volunteer experiences.
• Proficient in both English and Spanish languages (spoken and written). Must be able to communicate to clients in Spanish and English, without an interpreter or translator.
• Facility with Google Suite, Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Zoom, and macOS, with ability to learn how to navigate other platforms required for work.
• Able to communicate in person and via phone, email and video conference, to work at a computer for extended periods of time, and travel locally to outreach events.
• Able to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination, or participate in an interactive process for accommodations.

Oasis Competencies – How You’ll Do the Work

• Problem-Solving & Resourcefulness: Able to adapt to various working and management styles. Approaches new ideas, changes in work, or challenges with a sense of possibility, openness, positivity, and solutions-based attitude.
• Communication: Communicates authentically and respectfully to resolve conflict, even across lines of difference. Understands when and how to escalate issues through appropriate channels.
• Collaboration: Works well in a fast-paced collaborative environment. Able to work effectively with a diverse range of individuals and groups, including people who are housing insecure, people with mental disabilities, people experiencing domestic violence, students, service providers, and community partners.
• Management: Excellent time-management, priority-setting, and organizational skills, and demonstrated ability to work well independently and as part of a team. Manages one's own work, ensuring high quality and timely delivery. Demonstrates awareness of one’s own feelings, thoughts and behaviors, and their impact on others.

Bonus Qualifications

• A demonstrated commitment to LGBTQ+ and/or immigrant communities, such as experience working directly with LGBTQ+ and/or immigrant clients, or experience in project management, social services and case management, or community organizing, outreach and education for LGBTQ+ and/or immigrant communities.
• Experience working with removal cases or clients in detention
• Experience working with clients in crisis or trauma survivors
• Proficiency in French, Arabic, and/or Portuguese languages (spoken and written)

OTHER DETAILS

This is a non-exempt, hourly, full-time role (35 hours per week, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) based at the Oasis Legal Services office in Berkeley CA, with the option to work from home up to two days per week. The work schedule is subject to change based on programmatic needs, and working some evenings or weekends may be required. Candidates must be located in or willing to relocate to the San Francisco Bay Area, and able to work in a shared-office environment where there may be ambient noise and overheard conversations. Occasional travel may be required.

TO APPLY

We want to hear from you! Complete these two steps by Wednesday, March 25, 2026, for priority consideration:

1. Submit your resume and your responses to the two questions below, to

hiring@oasislegalservices.org, with the position title and your name in the subject line (example: “Paralegal, Fulano de Tal”). The two questions are:

• What interests you about this position?
• What relevant experience would you bring to this role?

1. Fill out this short application form:

bit.ly/apply-paralegal-removal-defense

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and this position is open until filled. At this time, Oasis Legal Services is not able to sponsor candidates who are not already authorized to work in the United States.

Oasis Legal Services is committed to creating an inclusive work environment for a highly-qualified staff that is diverse across many dimensions. Candidates who identify as LGBTQ+, immigrants, Black, Indigenous, and/or people of color are strongly encouraged to apply. Oasis Legal Services does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, and associated characteristics; caste or religion; gender, sex, or sexual orientation; age; national origin or ancestry; citizenship status; disability or medical condition; prior contact with the criminal justice system; or any other basis prohibited by law.

COMPENSATION

We believe in paying people fairly for the jobs they do at Oasis, and our compensation philosophy is based on the responsibilities and scope of the role, not the individual who happens to be filling the role or the geographic region where they happen to be doing that job, for example. Please note that we have a negotiation-free policy in order to apply our pay scale uniformly across the organization and create internal pay equity.

• Annual pay is commensurate with years of same-level experience in a similar role, either $65,500 for someone with up to three years of experience, or $68,500 for someone with 3+ years of experience. This pay is for working our standard full-time work schedule of seven hours per day and 35 hours per week. Candidates who advance to the final interview will be asked to provide information about their same-level experience in any similar role, if not included in their resume, as the basis for Oasis to calculate a possible job offer within our salary framework.
• Paid Time Off: Flexible paid time off policy (approximately 25 days annually), winter office closure, and 14 holidays per year including quarterly Oasis wellness days. Sabbatical leave after six years
• Employer contributions to health insurance coverage (medical, dental, vision), group life insurance, Simple IRA retirement account, and Oasis Family Leave
• Pre-tax savings on commuter benefits and Flexible Spending Accounts for health care and dependent care expenses
• Professional development funds (budget permitting)
• Relocation support for moving to the San Francisco Bay Area from another California region, U.S. state or country

Proficient in both English and Spanish languages (spoken and written). Must be able to communicate to clients in Spanish and English, without an interpreter or translator.