Spanish Speaking Paralegal/Legal Assistant – One-Year Position

Immigration Equality and the Immigration Equality Action Fund seek an enthusiastic paralegal/legal assistant to provide administrative support to our legal staff in New York City. We are proud to be the national leaders in the field we pioneered: lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and HIV immigration rights.

Founded in 1994, Immigration Equality has a dual focus of direct representation and impact work. We take calls every day from clients who need help right now and we work to change the systems that have lasting impact on how LGBTQ and HIV-positive immigrants are treated. We work with asylum seekers, detained individuals, and binational couples, answering thousands of hotline calls and representing more than 6oo individuals each year. We also engage in advocacy and impact litigation to protect the interests of our community. Finally, through our Action Fund, we lobby federal policymakers to pass progressive legislation consistent with our mission goals.

We dedicate ourselves to empowering and protecting one of the most vibrant, resilient, and diverse communities in the world. In more than 60 countries, it is still a crime to be LGBTQ. In many more, it is fundamentally unsafe. We are proud to do life-saving work.

Spanish Speaking Paralegal/Legal Assistant Responsibilities

We are seeking a very organized and detail-oriented individual to join our paralegal/legal assistant team of three. This full-time position currently reports to a Senior Staff Attorney, and works very closely with the other paralegals, our clients, the whole legal team, and other staff and other constituents and stakeholders. The position is currently funded for one year, with some possibility of extension.

The Spanish Speaking Paralegal/Legal Assistant will have the following responsibilities:

• Answer Immigration Equality’s telephone and respond to requests for legal assistance
• Respond to calls/letters from detained immigrants in the United States
• Respond to inquiries from LGBTQ refugees located around the world
• Maintain our client database and update our dockets
• Copy and file, gather evidence, research and index country conditions materials, etc.
• Organize and maintain materials which support refugee resettlement applications or detained cases
• File papers with immigration court/DHS or mail papers to immigration detention centers
• Translate evidence and other documents into English (and/or supervise
• volunteers on this project)
• Give social service referrals in appropriate cases
• Assist with, and screen people for new intakes and prioritize cases based on internal criteria
• Translate during phone interviews
• Assist attorneys in preparing applications and documents
• Facilitate communication with clients regarding their cases
• Represent Immigration Equality at community events and outreach efforts
• Provide general legal administrative support

Qualifications

• • College degree preferred not required
  • Must be organized and detail oriented (this position presents an excellent opportunity for an individual who is considering law school)
  • Expert in MS Office software, Word, Outlook, SharePoint, OneDrive, and Excel
  • Experience with Salesforce preferred
  • Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to collaborate with others at all levels
  • Active and quick learner and patient listener
  • Must have a sincere commitment and interest in advocating for equality for LGBTQ/HIV-positive people under U.S. immigration law
  • Must be willing and able to work from our New York City (currently Brooklyn) office, reporting to the office 2-3 days/week with the ability to work remotely 2-3 days/week.
  • Spanish fluency is required (spoken; written and reading comprehension). Proficiency in other languages would also be useful, particularly Arabic, French Somali, or Afghan languages.
  • Calm under pressure and solutions oriented
  • Ability to prioritize work and multi-task in a fast-paced environment

Immigration Equality offers outstanding benefits, including:

• • Comprehensive health, vision, and dental insurance. For some health plans, which cover the employee and their children, Immigration Equality pays 100% of premiums
  • Many health plans to choose from so you can find the best fit for you and your family
  • 3% 401(k) employer contribution (whether you contribute or not)
  • Employer paid $10K life insurance plan
  • Employer paid short and long-term disability insurance
  • Monthly cell phone allowance
  • Home office stipend
  • Paid family leave
  • Working with trauma survivors can be emotionally difficult. Experience in or receptiveness to working with trauma survivors is a must. In recognition of the challenging frontline work we do to help clients, Immigration Equality offers flex-time schedule options and very generous PTO of nearly 12 weeks off including:
  • six weeks of PTO
  • 12 scheduled holidays
  • one week of scheduled time off at year-end
  • two floating holiday days
  • one action day (to take off work and volunteer for something else you’re passionate about)
  • Summer Fridays: end work day early on Fridays between Memorial Day and Labor Day

Spanish fluency is required (spoken; written and reading comprehension). Proficiency in other languages would also be useful, particularly Arabic, French Somali, or Afghan languages.