The Immigration Law Unit (ILU) in The Legal Aid Society’s Civil Practice is a recognized leader in providing high-quality representation to non-citizens in all five boroughs of New York City and surrounding counties. Our staff of almost 100 attorneys, social workers, and paralegals across six different projects and initiatives works collaboratively to provide client-centered, interdisciplinary, and comprehensive legal services.

The ILU is seeking a Paralegal Casehandler to join its Immigrant Opportunities Initiative (IOI). The Paralegal Casehandler will handle a wide range of affirmative applications before the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and other federal immigration authorities. A minimum two-year commitment is required to enable a Paralegal to become a Department of Justice Partially- Accredited Representative with privileges to practice before the USCIS.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide client representation before USCIS in immigration applications including but not limited to adjustment of status, U visas, citizenship, and employment authorization documents
• Assist attorneys with litigation tasks, including but not limited to requesting criminal court documents and filing information requests from various immigration agencies
• Prepare appropriate relief applications and draft affidavits on behalf of immigrant clients.
• Work with clients to gather information and documentation
• Advocate on behalf of immigrants seeking benefits and assistance from other agencies
• Maintain, organize, and update case files and case management database (LawManager)
• Enter and search data on various databases, including OCA CRIMS
• This position may require off-site work and evening hours
• Other duties as assigned

• Paralegal certificate from an ABA-accredited paralegal program or Bachelor’s degree in relevant field required
• Experience in and/or commitment to advocacy on behalf of low-income people and immigrants is strongly desired
• Knowledge of immigration law is strongly desired
• Experience assisting people in crisis is desirable
• Excellent writing, verbal, and computer skills
• Excellent organizational skills
• Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively in a team
• Ability to work efficiently and under time constraints to meet deadlines
• Ability to manage a reasonable volume of work and solve problems creatively
• Ability to coordinate and collaborate successfully with other groups and organizations
• Commitment to protecting the rights of low-income clients
• Proficiency in Spanish highly desirable

SALARY TRANSPARENCY

The posting reflects the range of potential salaries for the role. The specific salary offers will be dependent on candidate qualifications, including collectively bargained salary steps for unionized roles.

Salary Range/Salary: $60,033 – $91,932

SALARY AND BENEFITS

The leadership of The Legal Aid Society believes in attracting and retaining exceptional talent committed to serving our clients. We offer a generous benefits package including health insurance, paid vacation, disability, and life insurance, and more. Salaries for our unionized jobs are governed by our Collective Bargaining Agreement. Please visit our Careers page for additional information. Salary and benefits information will be available to applicants, when and if an offer is made.

Click here to read more about the benefits of working at The Legal Aid Society 

HIGHER EDUCATION AND LOAN FORGIVENESS

The Legal Aid Society is a qualified employer for the purposes of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness. This position allows an employee to take advantage of PSLF and other State and Federal loan forgiveness programs.

Additionally, employees who are New York residents may be eligible for assistance from New York state to assist with loan repayments, depending on years of practice. To learn more, click the links below.

studentaid.gov 

hesc.ny.gov/loan-forgiveness-programs 

OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION

The leadership of The Legal Aid Society is committed to a work culture of zealous advocacy, respect, diversity and inclusion, client-oriented defense, access to justice and excellent representation. We are dedicated to building a strong professional relationship with each of our clients, to understanding their diverse circumstances, and to meeting their needs. Our ability to achieve these goals depends on the efforts of all of us.

WORK AUTHORIZATION

All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States for any employer without sponsorship for a work visa or permit. We are currently unable to sponsor employment visas or permits. (However, for citizens of Canada and Mexico, LAS will provide a letter documenting employment status that is needed to obtain a TN visa.)

HOW TO APPLY

All applications must be completed online. We do not accept paper submissions. Please visit our Careers Page to review all current job postings, and instructions on the application process. For technical difficulties or questions regarding this posting, please email jo**************@le*******.org.

As an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer, The Legal Aid Society prohibits discriminatory employment actions against and treatment of its employees and applicants for employment based on actual or perceived race or color, size (including bone structure, body size, height, shape, and weight), religion or creed, alienage or citizenship status, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity (one’s internal deeply-held sense of one’s gender which may be the same or different from one’s sex assigned at birth); gender expression (the representation of gender as expressed through, for example, one’s name, choice of pronouns, clothing, haircut, behavior, voice, or body characteristics; gender expression may not conform to traditional gender-based stereotypes assigned to specific gender identities), disability, marital status, relationship and family structure (including domestic partnerships, polyamorous families and individuals, chosen family, platonic co-parents, and multigenerational families), genetic information or predisposing genetic characteristics, military status, domestic violence victim status, arrest or pre-employment conviction record, credit history, unemployment status, caregiver status, salary history, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Please submit these documents as a single combined PDF when you apply via the LAS (Legal Aid Society) Recruitment Portal.

• Cover letter
• Resume