Full-Time Staff Attorney
Job Description
About KIND:
Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) is a global leader in the protection of unaccompanied refugee and migrant children. Launched in 2008, KIND champions a world in which every child’s rights and well-being are protected throughout their journey to safety. Since 2008, KIND has accepted over 23,000 referrals of children seeking legal representation in their immigration proceedings. KIND has welcomed more than 41,000 attendees to trainings since its founding, cultivating partnerships with over 670 law firms, corporate legal departments, law schools, and bar associations across the country.
KIND’s social services program ensures that migrant and refugee children – who have often endured trauma – receive counseling, educational support, medical care and other comprehensive services.
To address the root causes of child migration from Central America and strengthen protection of unaccompanied children, KIND advocates for policy changes and educates lawmakers, the media, and the broader public on the conditions that drive these children to flee their home countries. KIND supports children returning to their home countries by connecting them to essential support services and sponsors gender-based violence prevention programs in Central America to protect children in countries of origin and transit.
KIND is also building upon its expertise in the protection of unaccompanied children to encourage the development of pro bono initiatives across Europe in partnership with European NGOs.
Position Summary:
KIND seeks a Paralegal to support our delivery of legal services to unaccompanied children who are currently in or have been recently released from local immigration detention facilities. Support will be provided through a range of tasks in coordination with attorneys, including providing legal orientations, conducting client intakes, doing legal research, preparing immigration forms, drafting affidavits, maintaining files and data, preparing for hearings, and conducting social services referrals.
Essential Functions:
- Work with a team of paralegals, under attorney supervision, to screen unaccompanied children in immigration detention for immigration relief and provide legal orientations to such children.
- Conduct prompt and accurate data entry regarding each child on your docket.
- Make necessary referrals to legal service providers depending on the location to which the child is released.
- Provide support to attorneys, including conducting legal research; filling out immigration benefit and other standard forms; drafting affidavits and basic motions; assisting with hearing and interview preparation; maintaining case files and data entry in case management database; and other tasks as needed;
- Conduct client phone screenings and intake interviews and draft intake memoranda;
- Provide support to pro bono attorneys during case placement and assist with administrative and planning tasks related to pro bono attorney training and mentoring;
- Serve as point of contact for locally released clients, proactively ensuring that case files and case management system reflect current contact information and status updates on case developments and child’s wellbeing;
- For direct representation cases, conduct regular check-ins with the child, particularly in cases in which case adjudication is delayed; update attorney and Senior Paralegal regarding new developments, as needed;
- For pro bono cases, assist in case audit efforts, ensuring that updates from pro bono attorneys regarding case status and child’s wellbeing and timely and accurately recorded;
- Ensure appropriate processing and data entry for referrals and intakes;
- Liaise with Social Services Coordinator regarding social services needs and referrals; assist with social services projects depending on office needs; work collaboratively to achieve programmatic goals where legal services/social services intersect.
Qualifications and Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree
- 1+ years’ experience working with at-risk youth, immigrants, refugees, and/or vulnerable populations
- Advanced fluency in Spanish language
- Excellent organizational, time management skills, and attention to detail
- Strong cultural competency and cross-cultural communication skills
- Ability to work collaboratively with multiple attorneys and non-attorney colleagues
- Ability to communicate clearly and effectively in writing
- Ability to adapt to a high-volume workload with fast-changing deadlines and priorities
- Experience conducting legal intakes or interviewing children preferred
- Experience working in an office setting preferred
- Ability to work within an office environment and have regular interaction via telephone, videoconference, IM, and email with KIND’s team
- Regular/weekly travel to local immigration detention facilities required for this position.
Application Instructions:
Please be advised that an employment application will need to be submitted along with your resume and cover letter, in order to be considered for the desired role.
KIND has an organization-wide commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. We strive to create a work environment where everyone has a sense of belonging. Individuals from historically underrepresented or underserved communities are strongly encouraged to apply.
How to Apply
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