Immigration Legal Assistant

Job Overview/Summary:

IRC Sacramento seeks a bilingual Legal Assistant to join its immigration legal team, including attorneys and/or Department of Justice (DOJ) accredited representatives, in representing Ukrainians in affirmative applications, such as Temporary Protected Status, asylum, and family-based adjustment of status, in addition to representing a limited number of Ukrainians in removal proceedings. The Legal Assistant will support and assist the attorney with gathering information and evidence, preparing and filing immigration applications and petitions before the USCIS and in EOIR immigration court, and maintaining contact with clients. The Legal Assistant may also assist in facilitating Know Your Rights workshops, presentations, and trainings, whether client-facing or for the benefit of the IRC in Sacramento’s network of pro bono attorneys. The ideal candidate will have a clear passion for working with vulnerable immigrant populations, trauma-informed listening skills, be highly organized, have excellent attention to detail, and be able to work both in a collaborative team environment and independently on assignments.

Major Responsibilities:

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the items listed below.

· Assist in conducting intakes or follow-up meetings with clients, gathering supporting documents

· Provide interpretation for clients at interviews and during meetings, as needed;

· Translate documents written in Ukrainian and/or Russian;

· Assist in preparing filings for the Asylum Office, USCIS and EOIR Immigration Court;

· Prepare affidavits, legal correspondence, and other documents for the legal staff;

· Open cases, create paper and electronic case files, and input data in relevant case management systems to ensure accurate and timely tracking of cases;

· Communicate with clients to provide case status updates, request documents and other information, schedule appointments, and manage other communication as needed;

· Assist in facilitating Know Your Rights workshops, presentations, and trainings;

· Track deadlines for the legal team;

· Coordinate with other IRC program staff to provide wrap-around services, where appropriate; and

· Support development of partnerships that have potential to bring valuable resources to clients.

Job Requirements:

· Fluency in Ukrainian, Russian, and English required;

· An undergraduate degree or equivalent work experience in the legal field;

· Experience in a legal setting highly desirable, but not required;

· Excellent attention to detail, ability to multi-task, and comfort working in a fast-paced environment;

· Demonstrated ability to work independently, solve problems and exercise sound judgment;

· Evidence of capacity to be a strong team member in a highly collaborative social service environment;

· Deep commitment to working with immigrants, asylum seekers;

· Trauma-informed and sensitive listening and communication skills;

· Personal integrity in handling ethically complex and confidential situations; and

· Strong computer literacy, research, and analysis skills.

Working Environment:**

· Standard office environment combined with local travel within the service delivery area.

· Occasional evening and weekend hours required.

COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement: In accordance with IRC’s duty to provide and maintain a workplace that is free of known hazards and our commitment to safeguard the health of our employees, clients, and communities, IRC requires new hires to furnish proof of vaccination against COVID-19 in order to be considered for any in-office or hybrid positions. All IRC US offices require full vaccination to attend any in-office functions (e.g., meetings, trainings).

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusivity: IRC is committed to building a diverse organization and a climate of inclusivity. We strongly encourage applications from candidates who can demonstrate that they can contribute to this goal.

Equal Opportunity Employer: We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

US Benefits: We offer a comprehensive and highly competitive set of benefits. In the US, these include: 10 sick days, 10 US holidays, 20-25 paid time off days depending on role and tenure, medical insurance starting at $120 per month, dental starting at $7 per month, and vision starting at $5 per month, FSA for healthcare and commuter costs, a 403b retirement savings plans with immediately vested matching, disability & life insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program which is available to our staff and their families to support counseling and care in times of crisis and mental health struggles.