Legal Assistant

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Legal Assistant
Duties: Assist with drafting and reviewing applications for relief-from-removal for clients. Point person for detained and released docket on Fridays. This task will include gathering the updates prior to the docket, briefing attorney prior to docket, providing Know Your Rights at the court, and appearing as Friend of Court before the Immigration Judge. Contact and serve parents in home country. Provide unaccompanied children “know your rights” presentations at shelters. Assist attorneys as requested in the representation of unaccompanied children regarding legal matters such as asylum, adjustment of status, naturalizations, and petitions for relatives/special immigrants’ special protected status, family unity, and employment authorization. Conduct in-depth client intake interviews. Visit with clients to obtain initial and follow-up information. Help prepare individuals for their final immigration court hearings both 1-on-1 and in group workshop settings. Responsible for maintaining a caseload; daily case management, scheduling client visits, obtaining and preparing supporting documentation, including country conditions, and legal research. Track and monitor caseload and filing deadlines. Work with team members to develop case strategies consistent with immigration law and procedure. Assist in implementing agreed-upon strategy. Provide pre-court orientation sessions and or workshops. Liaison between the attorney, family members, and the petitioner to obtain required documentation and information. Routinely check client case status with the courts. Keep family members/clients informed of the status of matters and complies with reasonable requests for information. Assist attorneys as requested with drafts of legal memorandums, motions, briefs, pre-hearing statements, and other legal documents in support of immigration benefits. Maintain complete and accurate case notes and client records. Prepare timely statistical reports. Ensure the accuracy, substance, and timeliness of data, statistical and narrative reports, projects, schedules and other relevant work products. Schedule client visits, gathers names and coordinates visitation lists, follow-up visits, or calls. Assist clients in gathering relevant evidence for their legal case. Conduct legal research as needed regarding immigration issues. Attends team meetings, trainings. Be well versed in immigration law, policies and procedures. Remain current on implications of criminal and civil law as it applies to immigrants and refugees’ representation. In accordance with required ethical standards, preserves client confidentiality and avoids conflicts of interest. Develop and maintain professional relationships with the Immigration Court (EOIR) and the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS), government and social service organizations, and community organizations. Communicate and interpret immigration and department policies and programs to the public, including public speaking on such matters as “Know Your Rights” and other matters as requested. Pre-court counseling sessions, and representation in front of the immigration court, family court, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Communicate with experts or witnesses as needed. Investigate and develop evidence to support clients' fear-based claims, such as drafting client declarations, witness letters and obtaining supporting documents from feared country of return. Conduct translations. Conduct case and legal research (e.g., country conditions). Refer clients who are released from ICE custody to appropriate pro bono resources in their destination community when such resources are available and develop a compilation of packets of support. Assist with asylum workshops for unrepresented detained individuals. Data Entry, timekeeping, and file management. Enter required organizational and client information into required databases, maintain data entry requirements by following data program techniques and procedures. Verify entered client biographical information by reviewing, correcting, deleting, or reentering data. Ensure no duplication of files. Maintain client confidence and protect operations by keeping information confidential. Sort and handle detention center mail and request forms, upload electronic copies of mail to electronic files where appropriate. Generate form response letters to client inquiries where appropriate. Prepare paper filings and copies of court documents for legal staff and clients. Prepare monthly statistics for gran reporting purposes. Work with legal staff to organize and maintain client files (both paper and electronic). Stock, save, and update pro se packets when needed. Other duties as necessary—which may include: coverage of reception duties, traveling to other facilities to get signatures, translations, assisting with document collection, scanning, photocopying, collating, and faxing information. Prepare, proofread, and send documents as assigned. Participate in organizational fundraising and outreach efforts as requested. Participate in developing and implementing special projects or presentations. Other duties as assigned

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