Paralegal

Description

About the Organization

Canal Alliance exists to break the generational cycle of poverty for Latino immigrants and their families by lifting barriers to their success. Canal Alliance is a nonprofit champion of immigrants who are challenged by a lack of resources and an unfamiliar environment. Every day, we educate, empower, support, and partner with motivated immigrants to best meet all their unique needs—from putting food on the table, to becoming American citizens, to learning English, to graduating from college.

Canal Alliance strives for a trauma-informed collaborative and inclusive culture. We invest in high quality services, professional development and work-life balance. 

Position Summary

Canal Alliance seeks a full-time bilingual Immigration Paralegal to join its Immigration Legal Services Team. The bilingual Immigration Paralegal works closely with and reports to the Supervising Attorney to perform both legal and administrative functions.  

Essential Functions

• Conduct client intakes and consultations.
• Monitor voicemail messages and return client calls.
• Confirm client appointments.
• Keep accurate notes of client communications in LawLogix.
• Maintain client files and file room in order.
• Input information about received mail into client database.
• File incoming mail in client files.
• Prepare forms, letters, and applications to obtain deferred status, work permits, legal permanent residence, and other USCIS humanitarian programs under attorney supervision.
• Conduct legal research.
• Translate documents from Spanish to English and from English to Spanish.
• Interpret (Spanish/English) for clients at interviews with United States Citizenship and Immigration Services.
• Participate in regular peer review meetings, attend immigration legal trainings and behavioral health trainings as needed. 
• Attend Canal Alliance staff meetings and ILS departmental meetings.
• Other tasks or special projects as assigned by the supervising attorney.  

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree
• Minimum of 1 year of experience working in immigration law under the supervision of an attorney. 
• Bilingual - Spanish and English written & oral fluency.
• Knowledge of Microsoft applications including Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.
• Commitment to serving immigrants and sensitivity to the needs of low-income, vulnerable clients.
• Able to sit for an extended period and sufficient mobility to work in standard office/courtroom settings.
• Canal Alliance requires all staff be COVID vaccinated with the exception of those who have medical or religious beliefs exemptions.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Knowledge and Experience with Family Based Immigration; DACA; TPS; U Visas; T Visas; VAWA and SIJS.
• Excellent attention to detail, organizational, communication, writing and analytical skills.
• Ability to meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment and excel working individually/remotely as well as in a team setting. 
• Previous DOJ accreditation preferred but not required. 
• Must be willing to seek accreditation within 3 months after completing a Comprehensive Overview of Immigration Law (COIL) course. 
• Experience working with LawLogix or other legal case management software

Compensation & Benefits

This is a full-time, non-exempt position with benefits. We offer a competitive salary range from $28-$30/hour with a benefits package that includes:

• 3 weeks paid vacation per year
• 12 days of sick leave per year
• Paid Birthday each year
• 16 paid holidays per year
• 100% paid employee medical & dental insurance, life insurance, LTD, and EAP.
• 403(b)-retirement plan with employer match of up to 4% after 3 months of employment.
• Voluntary benefits include FSA, vision, life, and pet insurance, as well as coverage for dependents.
• Telehealth for physical and mental health

Canal Alliance is running a 4 Day Work Week Pilot from February to June 2024: Work 4 days / 32 hours in a highly effective and efficient team - and get paid 5 days /40 hours! Shifts are Mon-Thurs 9am-5pm.

Location

This position is fully on-site at our office in San Rafael with occasionally hybrid opportunity, requiring 3-4 days per week in office, and attendance at quarterly in-person staff retreats.

Canal Alliance Equity & Inclusion Statement

Canal Alliance actively promotes and recognizes principles of fairness, equity and socia