Paralegal

Esperanza Immigrant Rights Project, a program of Catholic Charities of Los Angeles, Inc., is a non-profit law firm which provides community education and legal representation to Southern California’s most vulnerable immigrant communities. Esperanza provides legal representation to immigrants who are in detention and/or removal proceedings, and focuses on particularly complex immigration cases which may involve unaccompanied minors, mental health issues, and cases with past criminal or gang history. Esperanza has provided legal services to immigrants and their families in Los Angeles for over 10 years. More information can be found about Esperanza at www.esperanza-la.org

Summary:

The paralegal provides substantive legal and administrative support and assistance to attorneys engaged in direct representation and community education. The Paralegal will be responsible for preparing applications with clients and gathering and organizing supporting documents for submission to US Citizenship and Immigration Services, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Executive Office for Immigration Review, the Board of Immigration Appeals, or state courts as needed. Additionally, the Paralegal will conduct community education classes as needed, and interview potential clients to assist attorneys in determining eligibility for immigration legal rights and benefits. The Paralegal will work with clients and their families to gather documents needed for representation and directs individuals whom Esperanza attorneys cannot assist to resources that could assist them. The Paralegal will provide support to attorneys in creating and properly maintaining client files and field phone calls from potential clients and their families.

Responsibilities:

• Provide substantive case support through working with clients to gather evidence, complete legal forms and applications, and compose court motions for submission to Immigration Authorities and State Courts
• Ensure proper client file creation and maintenance.
• Conduct community education classes and client intake.
• Assist attorneys with scheduling and court filing deadlines.
• Provide additional administrative support as needed.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in related field or at least 5 years of related experience;
• Paralegal certificate, prior work as a paralegal, or relevant paralegal-type coursework highly desirable;
• Proficiency in oral and written Spanish required;
• Experience working in a legal office, especially with immigration and/or criminal law preferred;
• Experience working with immigrant communities preferred.

This is a hybrid position