Intake Paralegal, Immigration Practice

Brooklyn Defender Services (BDS) is seeking an Intake Paralegal to join our Immigration Practice.

BDS is a public defense office representing low-income New Yorkers in criminal, family, immigration, and civil legal matters. Our work with clients is focused on the intersection of the legal systems that disproportionately impact Black and Brown people living below the poverty level in Brooklyn.

BDS represents thousands of people each year who have diverse, complex, and multi-faceted legal needs. In addition to a zealous legal defense, our interdisciplinary teams of attorneys, social workers and advocates provide a wide range of legal and advocacy services, including housing, public benefits, education, and employment issues. 

BDS’s Immigration Practice is a collaborative team that represents people in detained and non-detained removal proceedings as well as affirmative applications before U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

Under the direct supervision of the Intake and USCIS Supervisor, the Intake Paralegal will provide intake and administration support to the Immigration Practice. The Intake Paralegal will be the first point of contact for clients referred to the immigration practice to gather information and documentation to facilitate assignment to immigration team members. The Intake Paralegal will also be in contact and assist with referrals for people the Immigration Practice is unable to assist. This will require interviews with potential clients, requests for documentation from courts, medical providers, and police departments, and requesting records through Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Requests to USCIS, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR). The Intake Paralegal is expected to work towards DOJ Accreditation and upon accreditation, will provide direct representation.

Responsibilities

• Conduct initial interviews to determine eligibility for services, identify basic case facts, and identify basic legal issues.
• Collect initial evidence– including by filing FOIA requests with USCIS, EOIR, ICE, and CBP, requesting records from Courts and Police, requesting medical records, and conducting detailed interviews with clients.
• Once accredited, provide representation to immigration clients on applications under the supervision of an attorney.
• Assist with completion of intake and grant paperwork in BDS case management system.
• Provide referrals to external or internal services, when appropriate.
• Apply for DOJ Accreditation and maintain status through appropriate trainings.
• Additional duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Associate’s degree, paralegal certificate, 2 years of finished college courses or equivalent experience in the immigration legal system.
• Experience as an Accredited Representative (DOJ) strongly preferred.
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail and highly cognizant of deadlines, due to the general inflexibility of the immigration authorities regarding deadline extension.
• Good written and oral communications skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including an ability to work independently and in a team setting.
• Ability to take responsibility for multiple assignments at the same time, ensuring that all tasks are completed fully and timely.
• Proficiency in Adobe Pro and Microsoft 365 Suite programs (Outlook, Word, Excel, etc.)
• Experience with digital case management systems.
• Notary Public or willingness to become one.
• Fluency or high proficiency in Spanish is preferred.

Position Information  

This is a non-exempt, salaried position. The normal schedule is Monday to Friday 9am-5pm. The position is based at BDS’s offices, and the courts located in Downtown Brooklyn. For this position there is a 3 day per week in-office requirement.

BDS determines salary on a pay scale based on education and experience. For this position there is a base salary range of $53,955-$80,955 depending on the applicant’s education and experience. BDS offers comprehensive benefits including health insurance and a 403(b) retirement plan. In order to support work/life balance and family-friendly policies, BDS has generous vacation, sick, holiday, family, and medical leave policies. 

Application Instructions     

Click HER to submit a cover letter and resume on our online application portal. Applications will be reviewed until the position is filled.  We recommend you submit your application by 9/15/2024.

Brooklyn Defender Services is a proud equal opportunity employer committed to celebrating diversity and maintaining an equitable and inclusive work environment. We strongly encourage candidates of all identities, expressions, orientations, disabilities, and experiences to apply. If you require an accommodation due to a disability or another reason, please contact the Managing Director, H.R., Christina Wallace, at cwallace@bds.org.