Temporary Paralegal

About NYLAG:

Founded in 1990, NYLAG is a leading civil legal services organization combatting economic, racial, and social injustice by advocating for people experiencing poverty or in crisis. Our services include comprehensive, free civil legal services, financial empowerment, impact litigation, policy advocacy, and community partnerships. NYLAG exists because wealth should not determine who has access to justice. We aim to disrupt systemic racism by serving individuals and families whose legal and financial crises are often rooted in racial inequality. NYLAG goes to where the need is, providing services in more than 150 community sites (e.g. courts, hospitals, libraries) and on our Mobile Legal Help Center. During COVID-19, most of our services are virtual to keep our community safe. NYLAG’s staff of 350 impacted the lives of nearly 113,000 people last year.

Job description:

The New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG) seeks a highly motivated bilingual paralegal for a temporary position representing individuals and families in applications for immigration relief, assisting with our intake process, and will support our work with the Ukrainian community. This position will help monitor an intake e-mail box, pre-screen individuals for assistance from our hotline, field referrals from partners, make appointments, assist with clinic preparation and day-of work, and file affirmative applications including, but not limited to: re-parole, Temporary Protected Status, Employment Authorization Applications, and Adjustments of Status. Applicants must be prepared to handle a high volume of correspondence and cases, and interact with a diverse population in a sensitive and professional manner. This position is temporary until September 2024.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Manage intake/clinic/unit email account, conduct pre-screening of clients for basic eligibility requirements, schedule appointments for full screenings, track contacts made, and collect documents.
• Assist clients to obtain the documents necessary to apply for relief from the US Citizenship and Integration Service (USCIS), fill out appropriate forms, and follow up with clients via phone, mail and email;
• Manage data entry in internal and external data management systems and assist with generating reports;
• Attend screening and application assistance clinics, both in-person and virtual, with staff and pro bono attorneys
• Assist unit attorneys and case handlers with document translation and verbal interpretation
• Provide internal referrals for financial counseling and other wraparound services, and external referrals to partner organizations;
• Maintain regular contact with Coordinating Paralegal and Supervising Attorney;
• Any other job duties as required.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree required
• Fluency in Ukrainian or Russian is required
• 1-2 years of immigration experience preferred, but not required
• Experience working with diverse populations
• Ability to work with individuals with disabilities and seniors in providing naturalization assistance
• Excellent written, oral and analytical skills
• Demonstrated ability to take initiative and work independently in an off-site context.

NYLAG’s Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

NYLAG is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. People of color, women, people with disabilities, immigrants, veterans, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people, and those with lived experiences in the communities we serve are strongly encouraged to apply.

Employment type:

X Full-time

X Temporary

Professional Level:

X Entry Level

Salary Range:

NYLAG is a unionized workplace, and salaries are set pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement. The current salary range for this position is between $53,574--$60,876.

Application Instructions: Please save resume and cover letter on one pdf.

Covid Vaccination Policy:Please note, to safeguard the health and well-being of our employees and clients, NYLAG requires all employees to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19, unless a medical or religious exemption is approved.

NYLAG is committed to a hybrid work policy for staff whose work does not require their full-time presence in the office. NYLAG’s current policy is that most staff are required to work in NYLAG’s offices or do other in-person work at least two days each week. This policy is subject to change.