Paralegal

The Organization

Oasis Legal Services is a nonprofit legal services organization with offices in Berkeley and Fresno, California. We proudly provide quality legal immigration services to under-represented low-income LGBTQ+ communities. Founded in May 2017, Oasis is now one of the country's largest providers of immigration services to the LGBTQ+ community and serves over 800 clients a year. We specialize in affirmative asylum cases as well as VAWA, lawful permanent residency, citizenship, and family petition applications. In addition to direct representation, we provide case management and other social services to at-risk clients and partner with community-based organizations from around the nation on education and advocacy projects that benefit the LGBTQ+ immigrant community.

The Position

Oasis Legal Services is seeking a Fresno-based Paralegal to support in the representation of LGBTQ+ immigrants in affirmative asylum and related immigration matters. The ideal candidate is an excellent communicator with strong writing, interpersonal, and organizational skills who works with a trauma informed lens. We are looking for someone who works well in a fast-paced collaborative environment and has experience providing immigration services and conducting outreach to low-income people along with a demonstrated commitment to the LGBTQ+ community. This position has exciting opportunities for growth and professional development, including organizational support to apply for Department of Justice Accreditation to represent clients in their immigration cases.

Primary Responsibilities

• Assist in the representation of low-income LGBTQ+ immigrants in a wide variety of immigration matters before United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS), with a specific focus on affirmative asylum cases
• Fill out immigration forms with clients, including applications for asylum, work permits, and travel documents and draft client declarations
• Manage a large caseload of clients; respond to client inquiries, questions, and requests in a timely and supportive manner
• Conduct legal immigration screenings for community members interested in our services.
• Work collaboratively with Oasis’s Social Services Program to refer and support at-risk clients.
• Conduct outreach, workshops, trainings and presentations to partner organizations, community members, other legal services providers, and local government
• Participate in collaborative partnership and support advocacy efforts to advance the wellbeing of LGBTQ+ immigrants living in the Central Valley
• Participate in trainings and other professional development activities in order to apply for Department of Justice Accredited Representative certification within one year of being hired

Qualifications

• Fluency in spoken and written Spanish required.
• Minimum of two (2) years experience in immigration legal services.
• Access to a car and possession of a valid driver license and car insurance is required. The position will require travel throughout the Central Valley to present at community meetings and events and to meet with community partners and stakeholders.
• This is a hybrid position. The candidate must be able to work three days a week onsite in our Fresno office.