Status: Full-Time, Specific Term (through December 2024 with possible renewal upon receipt of funding).
Location: Red Bank, New Jersey
Application Deadline: May 19, 2023
For consideration, please attach your Cover Letter and Resume to the online application in addition to answering the Application Questions.
BACKGROUND:
The American Friends Service Committee promotes a longstanding Quaker concern for the causes and impact of human migration. Since 1988, the Immigrant Rights Program based in New Jersey has worked to increase the protection of the rights of immigrants and refugees through legal representation, community education, community organizing, monitoring of rights, advocacy, and training.
Since 1996, the AFSC has provided legal counseling and representation to thousands of immigrants, including people in detention, asylum seekers, youth, families, and survivors of domestic violence and other crimes. AFSC has also conducted training sessions and education to immigrant communities, social service providers and attorneys in New Jersey.
SUMMARY OF PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES
The Legal Assistant will be part of a team providing immigration legal services to low- income immigrants in Monmouth and Ocean Counties. The Legal Assistant is responsible for maintaining a client caseload, and prepares forms, applications, and letters to be submitted to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), under the direction of the Managing Attorney.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS/RESPONSIBILITIES: The key responsibilities of the Legal Assistant include the following:
- Under the direction of the Managing Attorney, conduct initial consultations with clients to determine eligibility for various immigration benefits, with a primary focus on family-based immigration, VAWA and U-visas, adjustment of status and naturalization applications. Complete applications using Docketwise forms and case management system and submit to USCIS.
- Maintain client files in good order and up-to-date.
- Maintain up-to-date case information on Docketwise and prepare periodic reports on casework, including statistical data.
- Answer telephone calls and schedule client appointments.
- Respond to calls from immigrants who call our hotline and direct them to available services and resources.
- Compile quarterly narrative and statistical data regarding case consultation and case representation. Assist in the documentation of the project’s experiences and in the preparation of AFSC quarterly reports and reports to funding sources.
- Receive immigration fees from clients, provide receipts, and send bills as necessary to clients.
- Translate documents from Spanish to English.
- Participate in AFSC staff meetings and case reviews.
- Attend periodic immigration law training sessions and conferences.
- Participate in community meetings to provide information on immigration laws to the immigrant community.
- Participate in advocacy efforts to effect changes in immigration law and policy.
- Support administrative needs including sending out mail, checking and responding to voice mail messages, ensuring maintenance of office supplies.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
EDUCATION: Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent education/training.
EXPERIENCE:
- Prior experience in an immigration law setting preferred.
- Demonstrated commitment to social justice and interest in immigrant rights.
- Must take initiative, be able to exercise sound judgment, be highly organized and detail-oriented, and possess strong time-management skills.
- Fluency in written and oral English and Spanish required.
- Demonstrated success working with vulnerable populations.
- Strong written and oral communication skills including public speaking.
- Self-motivated, detail oriented, well-organized, able to prioritize assignments and workload.
- Ability to communicate effectively and build mutually respectful relationships with co-workers, clients, and the public.
- Familiarity with software applications in a Windows environment, including Microsoft Word, Excel and Docketwise
OTHER REQUIRED SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
- Commitment to Quaker values and testimonies. Understanding of and compatibility with the principles and philosophy of the American Friends Service Committee including non-violence and the belief in the intrinsic worth of every individual.
- Understanding of and commitment to the principles, concerns, and considerations, of AFSC in regard to issues of race, class, nationality, religion, age, gender and sexual orientation, and disabilities. Demonstrated ability to work and communicate with diverse staff.
COMPENSATION: Salary Range 14 ($52,929-$71,452), commensurate with experience) – Exempt – Comprehensive medical and hospitalization plan; term life, accident and salary continuation insurances, defined benefit pension plan, plus fringe benefits; participation in unemployment and worker’s compensation and social security.
The American Friends Service Committee is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified persons are encouraged to apply regardless of their religious affiliation, race, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation or disability.
AFSC maintains a deep commitment to a mandate of care for our staff and communities, and thus requires vaccination and have at least one booster shot for COVID-19; as well as adherence to social distancing, masking, and office occupancy protocols.
AFSC’s Central Office and some of its offices in the U.S. are unionized workplaces. This position is represented under the Northeast Region’s Collective Bargaining Agreement.
The American Friends Service Committee is a smoke-free workplace.