Bilingual Legal Assistant In Los Angeles - Shelter Work

The Immigration Center for Women and Children (ICWC) seeks a full-time legal assistant to join our multi-disciplinary team in ICWC’s Los Angeles office. The work involves providing trauma-informed services to unaccompanied immigrant children who fled abuse in their home country and are in, or released from, federal Office of Refugee and Resettlement (ORR) custody in Los Angeles and Orange Counties.

ICWC is a non-profit legal organization providing free or affordable immigration services to underrepresented women and children. Since its founding in 2004, ICWC has become a national expert in humanitarian immigration cases assisting survivors of trauma and has served over 50,000 people. We believe in a client-centered practice, compassion for immigrants and their families, and empowering survivors to overcome trauma. We strive to create a supportive workplace where self-care is valued. For more information, please visitwww.icwclaw.org.

Duties and Responsibilities may include but are not limited to:

• Maintaining program databases and case management systems to track services provided to each child and comply with grant requirements.
• Conducting child-friendly and trauma-informed legal screenings with detained youth at area shelters to assist attorneys in assessing eligibility for immigration relief, and to facilitate access to counsel for children.
• Traveling to ORR shelters in Los Angeles County approximately 1-3 days per week to provide legal services to unaccompanied children.
• Providing interpretation and translation from Spanish to English as needed at shelters, immigration appointments and at the Los Angeles office.
• Other responsibilities as assigned by the program supervisor.
• Conducting legal orientations in Spanish and English (and in other languages utilizing interpretation services) so that detained youth understand their rights while in ORR custody, after their release to a sponsor, and while in immigration proceedings.
• Regularly using Microsoft Office (email, calendaring, Word, SharePoint), Cerenade (e-Immigration air) software and forms, and Google Drive: docs + sheets.
• Supporting attorneys with diverse tasks needed in a client’s immigration case, including preparing immigration forms and filings, serving as a point of contact with clients, and drafting correspondence and declarations as needed.
• Collaborating with a team of attorneys, social workers, and legal assistants to facilitate zealous legal representation of children and support with their social service needs.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree preferred, but not required.
• Experience working with children who have experienced trauma, preferred.
• Meticulous attention to detail.
• Demonstrated commitment to immigrants'rights and ability to work effectively with people of diverse backgrounds and lived experience.
• Driver's License and access to a vehicle to drive to shelters in Los Angeles County required.
• Reliability and enthusiasm to work in fast-paced legal office and adapt to changing policies.
• Spanish language fluency: oral and written. The position requires the ability to communicate daily through oral and written communications in both Spanish and English. legal assistant will regularly interact with monolingual Spanish speakers. Please clearly specify in your application your ability to fluently communicate in both Spanish and English.
• Commitment to promoting equity and inclusion in daily work.

Benefits package includes medical, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability insurances, 403b and Roth retirement plans, FSA (flexible spending account for healthcare and commuting expenses), and some reimbursement for preventative wellness activities and parking. Generous paid time off, in addition to office closures for 13 state and federal holidays and a week-long winter break. A relocation stipend is also available.

Fulltime/onsite position

Compensation is $22-26/hour depending on experience.

Spanish and English fluency required.

Location: 634 Spring Street, Los Angeles, CA 90014

How To Apply

Submit your cover letter and resume through idealist directed to Executive Director, Suzanne McCormick. Please clearly specify in your application your ability to fluently communicate in both Spanish and English. This position is on-site and requires in-office work. Please indicate your plans to relocate to the Los Angeles area, if you have not indicated already that you live within daily-commute-distance from our Los Angeles office.