Paralegal/DOJ-Partially Accredited Representative - Immigration

East Bay Community Law Center (EBCLC) is a non-profit legal services organization, the community-based clinical program for U.C. Berkeley Law School, and one of the Bay Area’s largest and most effective systems disrupters. With a dual service and teaching mission, EBCLC is a racial justice organization committed to building a culturally diverse workplace, centered on equity. With about 80 staff, 150 law students a year, and a nearly $10 million annual budget, EBCLC is the largest provider of free legal services in Alameda County, providing multimodal, collaborative, and holistic legal services to over 5,000 clients annually and engaging in legislative and policy advocacy at the state and local level.

EBCLC’s Immigration team includes 8 attorneys, 5 paralegals/DOJ Accredited Representatives, 1 program coordinator, and 1 social worker. The team provides a full range of legal and social work services to immigrants with limited income with a focus on the most underserved populations—people with disabilities and chronic illness, members of the LGBTQ community, youth, and existing EBCLC clients with other legal issues. Attorneys and advocates counsel and represent individuals in matters including Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, Adjustment of Status, deportation defense, DACA, immigration effects of criminal convictions, Naturalization, Asylum, public benefits eligibility, waivers, T visas, and U visas. The practice represents clients before the asylum office, the United States Citizenship, and Immigration Services (USCIS), Immigration Court, and on appeal before the Board of Immigration Appeals.

The Immigration Paralegal/DOJ-Partially Accredited Representative assists with client intake and screening and supports the application process for a wide variety of immigration remedies and provides administrative support to staff attorneys. The Immigration Paralegal/DOJ-Partially Accredited Representative enjoys substantial responsibilities in a fast-paced and dynamic work environment with competing priorities and deadlines, enjoys both working with a team and independently, excels at time management, has strong interpersonal skills, and performs detail-oriented research and writing.

Primary Responsibilities

Work on a holistic-oriented legal team providing direct representation, screening, informational workshops, office hours, and outreach to residents of the East Bay and to students at UC Berkeley, local community colleges, and La Clínica de la Raza’s school-based health centers
Provide administrative support to attorneys and law students with the preparation, serving, and filing of legal pleadings (including preparation of exhibits and materials) in immigration, and state courts
Screen individuals – over the phone, through email, in the office, and at off-site locations – for eligibility for immigration services, assess legal issues and provide or coordinate appropriate follow-up for assistance
Initiate, coordinate, and organize outreach and trainings with community-based organizations and social service agencies
Enter data into the client database to ensure accurate accounting of information and services as required for grant or project reporting
Manage client documents and files, including reading, analyzing, and organizing case-related, time-sensitive records, and assessing conflicts
Provide translation assistance by translating legal documents from Spanish into English, drafting correspondence (including records requests) in both English and Spanish, and interpreting for client meetings and USCIS interviews as needed
Collaborate with internal and external service providers to link clients with housing, education, public benefits, and other social service resources
If eligible to become a DOJ-Partially Accredited Legal Representative, work with clients as a primary legal advocate on a caseload comprised of, but not limited to, Naturalization, DACA, Adjustment of Status, USCIS interviews, document renewals (employment authorization documents, lawful permanent resident cards, etc.), and preliminary investigation matters (FOIA requests, criminal record requests, etc.)
Additional tasks as assigned by Supervisor

Requirements
Unless already a DOJ Accredited Legal Representative, meets education, training or work experience to be qualified as a paralegal under CA Business and Professions Code section 6450(c), which can include a certificate of completion of a paralegal program approved by the ABA or a BA degree with a minimum one year of law-related experience
Fluency in Spanish with demonstrated ability to accurately and professionally translate legal documents and interpret between English and Spanish
Demonstrated proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, case management, and legal forms software and databases. Able to pick up new computer skills quickly
Ability to work under pressure and in an empathetic and professional manner
Passion for the principles of racial justice, equity and for advancing the mission and work of EBCLC to increase justice through education and advocacy
Strong verbal and written communication skills
Excellent organizational skills; ability to be detail-oriented, multi-task, set priorities, and work independently, but in close coordination with other Immigration staff
Ability to work effectively with a diverse range of groups, including people of color, people experiencing homelessness, immigrants, non-English speakers, people with mental disabilities, people experiencing domestic violence, law students, service providers, government employees, community partners, elected officials, and law school faculty
Desired Qualifications

Prior experience providing services to immigrants with limited income
Paralegal experience is highly desirable
Workplace Expectations

EBCLC is a hybrid workplace. The Immigration Paralegal/DOJ-Partially Accredited Representative will need to attend in-person client appointments, court proceedings, interviews, and/or engage in in-person fieldwork to support our clients. Your supervisor will review EBCLC’s Office Use Protocol with you, which outlines the safety protocols employees are expected to follow when using the office.?

Salary and Benefits

Starting salary for this non-exempt position is $62,000-$73,000 based on years of relevant experience as dictated by the EBCLC salary scale. The same salary range applies to Paralegals and DOJ-Partially Accredited Representatives. However, DOJ Accredited Representatives receive an additional annual $1,000 salary differential. The paralegal or DOJ-Partially Accredited Representative will also be eligible for an annual $500 multilingual salary differential after successfully completing their 90-day introductory period.

Benefits include fully paid health insurance (medical, dental, and vision) for employees and their dependents, life and disability insurance, and generous paid leave (vacation, sick, and holidays); EBCLC also offers flexible spending accounts for qualified health, dependent care, and commute expenditures; and retirement options.

Working at EBCLC

EBCLC is a unionized workplace and members of the bargaining unit are represented by the Engineers and Scientists of California Local 20, IFPTE.

EBCLC is strongly committed to advancing justice through education and advocacy, and the need to transform legal services and legal education. Please take time to review EBCLC’s mission, vision, programs, and website, and ensure that your cover letter reflects how your background, experience, and expertise have prepared you to be successful in performing the responsibilities of the position.

Additionally, EBCLC is committed to building a culturally diverse workplace centered on equity and providing an inclusive, welcoming, and culturally responsive environment for all members of our staff, volunteers, subcontractors, vendors, and clients.

To achieve this goal, EBCLC works actively to improve our office climate, systems and structures, communications, and community engagement to create an inclusive and respectful workplace where differences are acknowledged and valued. In your cover letter, please address how your personal background and experiences, professional or otherwise, have prepared you to contribute to our commitment to cultural responsiveness and diversity amongst our staff.

We strongly encourage individuals from traditionally underrepresented communities to apply. EBCLC does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, sex, gender, gender expression, gender identity, age, national origin, ancestry, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, prior contact with the criminal legal system, or any other basis prohibited by law.

How To Apply

Qualified applicants can use the link below to submit an application.

https://recruiting.paylocity.com/recruiting/jobs/Apply/1938724/East-Bay-...

A complete application must include a cover letter, resume, short writing sample, and names/contact information for three professional references. The position will remain open until filled. EBCLC will review applications and interview applicants on a rolling basis and will only review complete applications.