By continuing to browse this site, you agree to our use of cookies. Read our privacy policy

Legal Assistant

Dallas, TX

  • Organization: IRC - International Rescue Committee
  • Location: Dallas, TX
  • Grade: Level not specified - Level not specified
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Legal - Broad
    • Administrative support
    • Legal
  • Closing Date: Closed

Requisition ID: req7272

Job Title: Legal Assistant

Sector: Legal

Employment Category: Regular

Employment Type: Full-Time

Open to Expatriates: No

Location: Dallas, TX USA

Job Description

The IRC opened its Dallas office in 1975 to provide reception and placement services to newly arrived refugees. The office is slated to resettle approximately 300 refugees in FY20 and provides additional programming to assist refugees and similar populations for up to five years following their arrival in the US, including case management, employment, financial capability, health education and medical case management, job readiness, youth services, public benefits navigation, psychosocial support and other services.  IRC in Dallas’ service approach is client-centered, empowerment-focused, trauma-informed, and multigenerational.

IRC seeks a bilingual Legal Assistant to join a new legal services program in Dallas to provide legal representation to unaccompanied children in federal long-term foster care. The Legal Assistant will support the Children’s Attorney and other legal program staff in providing direct legal services to represent children in applying for asylum and other humanitarian forms of relief.

Job Overview/Summary:

The Legal Assistant will support the Legal Program Director to coordinate provision of pro bono legal representation, focusing on indigent, non-detained survivors of torture seeking asylum or other forms of humanitarian relief. The Legal Assistant will not only support and assist with preparing and filing immigration applications and petitions, but will also have a passion for working with vulnerable immigrant populations, including child asylum seekers.  The bilingual Legal Assistant will have stellar interpersonal and trauma-informed listening skills, be highly organized and have excellent attention to detail, and be able to work both in a collaborative team environment and independently on assignments.

Major Responsibilities:

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the items listed below.

  • Assist in conducting intakes or follow-up meetings with unaccompanied child clients, gathering supporting documents, and preparing translations;

  • Provide interpretation for clients at interviews, as needed;

  • Assist in preparing filings for the Asylum Office, USCIS and Immigration Court;

  • Handle significant caseload providing direct legal representation to unaccompanied children before the immigration court and US Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS);

  • Open cases, create paper and electronic case files, and input data in relevant case management systems to ensure accurate and timely tracking of cases;

  • Coordinate with other IRC program staff to provide wrap-around services, where appropriate;

  • Support development of partnerships that have potential to bring valuable resources to clients;

  • Communicate with clients to provide case status updates, request documents and other information, schedule appointments, and manage other communication as needed.

  • Prepare affidavits, legal correspondence, and other documents for Legal Program Director and legal staff.

  • Translate documents written in Spanish;

  • Track deadlines for the legal team.


Qualifications

  • An undergraduate degree or equivalent work experience in the legal field;

  • Fluency in both Spanish and English required;

  • Experience in a legal setting highly desirable, but not required;

  • Excellent attention to detail, ability to multi-task, and comfort working in a fast-paced environment;

  • Demonstrated ability to work independently, solve problems and exercise sound judgement;

  • Evidence of capacity to be a strong team member in a highly collaborative social service environment;

  • Deep commitment to working with immigrants, children, asylum seekers;

  • Trauma-informed and sensitive listening and communication skills;

  • Personal integrity in handling ethically complex and confidential situations; and

  • Strong computer literacy, research, and analysis skills.

Working Environment:

  • Standard office environment combined with local travel within the service delivery area.

  • Occasional evening and weekend hours required.



 

This vacancy is now closed.
However, we have found similar vacancies for you: