Senior Paralegal - Detained - New York City

Kids in Need of Defense (KIND)

3mo ago

Job
Full-time
Mid & Senior Level
Legal
New York
Quick Apply

AI generated summary

You must have a BA degree & 1 yr exp or HS diploma & 5 yrs exp. Fluent in Spanish/English. Exp working with at-risk youth & immigrants. Strong organizational, time management, & communication skills. Ability to work independently, in teams, and with detained populations.
You will oversee program functions, train paralegals, conduct legal research and filings, maintain case records, assist with client preparations, supervise interns, track metrics, provide pro bono training, assess social service needs, and handle direct representation cases as needed.

Requirements

Undergraduate degree with 1 year of relevant experience; or high school diploma with at least 5 years of relevant experience.
Must be fluent in Spanish and English.
Minimum of 4 years of experience working with children, preferably at-risk youth, immigrants or refugee children, and/or working with vulnerable populations, survivors of abuse, human trafficking, or other trauma.
Minimum of 4 years of experience in humanitarian-based immigration work, including conducting legal intakes, assessing legal claims, and assisting attorneys on legal applications to obtain immigration benefits.
Minimum of 3 years of experience in working independently on projects and/or programs, demonstrating initiative and willingness to learn and contribute thought leadership and innovative strategies to the work.
Minimum of 2 years of experience working with detained populations or youth in diverse institutional settings.
Minimum of 1 year experience with preparing and delivering presentations on legal and know-your-rights information to immigrant audiences, preferably families and children.
Regular weekly travel to local immigration detention facility required.
Excellent organizational and time management skills, and attention to detail.
Strong cultural competency and cross-cultural communication skills.
Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (such as Teams, Excel, etc.)
Ability to work collaboratively and multi-task in our KIND environment, managing numerous priorities and emerging opportunities.
Excellent organizational skills with the ability to work on multiple projects in a deadline-oriented environment; ability to prioritize tasks and delegate as appropriate.
Ability to work effectively with people of diverse backgrounds, lived experiences, and communication styles.
Commitment to prioritizing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, as well as embracing transparency and authenticity in daily work life.
Be disciplined and nimble to ensure delivery on our core mission of access to justice and protection of children’s wellbeing and rights.
Ability to multitask and work with a sense of urgency in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
Committed to practicing and supporting wellbeing and a work-home life balance.
Experience working and communicating in a remote environment.

Responsibilities

Oversees the overall programmatic function of the KIND office paralegal program.
Onboards and trains, paralegals, including conducting initial and ongoing training for paralegal staff; troubleshoots, reviews, and provides quality assurance of referrals, filings, and pleadings.
Conducts legal research, completes immigration benefit forms, and drafts affidavits and motions for immigration and state court proceedings in consultation with attorneys.
Ensures consistent, accurate, and timely file maintenance and data entry into our case management system.
In coordination with attorneys, assists in clients’ preparation for hearings and adjudicatory interviews.
Supervises undergraduate interns, as needed, and assists with training of legal interns, as needed.
Assists with the professional development of paralegals and other staff in collaboration with attorneys, and in consultation with KIND’s National Training and Technical Assistance Team.
Tracks and ensures referral and intake metrics achievement under grants and contracts in consultation with attorneys.
Supervises paralegals in the consistent and quality provision of intake interviews, phone screenings, intake memos, and presentation of cases to attorneys; conducts intakes and phone screenings as needed.
Assists with pro bono training, including non-attorney pro bono team members, through the preparation of training materials, provision of discrete training on topics such as translation, and other related tasks.
Assess cases for social service needs and assist with social services referrals; liaise with Social Services Coordinators to achieve programmatic goals where legal services/social services intersect.
For direct representation cases, performs ordinary functions of an accredited representative including conducting client interviews; appears before immigration agencies; and drafts and files applications for benefits. Serves as point of contact for clients, proactively ensuring that case files and case management system reflect current contact information, case developments, and updates on child’s wellbeing and service needs; ensures regular check-ins with the child are conducted in consultation with attorney, particularly in cases in which case adjudication is delayed due to retrogression or otherwise; and keeps counsel apprised of updates and issues needing follow-up.
For pro bono cases, assists in case audit efforts, and ensures that updates from pro bono team regarding legal case and child’s wellbeing are timely recorded in case management system; assists in targeted pro bono team support including provision of relevant samples, and guidance and training resources.

FAQs

What is the required language proficiency for this position?

The Senior Paralegal position requires fluency in both Spanish and English.

What type of experience is preferred for this role?

The ideal candidate will have experience working with at-risk youth, immigrants or refugee children, survivors of abuse, human trafficking, or other trauma.

Is travel a requirement for this position?

Yes, regular weekly travel to local immigration detention facilities is required for this role.

What software skills are necessary for this position?

Candidates should have a working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite, such as Teams and Excel.

How important is cultural competency for this role?

Strong cultural competency and cross-cultural communication skills are essential for the Senior Paralegal position.

Is experience in remote work environments necessary?

Yes, experience working and communicating in a remote environment is preferred for this role.

Kids in Need of Defense (KIND)

We protect unaccompanied children every step of the way in their search for safety and protection.

Non-profit

Industry

51-200

Employees

2008

Founded Year

Mission & Purpose

Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) is the preeminent international nongovernmental organization devoted to the protection of unaccompanied and separated children. KIND envisions a world in which every unaccompanied child on the move has access to legal representation and has their rights and well-being protected as they migrate alone in search of safety. In 2008, KIND was founded by the Microsoft Corporation and Co-Founder and Patron Angelina Jolie to address the gap in legal services for unaccompanied children. KIND now has offices and staff across the United States, Mexico, and Europe. Our team, and KIND’s extensive network of private sector pro bono and NGO partners provide unaccompanied children with innovative holistic care that includes legal representation and assistance and psychosocial support.