Bilingual Legal Advocates - Community Outreach Unit

$89,086 - $101,754/Yr

Northwest Immigrant Rights Project - Seattle, WA

Full-time - Entry Level

Seattle, WA

101-250 employees

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations

About the position

Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP) is seeking full-time bilingual legal advocates to join its offices in Granger, Seattle, Tacoma, or Wenatchee. The ideal candidates must be fluent in English and another language, with a preference for Spanish, Portuguese, French, Mandarin, Somali, or Russian. Additional languages are encouraged. The selected applicants are expected to start their positions by September 1, 2024, or sooner, and a minimum two-year commitment to the position is required. Under the supervision of an attorney, the legal advocates will work closely with other staff members across NWIRP's four offices and community partners in Washington State, providing individual consultations and direct representation to members of immigrant communities through various forms of immigration protection, including asylum relief. The role will initially focus on providing legal assistance through brief services to immigrant community members who have recently arrived in Washington State and are facing deportation proceedings. The anticipated working hours are Monday to Friday, from 9 am to 5 pm, with a 30-60 minute unpaid lunch break. NWIRP currently operates under a hybrid model, requiring at least two full days of in-office work per week. New staff members must provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination unless eligible for an exemption, and while wearing a face mask is not required, it is an option. Founded in 1984, NWIRP is a nationally recognized legal services organization dedicated to defending and advancing the rights of immigrants. Each year, NWIRP provides direct legal representation and assistance in immigration matters to thousands of low-income individuals from over 150 countries, speaking more than 60 different languages. The organization challenges unjust policies through high-impact lawsuits and advocates for laws that respect the rights of immigrants. NWIRP also provides immigration-related community education for immigrant communities and social service providers. With a staff of over 150 and an annual budget exceeding $20 million, NWIRP serves the community through its four offices in Washington State, with a nationwide impact.

Responsibilities

• Conduct intakes, by phone and in person, and interview clients to gather or clarify information.
• Conduct case analysis to determine eligibility for immigration protections/status under immigration laws.
• Provide consultations and direct representation, prepare and submit immigration forms and supporting documents to immigration courts, USCIS, or other immigration agencies, and provide interpretations and translations.
• Assist in providing pro se assistance, community outreach, and education, as directed.
• Maintain a working knowledge of significant policies, laws, practices, and trends in immigration law, particularly as it impacts low-income immigrants and those impacted by the criminal justice system.
• Establish, organize, and maintain up-to-date files.
• Translate documents.
• Perform administrative tasks related to grant reporting such as timekeeping, submitting timesheets, tracking training, and other duties in a timely manner.
• Participate in NWIRP's outreach, community education, and development efforts.
• Provide intake to community members referred to NWIRP through the Washington Migrant and Asylum Seeker Services (WA MASS) Hub or who connect directly through NWIRP.
• Provide brief legal services (Pro se assistance).
• Provide referrals to other legal services organizations.
• Assist in providing quarterly training on relevant immigration law topics to legal service providers that receive direct referrals from NWIRP.

Requirements

• Bilingual in English and another language, preferably Spanish, Portuguese, French, Mandarin, Somali, or Russian.
• Demonstrated commitment to advancing and defending the rights of immigrants.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, with the ability to organize information clearly and concisely.
• Strong problem-solving, research, and analytical skills.
• Ability to provide trauma-informed and culturally inclusive legal representation.
• Ability to work independently as well as in a team environment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Word and Excel, and familiarity with G-suite tools like Google Docs, Google Sheets, and Gmail.
• A valid driver's license as the position involves some travel.
• Special consideration for applicants with at least two years of prior relevant legal experience.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience assisting community members in removal proceedings preferred.
• Commitment to creating a welcoming and professional inclusive environment for staff and clients.
• Sound judgment and decision-making skills.

Benefits

• Travel reimbursement
• Free parking
• Paid parental leave
• Health savings account
• AD&D insurance
• Disability insurance
• Health insurance
• Dental insurance
• Flexible spending account
• Vision insurance
• 403(b) retirement plan
• Sabbatical
• Loan forgiveness
• Fully paid health, vision & dental plans for employee-level coverage with employer-funded HRA and HSA options
• FSA and Dependent Care accounts
• Automatic employer contribution of 3% to 403(b) retirement plan
• 12 days of paid health leave per year
• 16 days paid vacation in your first year (with additional days in subsequent years)
• 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 6 months of employment, plus the ability to extend with State-paid leave
• 14 paid holidays with the ability to float 5 holidays
• Paid authorized absences for attending workshops, conferences and other educational/training programs
• Employer-paid disability, life, AD&D and long-term care insurance
• 4 weeks of paid sabbatical after every five years of employment at NWIRP
• Eligibility to earn compensatory time
• Relocation bonus for relocation over 100 miles for this role
• Free parking on-site for the NWIRP-Granger, Tacoma, and Wenatchee offices.