Title: Senior Paralegal
Reports to: North Bay Regional Director
Full-time, Exempt Position
Location: Petaluma
The Immigration Institute of the Bay Area was founded in 1918, and its mission is to welcome, educate and serve immigrants, refugees and their families as they join and contribute to the community. IIBA provides immigration legal services, English and civic education, and other services throughout the Bay Area, as well as through its collaborative efforts with local and regional service providers. IIBA offers a team-oriented, collegial and collaborative work environment. We pride ourselves on providing excellent service to our clients, and we know our organization runs on the hard work and dedication of our passionate employees.
At IIBA, we have a clear vision: to be the place where a diverse mix of talented people want to come, to stay, and to do their best work. IIBA’s dedication to promoting diversity, multiculturalism, and inclusion is reflected in the work that we do. We are committed to equity and believe deeply in the value of diversity of race, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, ethnicity, national origin and all the other wonderful characteristics that make us human.
Job Summary:
Support IIBA’s mission by providing quality immigration-specific paralegal services, including providing intakes and screenings, documentation preparation, and forms completion under the supervision of attorneys and DOJ Accredited Representatives. The Senior Paralegal will be placed on a track to become DOJ Accredited.
Essential Functions:
- Case Management: Assists with legal documents, immigration forms completion and document preparation, under the supervision of attorneys and DOJ Accredited Representatives. Maintain paper and electronic case files.
- Translation: Responsible for Spanish/English translations.
- Supervision: Train and supervise administrative staff, paralegals, legal interns and other volunteers. Assign and review responsibilities and provide mentorship.
- Outreach and Group Processing: Assist in the organization and implementation of workshops, clinics, outreach activities and information sessions for immigrants and social service agencies serving immigrants. Outreach and workshops requires occasional evening and weekend events.
- Maintain Legal Best Practices: Comply with IIBA’s policies, procedures, protocols, and best practices for non-profit immigration law practice, including legal ramifications, fee collection, maintenance of client files and data for reporting requirements. Participate in regular peer review meetings and legal trainings.
- Client Notification: Assisting with ongoing client communications in person, on phone, and by mail.
- Clerical: copying, filing, mailing, fee collection, scheduling appointments.
- All other duties: Perform all other duties as needed and/or as directed by supervisor.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required:
- Legal research and writing skills.
- Dedicated to providing high quality legal assistance and capable of handling complex legal issues on behalf of low-income immigrant populations.
- Demonstrated accuracy and attention to detail for forms completion.
- Good customer service and public speaking skills.
- Strong organizational skills.
- Ability to work under pressure and handle multiple deadlines effectively.
- Ability to act independently and exercise sound judgment.
- Commitment to serve immigrants and sensitivity to the needs of the low-income, culturally diverse newcomer community.
- Proficiency in a Windows/PC environment, and able to quickly become proficient in the use of IIBA’s immigration law software and database.
Qualifications:
Education: AA, BA/BS, or a Paralegal certificate.
Work Experience: Minimum of 2 years of previous paralegal experience in immigration legal services. Experience supervising other staff highly preferred.
Language: Ability to communicate effectively in English and Spanish REQUIRED.
Salary and Benefits:
In the spirit of pay transparency, we are excited to share the base salary range for this position is $58,000 – $66,000, excluding fringe benefits and potential bonuses. If you are hired at IIBA, your final base salary compensation will be determined based on factors such as geographic location, skills, education, and/or experience. In addition to those factors, we believe in the importance of pay equity and consider internal equity of our current team members as part of any final offer.
IIBA offers a generous cafeteria-style benefits package, elements of which include, but are not limited to:
Employer matching 403(B) retirement plan: up to 5% employer contribution
Insurance: Health, dental, life, vision, chiropractic & acupuncture. Medical and dependent care pre-tax reimbursement accounts.
Transportation reimbursement account.
Vacation: 15 days of accrued vacation per year with an increase each year.
Sick Leave including paid family sick time
Holidays: 15 paid Holidays per year
Paid Parental Leave
New employees are required to work in the office 4 days a week for the first three months of their employment with IIBA. This period is crucial for onboarding, training, and integration into IIBA’s culture. After the initial three-month period, new employees may be eligible to transition to a hybrid work schedule, subject to approval by their supervisor, the needs of the office, and in accordance with IIBA policies.
Applicants for employment in the United States must have work authorization that does not currently or in the future require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the United States.
To apply: Send cover letter and resume to iibayareahire@iibayarea.org
Please include the title of the job in the subject line.
For more information on IIBA, see our website: www.iibayarea.org. Position opened until filled.
This position description intends to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. It is not intended to include all duties and responsibilities. The order in which duties and responsibilities are listed is not significant. Because of a need to remain responsive to the needs of our clients and our Agency’s operations, responsibilities may be modified at any time.
IIBA is a non-profit, non-discriminatory service organization and employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation or disability. Persons receiving services in our programs are entitled to freedom from harassment and retaliation and reasonable accommodation for qualified disabilities