Legal Advocate

Description

The Tahirih Justice Center is a national, nonprofit organization that serves women, girls, and all immigrant survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, trafficking, and other violence. Our whole-person approach to services provides each survivor with free legal support and social services to secure their rights and build stable lives. We translate our client services work into expert training, outreach, and policy advocacy to ensure that systems, laws, and policies protect immigrant survivors from violence and exploitation. Our programs efficiently and effectively leverage donated professional services from a vast network of attorneys, medical professionals, and other experts to serve as many immigrant survivors as possible. By amplifying the experiences of survivors, our mission is to create a world in which all people share equal rights and live in safety and with dignity. 

Requirements

At Tahirih, a Legal Advocate provides critical administrative and legal support to legal staff as the team works to walk along our clients, immigrant survivors fleeing gender-based violence, who seek legal relief before the immigration courts, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the Board of Immigration Appeals, and the federal circuit courts of appeal.  A Legal Advocate is responsible for preparing forms, and putting application packets together for supervisor review prior to submission. A Legal Advocate is responsible for managing communications and relationships with clients, coordinating interpreters, supporting the legal team’s outreach efforts, and providing other important administrative support. A Legal Advocate will work collaboratively on an interdisciplinary client services team to ensure clients’ voices and decision-making are centered. A Legal Advocate supports legal staff in maintaining accurate client data and files to ensure grant metrics compliance.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Support legal team in preparing immigration forms and filings and assembling application packets for supervisor review prior to submission.
• Coordinate recruitment and onboarding process for volunteer interpreters/translators and legal appointment accompaniment volunteers.
• Organize and engage in outreach activities and information sessions to empower survivors in safety planning and accessing legal services.
• Provide administrative support (processing legal case mail, mailing, copying, answering phones, confirming biometrics      appointments, etc.)
• Open and close client files and prepare retainer agreements and closing letters in accordance with Tahirih policies and program requirements.
• Maintain physical and electronic case files in accordance with Tahirih policies and program requirements.
• As needed, support service seeker intake process.
• Support the Managing Attorney in the coordination of the local pro bono program.
• Equip survivors of violence with information and referrals on crime victim rights, immigration benefits services, and the criminal justice process.
• Provide general program support such as training and mentoring support to interns, staff and volunteers, and other duties assigned by the Managing Attorney.
• Accompany clients to legal case appointments, such as biometrics appointments, as needed.
• Participate in an interdisciplinary legal team that centers and empowers Tahirih’s clients throughout the course of representation. 
• Collaborate well within a team structure.
• Communicate effectively within interdisciplinary teams, with clients, with supervisors, and with external partners. 
• Support legal staff in safety planning and other supportive collaborative case work in concert with Social Services team members as part of interdisciplinary, holistic, client-centered, trauma-informed service delivery.
• Identify and prioritize tasks and projects that are mandatory grant deliverables for the office or program      as a whole.
• Ensure quality control of the client database and files; maintain accurate data entry; and follow risk management procedures. 
• Contribute to grant proposals, reports and periodic policy advocacy pieces, as needed.
• Adhere to organizational and local  office policies, such as interdisciplinary policies and ethical standards.      
• Regularly engage in professional development to hone skillset and immigration law substantive knowledge.
• Contribute to organization-wide meetings, resources and materials.
• As needed and as capacity allows, engage in working groups and other coalitions relevant to our service delivery, including attending meetings, organizing and delivering trainings, and building relationships with service providers and law enforcement      agencies.

This Job Description is not designed to cover a comprehensive listing of activities that are required of the employee. The precise duties and responsibilities of the job may change over time.

Education 

• Bachelor’s degree or associate degree with relevant work experience  
• Fluent in English and Spanish (proven spoken, written, and reading comprehension)

Successful candidates generally possess: 

• At least 1 year of experience serving as a paralegal or legal advocate, ideally in an immigration-focused practice or law firm
• Great written advocacy and oral presentation skills
• Responsible, self-initiating, and focused, with proven ability to work collaboratively in a team-based environment
• Competency with technology and strong computer skills; demonstrated skill in Microsoft Suite and Adobe products.
• Strong organizational habits, time management skills, and prioritization skills
• Strong interpersonal skills, cultural humility, and cross-cultural communication skills
• Experience supporting survivors of violence and trauma and those from diverse cultural backgrounds
• Commitment to Tahirih’s foundational values and mission, and demonstrated commitment to legal services, public interest law, the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and/or social justice.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS 

• Experience supporting on asylum, withholding of removal, U-Visa, T-visa, VAWA, and/or SIJS applications
• Experience designing trainings and presenting to legal and non-legal audiences
• Has existing ties and/or relationships to immigrant communities, and willingness to prioritize and amplify the voices of immigrant and  low-income clients

Annual salary and benefits: The salary range for this role is $60,000 - $66,000 per year,  with actual salary commensurate with experience. We consider skills, experience and internal equity in determining compensation and use a consultative process to identify where candidates fall inside the posted range. Generous benefits include employee and dependent health, vision and dental insurance (Tahirih contributes 100% of the premium for employees and 60% for dependents); paid parking; a 401(k) defined contribution retirement plan; flexible work schedules; professional development including in-house training programs, staff enrichment retreats and other growth opportunities. Employees have a generous self-managed leave benefit inclusive of vacation, sick and holidays, including office closure the week between Christmas and New Year’s.

Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States.

This is a one year grant funded position through 10/31/2027, continued employment beyond this date is dependent on additional funding.

How to Apply: Please submit a resume and a cover letter. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Tahirih Justice Center is committed to equal opportunity and promotes equity and transparency as core values. Tahirih practices inclusiveness in decision making through the use of consultation with employees throughout the organization. Tahirih does not discriminate against any person on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, ability, gender, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information, arrest record or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws. Applicants committed to equity from all backgrounds, experiences, abilities and identities are encouraged to apply. Applicants with questions or concerns should reach out to the Director of People & Operations at [email protected]. Information about filing a charge of discrimination at the EEOC is available at www.eeoc.gov.