Legal Assistant - Adult Detention Program

  • $42,000.00/year
  • THE ORGANIZATION 

    The Florence Immigrant & Refugee Rights Project was founded in 1989 to respond to a representation crisis for indigent non-citizens detained at the rural Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Detention Center in Florence, Arizona. Through our programs today, we provide services to more than 10,000 men, women, and children detained in Eloy, Florence, Phoenix, and Tucson, Arizona on any given day. The Florence Project has become known nationally for its legal service delivery systems which ensure detained people empowered access to justice. The Florence Project provides high quality legal advice or representation and supports initiatives for national changes in immigration law and policy. 

    POSITION DESCRIPTION: LEGAL ASSISTANT ADULT DETENTION PROGRAM

    The Florence Project is seeking a passionate advocate to support our adult detention team as a legal assistant. The legal assistant will engage in crucial human rights work for adults who are experiencing immigration detention.  The legal assistant will have the opportunity to assist attorneys in the direct representation of people detained in Arizona and who fear return to their countries of origin.   The position will allow the legal assistant to work with individuals at the credible fear, immigration court, and appellate stages of their cases. The legal assistant will directly report to the Managing Attorney for the Adult Detention Program.

    The Legal Assistant for the Adult Detention Program is based in Florence, AZ., approximately one hour south of Phoenix and one to one and a half hours north of Tucson, allowing access to clients detained in Florence and Eloy facilities. This position has the flexibility to work 1-2 days per week from our Phoenix or Tucson offices with the possibility for additional flexibility based on individual circumstances.

     Essential duties include

    • Conduct in-depth client intake interviews
    • Visit with detained clients to obtain initial and follow-up information
    • Facilitate bond workshops 
    • Data entry and maintaining data entry requirements by following data program techniques and procedures 
    • Verifying entered client biographical information by reviewing, correcting, deleting, or re-entering data 
    • Maintaining client confidence and protecting operations by keeping information confidential 
    • Sorting and handling detention center mail and request forms, and uploading electronic copies of mail to electronic files where appropriate 
    • Generating form response letters to client inquiries where appropriate 
    • Prepare paper filings and copies of court documents for legal staff and clients 
    • Create visit lists for our general orientation presentations 
    • Work with legal staff to organize and maintain client files (both paper and electronic) 
    • Stock pro se packets 
    • Translate documents from Spanish to English and English to Spanish, when necessary

    Other duties as necessary

    We are seeking applicants who have a demonstrated commitment to immigrant rights, social justice, or human rights issues. We seek hard working team players who are flexible and who enjoy working in a collaborative, fast paced, high volume nonprofit setting. Prior work or internship experience in immigration rights, human rights, criminal justice, or in a nonprofit legal services setting is a plus. 

    QUALIFICATIONS:

    • Must be fluent or professionally proficient in Spanish 
    • Must be a hard-working team player with a sense of humor who is flexible, patient, respectful, and comfortable in a busy setting
    • Organizational abilities and administrative skills. Ability to work in a high volume setting with limited resources
    • Ability to collaborate and build relationships with legal and non-legal stakeholders
    • A good understanding of data confidentiality issues
    • Proficient typing skills and computer skills in Microsoft Office Suite and Google products 
    • Good communication skills, both written and verbal 
    • Accuracy and good attention to detail 
    • Good spelling, punctuation, and grammar 
    • Ability to travel regularly, especially between the Phoenix or Tucson offices and secondary work locations
    • Must be able to pass basic background checks and obtain security clearance to enter detention facilities 

    SALARY AND BENEFITS 

    This is a full-time, salaried exempt position. Starting salary is $42,000. The Florence Project strives to create and uphold a positive, supportive, and inclusive work environment for staff. We offer excellent benefits, including medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance, with full premiums paid by the Florence Project. We also provide mileage reimbursement for travel between offices and places of work. After one year of employment, employees are eligible for the employer matching retirement plan. Paid time off includes one personal day each month in addition to fifteen days of vacation and twelve days of sick/medical leave annually, six weeks of parental leave (up to twelve weeks total, with option to use personal, vacation, and sick paid time off for unpaid portion), and bereavement leave, in addition to observing all federal holidays. After three years of employment with the Florence Project, employees are eligible for an eight-week paid sabbatical. 

    APPLICATION PROCESS 

    This is an immediate opening. Please complete the application below, upload a cover letter detailing your interest in the position and resume with three professional references. Only applicants selected for an interview will be contacted. The Florence Project values diversity in the workplace and strongly encourages applications from people of color, LGBTQ individuals, individuals with disabilities, and members of underrepresented communities.

     

    This job announcement is for informational purposes only, and is subject to change and modification without notice. This job announcement includes a non-exhaustive list of responsibilities, qualifications and requirements of the position, but does not necessarily include all job functions of the position.


    Want to apply later?

    Type your email address below to receive a reminder

    Apply to Job

    ErrorRequired field
    ErrorRequired field
    ErrorRequired field
    ErrorRequired field
    insert_drive_file
    insert_drive_file
    ErrorRequired field
    ErrorRequired field