Job Description
De Novo is a community-based agency that provides free legal services and affordable mental health counseling for low-income people throughout the Greater Boston/Cambridge area. De Novo strives to create a diverse, equitable, inclusive, and safe work environment that welcomes, encourages, and values everyone’s contributions and fosters an exchange of ideas and mutual learning.
General Responsibilities: The Legal Assistant is responsible for screening callers for De Novo’s monthly Immigration Screening Clinics and legal services eligibility. She/he provides administrative support to the Immigration Unit and may be called upon to provide Spanish/English interpretation/translation.
Responsibilities:
- Screen and interview prospective clients, and assess client eligibility
- Make referrals to other agencies, as appropriate.
- Record client information using computerized case management database.
- Become knowledgeable with Immigration.
- Triage cases and identify imminent or urgent deadlines.
- Assist with tracking deadlines and court events, and monitor court dockets.
- Under the supervision of an attorney, provide legal advice and assist clients in completing
Immigration forms, applications, and other litigation-related paperwor
- Under the oversight of an attorney, draft correspondence to clients and the court.
- Provide administrative support to lawyers to prepare cases.
- Perform such other duties as assigned consistent with the provision of client services.
- Work with the Immigration Unit in setting up appointments for legal consultation and in-depth intake interviews.
- Perform basic administrative duties including copying, scanning, organizing files, entering data and preparing mailings.
- Assist the Immigration Unit in collection and preparation of documents for asylum, VAWA, U-visa, and SIJ cases.
- Provide Spanish/English interpretation for attorneys, including interpreting for client interviews, monitoring interpretation at court proceedings, communicating with clients about developments in their cases, and translation of documents.
- Coordinate with De Novo’s Counseling Program to refer legal clients for assessment and/or counseling when appropriate.
- Participate in monthly staff meetings and legal program meetings and other organizational/legal program activities as requested.
Qualifications/Competencies Include:
- Minimum associate degree with 2 years of relevant experience.
- Experience working with a broad range of people from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds, and people with low incomes.
- Excellent writing and oral skills. Strong computer skills.
- Ability to handle multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment.
- Capacity to identify and analyze legal and other problems.
- Bilingual English/Spanish required.
To apply: Email a cover letter and resume to John Froio, Deputy Director, De Novo, Email address: jfroio@denovo.org. Applicants are encouraged to apply early, as applications will be considered on a rolling basis.
De Novo is a Fair Employment Practices/Equal Employment Opportunity/disability accessible employer committed to maintaining a diverse workplace, Qualified candidates from diverse personal, cultural and ethnic backgrounds are encouraged to apply.