Legal Assistant

Tlchawaii; Honolulu (HI); Hybrid; USD 45,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health/vision/dental insurance

401k benefit with employer contribution

Unlimited paid time off

Flex scheduling

Job summary

Tlchawaii is seeking a full-time legal assistant in Downtown Honolulu, Hawaiʻi. The role involves supporting attorneys, handling client communications in English and Spanish, and performing administrative tasks.

Education at Associate or Bachelor's level is preferred along with experience in legal assistance. Salary is $45,000–$52,000, with a robust benefits package including health insurance and paid time off.

Qualifications

• Must live in Hawaiʻi or have prior experience.
• Previous administrative or legal assistant experience preferred.
• Demonstrated interest in supporting immigrant rights.

Responsibilities

• Provide support to staff attorneys and perform reception duties.
• Assist with client communications and document management.
• Prepare immigration forms and secure necessary documents.

Skills

Proficient in English and Spanish

Good written communication skills

Detail-oriented

Organizational skills

Ability to maintain client confidentiality

Initiative and multi-tasking

Knowledge of Microsoft Office

Education

Associate or bachelor's degree, or higher

Tools

Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, Teams, PowerPoint)

Job description

Hours: Full-time (100% FTE); M-F business hours with occasional evening or weekend work.

Location: Downtown Honolulu, Hawaiʻi, with some work-from-home flexibility. Also seeking candidates for a Hawaiʻi Island based legal assistant.

About The Legal Clinic (TLC):

Our mission is to ensure justice for low-income immigrants and migrants in Hawaiʻi through high-quality immigration legal services, education, and advocacy. TLC is a Honolulu-based independent 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Please visit www.tlchawaii.org for more information.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The legal assistant is responsible for providing support to the staff attorneys and other members of TLC's legal team and performs reception and administrative duties.

Under the general supervision of an attorney or accredited DOJ representative, the legal assistant will assist with client communications (in English and Spanish), and document client interactions and case progress updates in the case management system.

Assist legal team staff in preparing immigration forms, pleadings, motions and briefs; and assemble cover letters, petitions, and appeals packets.

Conduct general and legal research and fact-finding, and secure documents and other information pertinent to client matters.

Coordinate and secure language interpretation and/or translation services as needed.

Assist with the preparation for United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) interviews, appointments, and hearings and trials before the Immigration Court.

Occasional attendance to Immigration Court hearings.

Copy, scan, process incoming and outgoing mail; organize and maintain case files (physical and electronic).

Administrative Support

Provide reception duties on all platforms, including but not limited to web requests, phone, email, and in-person. This position requires in-person attendance at the downtown Honolulu office from 9 am to 5 pm.

Conduct client pre-screening, intake, and scheduling.

Support attorneys and other members of the legal team with meeting preparation, calendaring, notetaking, and follow-up action steps.

Assist in maintaining internal standard operating procedures for TLC legal services.

Other administrative tasks as needed.

Special Projects

Assist other staff with and/or represent TLC at community and benefit events.

Compile data and help draft reports for funders and other organizations.

Provide support for the legal team’s intern & volunteer activities.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Proficient/fluent verbally in English and Spanish.
• Good written communication skills in English and Spanish.
• Associate or bachelor’s degree, or higher, preferred.
• Previous administrative assistant or legal assistant experience preferred.
• Must live in Hawaiʻi currently or have prior lived experience in Hawaiʻi.
• Must be detail-oriented and possess superb organizational skills.
• Ability to work sensitively with colleagues and clients having diverse personalities, lifestyles, cultures, faiths, and backgrounds.
• Ability to maintain client confidentiality and communicate with professionalism and courtesy.
• Ability to take initiative, multi-task, meet deadlines, and work well under pressure.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office software such as Outlook, Word, Excel, Teams, and PowerPoint. Ability to learn legal case management software and other databases/CRM.
• Demonstrated interest in supporting immigrant and migrant rights.
• Familiarity with communities in Hawaiʻi and/or immigrant communities is desired.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

TLC is committed to staff wellness and a healthy work-life balance. Salary range : $45,000–$52,000 FTE, commensurate with experience. A robust benefits package includes health/vision/dental insurance, 401k benefit with employer contribution (after 90-day period), unlimited paid time off, flex scheduling, parking subsidy, personal cell/internet allowance, educational & wellness benefit, and professional development opportunities. Partial work-from-home time negotiable.

Equal Opportunity Statement

The Legal Clinic is an equal‑opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnic background, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, or disability.