Legal Assistant – Immigration - Ascend Justice

Illinois Legal Aid Online; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 28,000 - 39,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work schedule

Job summary

Ascend Justice in Chicago, IL seeks a Part-time Administrative Assistant to support immigration lawyers with everyday tasks and client coordination. The role involves heavy data entry, document gathering, scheduling, and front-desk coverage, with emphasis on confidentiality and crisis-informed care.

The candidate should be bilingual (Spanish/English) and have 2+ years of office experience. The position is primarily in-office with potential hybrid elements, and the organization emphasizes

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Some college or computer certification programs preferred.
• Bilingual in Spanish/English.
• Minimum of two years of office work or legal assistant experience.
• Proficiency in Office 365 and Google Workspace.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Willing to complete 40-hour Domestic Violence training.

Responsibilities

• Provide administrative support to attorneys (copying, mailing, scanning, scheduling, data entry, file organization).
• Communicate with clients to schedule meetings and document pickups.
• Request and gather court, medical, and other documents.
• Schedule interpreters for in-person interpretation and assist with translations.
• Assist with case management system tasks and data entry.
• Provide regular coverage for the front desk and mail handling.

Skills

Bilingual Spanish/English

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Data entry

Crisis support experience

Trauma-informed care

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Some college or computer certification programs

Tools

Office 365

Google Workspace

Job description

Organization

Ascend Justice
177 N State Street Suite 500
Chicago, IL 60601
United States

Remote Or Telecommuting

100% in-office position

Visit website

Job Description

Supervised by: Director, Immigration

Status: Part-time/30 hours per week

Essential Responsibilities

• Assist with providing administrative support to attorneys, including copying, mailing, scanning, scheduling, data entry, file organization, retrieving court documents, and other administrative tasks as assigned.
• Communicating with clients to schedule meetings and client document pick-up and drop off
• Request and gather court, medical, and/or other legal documents
• Scheduling interpreters for in-person interpretation and assisting with translation requests to outside translators, as needed.
• Assisting with case management system tasks & data entry (open profiles for return/repeat clients, prep/organize/close physical files, update client cases)
• Provide regular coverage for the office front desk, including helping with incoming mail.

Other Responsibilities

• Actively participate in required staff meetings and training.
• Protect the organization by keeping information confidential.
• Keep abreast of the field by maintaining networks, participating in professional organizations.
• Perform other duties as assigned by supervisor.

Work Environment

• Courthouse and offices are fully accessible. Some work at off-site locations may be required and those may not necessarily be fully accessible.
• Evening and weekend work may occasionally be required.
• Part-time/100% in-office position.
• This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, and scanners. Employee is regularly required to talk, hear, see, and communicate effectively via computer.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required
• Some college, and/or computer certification programs preferred.
• Bilingual in Spanish/English
• Minimum of two (2) years of office work or legal assistant experience
• Proficiency in Office 365 and Google Workplace required
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Organizational skills and attention to detail
• Familiarity with various computer software and comfortable with data entry
• Must have completed or be willing to complete 40-hour Domestic Violence training
• Ability to work with people of diverse backgrounds who are in crisis
• Knowledge of or experience with working with survivors of gender-based or intimate partner violence
• Familiarity with principles of trauma-informed care and willingness to complete additional training
• Sensitive listener with ability to explain complex concepts
• Strong self-motivation and ability to manage multiple tasks
• Ability to work in fast-paced legal environment
• Sense of humor
• Individuals with lived experience in Ascend Justice's areas of work are encouraged to apply

Ascend Justice is an equal opportunity employer and seeks to employ qualified individuals based on individual merit. Ascend Justice does not discriminate against any individual with respect to the terms and conditions of employment based on that individual's race, sex, age, religion, color, national origin, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, housing status, or any other non- merit factor protected under state, local or federal laws. Equal Employment Opportunity applies to all personnel actions such as recruiting, hiring, compensation, benefits, promotions, training, transfer, termination, and opportunities for training. Ascend Justice is committed to a fair and equitable workplace where everyone is a respected and valued member of the team. Applicants/clients wishing to lodge a complaint about discrimination in the provision of services can do so by contacting the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority. The ICJIA nondiscrimination policy can be found on the ICJIA website at http://www.icjia.org/grants/grant-resources. Applicants can also send complaints via e-mail to [e-mail]

Pay scale and benefits

Compensation: $20.00-$28.00/hour, based on years of experience

Ascend Justice's offices are currently operating on a hybrid working schedule (in-office/work from home). The schedule for this position will be expected to be on-site in the office 5/days a week.

Position type

Part-time