MILAP Paralegal- Detained

Maryland Legal Services Corporation; Baltimore, Northern (MD, KY); Hybrid; USD 53,000 - 58,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work

Health insurance

401k plan

Paid holidays

Paid sick leave

Job summary

The Pro Bono Resource Center of Maryland, Inc. (PBRC) seeks a motivated individual fluent in Spanish to join the Maryland Immigrant Legal Assistance Project. The role focuses on aiding those detained or at risk of detention and may involve travel within Maryland to support ICE-related cases.

Primary responsibilities include community outreach, data tracking, and supporting attorneys in providing limited and full-scope immigration services. Mentorship and training will be provided.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or paralegal/law-related experience preferred.
• Spanish fluency is required.
• Experience in community organizing/public outreach.
• Available evenings/weekends for clinics.
• Access to reliable transportation for frequent travel.

Responsibilities

• Support immigration legal services for individuals detained in Maryland, primarily at the Baltimore Hold Room.
• Conduct brief presentations.
• Assist attorneys offering pro se or full-scope representation tasks under supervision.
• Track data on clients served and clinic effectiveness.
• Coordinate interpreter volunteers and assess fluency.
• Support grant reporting and maintain referrals.

Skills

Fluency in Spanish

Community outreach

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Microsoft Office

Salesforce experience

Public speaking

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

SharePoint

Salesforce

Job description

The Pro Bono Resource Center of Maryland, Inc. (PBRC) is seeking a highly motivated, organized, and bright individual who is fluent in Spanish to join the Maryland Immigrant Legal Assistance Project to help increase access to PBRC’s immigration legal services for individuals who are detained or at risk of detention because they have to check-in with ICE. MILAP gives free legal advice to people living in Maryland who must appear before the immigration court because they are at risk of deportation. In certain cases, MILAP steps in to provide limited and concrete legal services to help vulnerable families and children meet the deadlines in their cases (e.g., help complete application for asylum or assist the family with changing their court location to one that is closest to where they live). It is important that this individual have ready access to transportation to downtown Baltimore as the primary focus of the position will be to help field requests for services from individuals who are held at the Baltimore Hold Room and potentially help support the drafting of habeas requests that can be filed before the individual is transferred out of Maryland. Depending upon policy changes, the individual selected may also need to travel to other areas within Maryland where individuals are detained by ICE. The selected individual will also have regular in-person clinic days during which they will support the provision of detention prevention services to those who are checking-in with ICE up to 2 days per week, depending upon the volume of requests received by those who are detained. Mentorship and training will be offered.

Primary Responsibilities

• Support the provision of immigration legal services to individuals detained within Maryland, primarily those held at the Baltimore Hold Room.
• Conduct brief presentations.
• Support attorneys offering pro se legal assistance and/or full-scope representation to individuals who are in removal proceedings (e.g. collecting evidence, interpretation, completing certain forms under the supervision and review of the assigned attorney).
• Track and summarize data related to clients served and effectiveness of legal clinics.
• Share referral information and resources with immigrants who contact PBRC seeking legal help.
• Increase community awareness about relevant resources, including brief legal advice clinics, case placement services and relevant city and state programs and social service resources.
• Work with MILAP Team to maintain and develop a network of community partners.
• Conduct client follow up and compile data regarding the impact of the MILAP.
• Coordinate and execute interpreter volunteer sign-ups and assess fluency of volunteer interpreters.
• Provide support to Project Director for grant reporting duties as needed.

Skills/Qualifications

• Fluency in the Spanish language is required.
• Bachelor’s Degree (paralegal or law-related experience preferred).
• Experience in community organizing/activism and/or public outreach.
• Must be available some evenings and weekends when community legal clinics occur (with advanced notice).
• Access to reliable transportation for frequent travel to PBRC’s office, Baltimore Hold Room, and travel to other locations in Maryland.
• Strong attention to detail and excellent organizational and record-keeping skills.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, SharePoint)
• Proficiency in data collection and tracking preferred (prior Salesforce experience preferred)
• Ability to work well with people, including other staff, volunteers, clients, public interest organizations, governmental entities, Board members, and donors.
• Experience working with children and/or the immigrant community is preferred.
• Strong commitment to helping the community and ensuring equal access to justice.

Compensation

• Competitive salary ranging from $53,000 – $58,000 depending on experience.
• Full-time position with excellent benefits package including paid health insurance, disability insurance, and employer-matched 401k plan; paid sick and vacation leave; and paid holidays.
• Hybrid in person/remote work.