Paralegal

Blessinger Legal; Washington (Washington County); On-site; USD 50,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Blessinger Legal is seeking an on-site Paralegal in the Washington area to support attorneys and clients through the immigration process. Responsibilities include data gathering, form completion, and creating organized PDFs with comprehensive tables of contents.

The role requires fluent English and Spanish, strong organizational and communication skills, and experience with Microsoft Office, SharePoint, Google Docs, and Adobe Acrobat.

Qualifications

• Must be fluent in English and Spanish.
• Highly organized and detail-oriented with strong prioritization skills.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, SharePoint, Google Docs, and Adobe Acrobat.
• Professional, welcoming demeanor and reliable in meeting deadlines.
• Passion for supporting immigrants' rights in the United States.

Responsibilities

• Document Management: create lists in Spanish for evidence and communicate with clients to obtain documents.
• Data entry: complete forms with accuracy and verify data against client information.
• Client communication: maintain regular follow-up until evidence is received.
• Compilation: organize documents into sections (biographic info, proof of residence, tax proof, etc.).
• Document preparation: create inserts, compile documents, paginate final PDF.
• Table of Contents: develop detailed TOC with page numbers by category.
• Front desk support: greet clients, answer calls, direct inquiries.
• Mail review & deadline monitoring: identify deadlines and actions from mail.
• Physical filing: assist with preparing and finalizing physical filings.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

Fluent in English

Fluent in Spanish

Organizational skills

Attention to detail

Professionalism

Reliability

On-site availability

Customer service

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

SharePoint

Google Docs

Adobe Acrobat

Job description

Title: Paralegal (On-site)

Department: Legal Support

Reports To: Supervising Attorney

Location: District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia

Status: Full-Time

Rate: $50,000 - $60,000/year

The Paralegal plays a vital role in supporting the firm's attorneys and clients throughout the immigration process. This role involves gathering, organizing, and entering data and evidence, completing forms compiling case documents, creating formatted and paginated PDF files with tables of contents; and maintaining updated records. The Legal Assistant serves as a liaison between clients and attorneys, ensuring smooth communication and document flow while contributing to positive client outcomes. A strong candidate will have experience working in a legal setting, a proven track record of being detail oriented, be proactive in managing and following up on various tasks to meet deadlines on time, be able to draft documents with few mistakes, receive and implement edits towards a final draft in a timely fashion, and have excellent customer service tone and etiquette.

• Document Management: Receive a list of evidence from the assigned team and create a corresponding list in Spanish. Communicate with clients via call, text, and email to request necessary documents, ensuring contact information is current and accurate.
• Data Entry Forms: Completing forms with an eye to accuracy and reviewing the data imported into the forms by comparing the information received from the client, to ensure accuracy.
• Client Communication: Maintain regular follow-up with clients until all required evidence is received.
• Compilation: Organize evidence into sections such as biographic information, proof of residence, proof of tax payment, etc. (categories will be provided for each case).
• Document Preparation: Create inserts to separate each document, compile all documents, and paginate the final PDF.
• Table of Contents Creation: Develop a detailed table of contents, listing each piece of evidence and corresponding page numbers by category.
• Front Desk Support: Assist with front desk coverage as needed, including greeting clients, answering calls, and directing inquiries in a professional and welcoming manner.
• Mail Review & Deadline Monitoring: Support firm leadership by reviewing incoming physical and electronic mail to identify deadlines, critical notices, and required follow-up actions
• Physical Filing Support: Assist attorneys and legal assistants with preparing, assembling, and finalizing physical filings from the office to ensure submissions are complete and deadlines are met.
• Other Duties as Assigned: Perform additional administrative and clerical tasks as needed to support attorneys, legal staff, and overall office operations.

Qualifications:

• Language Proficiency: Fluent in English and Spanish.
• Organizational Skills: Highly organized, detail-oriented, and capable of prioritizing tasks.
• Technical Skills: Proficient in Microsoft Office, SharePoint, Google Docs, and Adobe Acrobat. Working with AI is a plus.
• Professionalism: Positive, welcoming, and professional demeanor.
• Commitment: Passionate about supporting immigrants' rights in the United States.
• Reliability: Prompt attendance, able to follow directions and adhere to training guidelines.
• Availability: Available to work onsite from Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. EST.
• Location: Must be located in the District of Columbia, Maryland, or Virginia area.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience: Must have 1 year experience in a legal assistant or paralegal role.
• Language Skills: Fluency in both Spanish and English is nonnegotiable.
• Software Experience: Must have experience with Microsoft Word and Adobe Acrobat.
• Familiarity: Experience with Docketwise, INS Zoom or any case management software.