Pro Bono Coordinator Asylum Project

Global Pro Bono Hub; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 50,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

National Immigrant Justice Center seeks a Pro Bono Coordinator for the Asylum Project in Chicago. The role serves as primary contact for clients and volunteer attorneys, coordinating intake, assisting with case preparation, and supporting pro bono attorneys throughout asylum cases.

The successful candidate will help develop training materials and resources, ensuring high‑quality representation by volunteers. Strong Spanish language skills and nonprofit experience preferred.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; minimum one year in human rights, legal, or communications work.
• Strong legal research and writing skills; ability to manage multiple tasks.
• Regular Spanish communication with clients; proficiency in spoken and written Spanish.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate NIJC's non-detained asylum intakes and respond to referrals.
• Assist in case preparation with program staff and support pro bono attorneys.
• Develop and deliver training materials for asylum pro bono work.
• Prepare reports on NIJC's asylum pro bono activities and outcomes.
• Track cases, placements, and outcomes in NIJC's database; coordinate trainings.
• Outreach and recruitment of potential pro bono attorneys; coordinate referrals.

Skills

Legal Skills

Reasoning Ability

Technology Knowledge/Skills

Microsoft Office

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Share NIJC seeks a Pro Bono Coordinator for the Asylum Project providing pro bono representation to hundreds of low-income individuals and families seeking asylum in the Chicago Immigration Court and Asylum Office.

At a glance

Organisation:

National Immigrant Justice Center

Type:

Full-time

Location:

Chicago, IL, US

Job posted:

7 July 2026

NIJC seeks a ProBono Coordinator for the Asylum Projectprovidingpro bono representation to hundreds of low-income individuals and families seeking asylum in the Chicago Immigration Court and Asylum Office. Serving as the primary point of contact for both prospective asylum clients and volunteer attorneys, this roleis responsible forcoordinating client intake processes,assistingin case preparation in collaboration with program staff, and supporting pro bono attorneys throughout the lifecycle of asylum cases. The coordinator also contributes to the development and delivery of training materials and resources to ensure high-quality legal representation by volunteer partners.

Key Responsibilities

• Coordinate NIJC's non-detained asylum intakes, responds to internal and external referrals.
• Make recommendations to the project attorneysregardingcase assessments and feasibility of pro bono placement
• Serve as theinitialpoint-of-contact for pro bono inquiries from current and prospective pro bono attorneys and coordinators at law firms and corporations across the country regarding NIJC's work
• Provide referrals for post-asylum ancillary services for NIJC asylum clients
• Generate reports regarding NIJC's asylum pro bono work
• Track individual asylum cases, pro bono placement, and outcomes in NIJC's database
• Coordinate legal trainings and workshops for asylum pro bono attorneys
• Create and update NIJC asylum pro bono training materials in collaboration with the Asylum Project staff
• Compile pro bono summaries for distribution in the monthly pro bono newsletter
• Collaborate with the pro bono manager to conduct outreach and recruitment of potential pro bono attorneys
• Coordinate the referral of asylum cases to pro bono attorneys
• Respond to questions from asylum pro bono attorneys and refer questions to the project attorneys as appropriate
• Participate in a bi-annual audit of the Asylum Project's pro bono cases
• Participate in legal trainings and review legal materials to remain current on immigration law, policies, and procedures
• Assistin the representation of in-house asylum clients
• Other duties as assigned

The Successful Candidate

• Legal Skills: Experience analyzing the impact of laws on vulnerable populations and advocating for improved laws and policies. Strong legal research and writing skills. Ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously, work independently, and collaborate effectively in a fast-paced environment.
• Reasoning Ability: Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructionsfurnishedin written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

• Technology Knowledge/Skills :Proficiencyin Microsoft Office applications.

Qualifications:

• Education and/or Experience: Bachelor's degreerequired. Minimum of one year of experience inthe humanrights field, legal and/or communications workrequired. May give credit towards years of experience ifattaineda degree higher than a bachelor's degree.

• Language Skills: This position requires regular communication with clients in Spanish. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and writtenSpanish.

• Other Requirements: Excellent writing, editing, organizational, and computer skills. Ability to manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.