Temporary paralegal supporting NYLAG’s Immigrant Protection Unit across affirmative and defensive immigration matters. Responsibilities include Spanish interpretation and document translation, client intake and eligibility screening, case handling, USCIS filings, evidence and testimony preparation, data entry, referrals, and clinic coordination. The role requires fluency in Spanish, strong communication and analytical skills, project management abilities, and experience working with immigrant and marginalized communities.
About NYLAG:
Founded in 1990, NYLAG is a leading civil legal services organization combatting economic, racial, and social injustice by advocating for people experiencing poverty or in crisis. Our services include comprehensive, free civil legal services, financial empowerment, impact litigation, policy advocacy, and community partnerships. NYLAG exists because wealth should not determine who has access to justice. We aim to disrupt systemic racism by serving individuals and families whose legal and financial crises are often rooted in racial inequality. NYLAG goes to where the need is, providing services in more than 150 community sites (e.g. courts, hospitals, libraries) and on our Mobile Legal Help Center. During COVID-19, most of our services were virtual to keep our community safe. NYLAG’s staff of over 400 impacted the lives of nearly 129,000 people last year.
Job description:
NYLAG seeks a highly motivated, full‐time, temporary paralegal to
support our work across both affirmative and defensive teams within the Immigrant Protection Unit. Under the supervision of a Supervising Attorney and/or a Supervising Paralegal, the paralegal will serve as the primary interpreter in assisting both attorneys and DOJ-accredited representatives before USCIS field offices, asylum offices, at court hearings, and at detention centers. Other responsibilities will include assisting in the intake process, contacting individuals who are eligible for assistance; fielding referrals from partners; making appointments; supporting preparation of evidence and testimony for removal proceedings; tracking and collecting case information and data; filing affirmative applications; and providing logistical support for clinics and workshops. This position is temporary until June 30, 2027.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Qualifications:
NYLAG’s Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
NYLAG is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. People of color, women, people with disabilities, immigrants, veterans, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people, and those with lived experiences in the communities we serve are strongly encouraged to apply.
Employment type:
☒ Full-time
☒ Temporary
Professional Level:
☒ Professional
Salary Range: NYLAG is a unionized workplace, and salaries are set pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement. The current salary range for this position is between $71,177 - $77,743.
Benefits: Medical, dental, vision, 401k, life insurance, long term disability, commuter benefits, flexible spending accounts (FSA) for Medical and Dependent care.
Application Instructions: Please save resume and cover letter on one pdf.
Covid Vaccination Policy: Please note, to safeguard the health and well-being of our employees and clients, NYLAG requires all employees to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19, unless a medical or religious exemption is approved.
NYLAG is committed to a hybrid work policy for staff whose work does not require their full-time presence in the office. NYLAG’s current policy is that most staff are required to work in NYLAG’s offices or do other in-person work at least two days each week. This policy is subject to change.
Founded in 1990, NYLAG is a leading civil legal services organization combatting economic, racial, and social injustice by advocating for people experiencing poverty or in crisis. Our services include comprehensive, free civil legal services, financial empowerment, impact litigation, policy advocacy, and community partnerships. NYLAG exists because wealth should not determine who has access to justice. We aim to disrupt systemic racism by serving individuals and families whose legal and financial crises are often rooted in racial inequality. NYLAG goes to where the need is, providing services in more than 150 community sites (e.g. courts, hospitals, libraries) and on our Mobile Legal Help Center. During COVID-19, most of our services were virtual to keep our community safe. NYLAG’s staff of over 400 impacted the lives of nearly 129,000 people last year.
Job description:
NYLAG seeks a highly motivated, full‐time, temporary paralegal to
support our work across both affirmative and defensive teams within the Immigrant Protection Unit. Under the supervision of a Supervising Attorney and/or a Supervising Paralegal, the paralegal will serve as the primary interpreter in assisting both attorneys and DOJ-accredited representatives before USCIS field offices, asylum offices, at court hearings, and at detention centers. Other responsibilities will include assisting in the intake process, contacting individuals who are eligible for assistance; fielding referrals from partners; making appointments; supporting preparation of evidence and testimony for removal proceedings; tracking and collecting case information and data; filing affirmative applications; and providing logistical support for clinics and workshops. This position is temporary until June 30, 2027.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Serve as primary contact for unit attorneys and case handlers with document translation and verbal interpretation, including preparing for and at asylum and USCIS interviews, psychological evaluations and immigration court hearings, with supervision and guidance
- Conduct pre-screening of clients for basic eligibility requirements, track contacts made, and collect documents;
- Screen clients for eligibility for immigration relief.
- Be a primary case handler: Assist clients to obtain the documents necessary to apply for relief, fill out appropriate forms to be submitted to USCIS and other agencies, and follow up with clients via phone, mail and email;
- Assist in preparation for pro bono, community and internal clinics, including screening, making appointments and confirming attendance
- Manage data entry in internal and external data management systems;
- Provide internal referrals for financial counseling and other wraparound services, and external referrals to partner organizations;
- Any other job duties as required.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s Degree preferred, but not required
- Fluency in Spanish, including legal and other complex terms, or other community language is required
- At least 1-3 years of recent immigration experience strongly preferred
- Ability to work collaboratively, communicate effectively, manage multiple tasks and creatively problem solve
- Experience working with immigrant communities of color, including LGBTQIA+, youth, survivors of violence, and other marginalized communities
- Excellent written, oral and analytical skills
- Excellent time and project management skills
- Commitment to social justice and anti-racism
NYLAG’s Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
NYLAG is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. People of color, women, people with disabilities, immigrants, veterans, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people, and those with lived experiences in the communities we serve are strongly encouraged to apply.
Employment type:
☒ Full-time
☒ Temporary
Professional Level:
☒ Professional
Salary Range: NYLAG is a unionized workplace, and salaries are set pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement. The current salary range for this position is between $71,177 - $77,743.
Benefits: Medical, dental, vision, 401k, life insurance, long term disability, commuter benefits, flexible spending accounts (FSA) for Medical and Dependent care.
Application Instructions: Please save resume and cover letter on one pdf.
Covid Vaccination Policy: Please note, to safeguard the health and well-being of our employees and clients, NYLAG requires all employees to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19, unless a medical or religious exemption is approved.
NYLAG is committed to a hybrid work policy for staff whose work does not require their full-time presence in the office. NYLAG’s current policy is that most staff are required to work in NYLAG’s offices or do other in-person work at least two days each week. This policy is subject to change.
New York Legal Assistance Group New York, New York, USA Office
New York, NY, United States
Similar Jobs
Artificial Intelligence • Professional Services • Business Intelligence • Consulting • Cybersecurity • Generative AI
Leads custom application development, architecture, testing, modernization, and delivery across cloud-native and on-premise environments. Translates business requirements into scalable technical solutions, coordinates software planning and releases, reviews code, applies CI/CD and automated testing, advises clients on technology decisions, coaches engineers, and advances AI-enabled engineering practices.
Top Skills:
.NetAPIsAutomated TestingCi/CdCloud-Native TechnologiesJavaMicroservicesPythonReact Native
Artificial Intelligence • Professional Services • Business Intelligence • Consulting • Cybersecurity • Generative AI
Designs, develops, tests, modernizes, and maintains custom applications across cloud-native and on-premise environments. Translates business requirements into technical solutions, builds APIs and integrations, applies AI-native engineering practices, supports CI/CD and release activities, and performs debugging and code reviews. Collaborates with clients, contributes to architecture and project planning, estimates complex workstreams, and mentors junior engineers while ensuring high-quality software delivery.
Top Skills:
APIsC#.NetCi/CdCloud ComputingJavaJavaScriptLow-Code PlatformsMicroservicesPythonSource ControlSwiftui
Artificial Intelligence • Professional Services • Business Intelligence • Consulting • Cybersecurity • Generative AI
Design and implement cloud security controls across IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS environments. Conduct risk assessments, vulnerability reviews, security testing, and threat monitoring; support remediation of vulnerabilities and control gaps; document technical findings and requirements; advise clients on cloud security improvements; collaborate with technical teams; mentor junior staff; and build client relationships within PwC’s Advisory practice.
Top Skills:
Cloud ArchitectureCloud SecurityIaasPaasSaaSSecurity ControlsSecurity MonitoringVulnerability Testing
What you need to know about the NYC Tech Scene
As the undisputed financial capital of the world, New York City is an epicenter of startup funding activity. The city has a thriving fintech scene and is a major player in verticals ranging from AI to biotech, cybersecurity and digital media. It also has universities like NYU, Columbia and Cornell Tech attracting students and researchers from across the globe, providing the ecosystem with a constant influx of world-class talent. And its East Coast location and three international airports make it a perfect spot for European companies establishing a foothold in the United States.
Key Facts About NYC Tech
- Number of Tech Workers: 549,200; 6% of overall workforce (2024 CompTIA survey)
- Major Tech Employers: Capgemini, Bloomberg, IBM, Spotify
- Key Industries: Artificial intelligence, Fintech
- Funding Landscape: $25.5 billion in venture capital funding in 2024 (Pitchbook)
- Notable Investors: Greycroft, Thrive Capital, Union Square Ventures, FirstMark Capital, Tiger Global Management, Tribeca Venture Partners, Insight Partners, Two Sigma Ventures
- Research Centers and Universities: Columbia University, New York University, Fordham University, CUNY, AI Now Institute, Flatiron Institute, C.N. Yang Institute for Theoretical Physics, NASA Space Radiation Laboratory
