Senior Paralegal, Detained Adult Program- Legal Orientation Program

The Capital Area Immigrants’ Rights (CAIR) Coalition is now Amica Center for Immigrant Rights (“Amica Center” for short). Click here to learn more about our new name. Since our founding in 1999, we have grown significantly and added new services to support immigrants in detention. Recently, Amica Center has outgrown our name, expanding beyond our initial services and geographic boundaries.

“Amica” is the Latin word for “friend,” and that echoes the way we approach what we do. Just as friends stand with one another, Amica Center stands with our clients to achieve the safety, stability, and opportunity we all deserve.

We are the only non-profit organization in the Washington, D.C. area that is exclusively focused on providing legal assistance to adult and child immigrants detained by the government in the Capital Region and beyond.

The Detained Adult Program (DAP) works with hundreds of adults who are detained by ICE each year, providing information, support, and legal representation. We provide trauma-sensitive, person-centered services, and deeply value the autonomy of the people we work with in detention as they navigate the fundamentally inhumane immigration system.

Amica Center’s Detained Adult Program is a highly collaborative work environment. Each team lead works directly with a focused team, but all colleagues are interconnected through, for example, case workshops or staff-run committees.

DAP staff is a source of expertise in the highly complex and ever-changing immigration system. They have persisted through administration changes, policy shifts, and attacks on the rights and freedoms of immigrants through project-focused cohorts that arise to address challenges or to brainstorm and implement affirmative strategies.

A senior paralegal in the Legal Orientation Program focuses on (i) leading the coordination and execution of visits to detention centers for the purpose of conducting know your rights presentations and intakes with detained adults, (ii) working with unrepresented detained people throughout the course of removal proceedings, including assisting with document assistance, and (iii) supporting the program’s provision of services as a whole. This position is a hybrid remote/in-person with the expectation that you will be in the DC office at least once a week for mandatory in-person meetings, detention center preparation or breakdown days, and as required by the department and organization.

Client Services:

• Helps organize and lead the preparation for and breakdown of detention facility visits.
• Conducts detention facility visits in Virginia (normally 1 overnight visit per month, for 2 full days), for the provision of know your rights presentations and individual orientations.
• Participates in review of intakes from the detention facility visits, additional case research, and vetting cases for pro bono placement.
• Provides follow-up after intakes to evaluate eligibility for relief from removal, including legal research, securing criminal records, and obtaining additional information from family and other community members.
• Conducts administrative tasks to facilitate communication with clients at the detention facilities and interfaces with facility staff.
• Actively engages in and, when possible, leads in Amica Center training and advocacy efforts, as needed.
• In coordination with social services staff, interfaces with them when necessary and assists with developing Post Release Plans and other social services plans.

Organizational Services:

• Ensures the inputting and accuracy of data and case information into shared databases such as Legal Server and on SharePoint, in a timely fashion.
• Helps with the transfer of clients to internal representation programs (e.g., the National Qualified Representative program, the Immigration Impact Lab, local universal representation programs) and the facilitation of pro bono attorney communications with detained clients.
• Assists other program staff in completion of their workload during high-work/low-bandwidth periods.
• Helps lead stakeholder relationship activities, including in-person and telephonic meetings with community groups, governmental bodies and representatives, and other legal service providers.
• Engages with internal Amica Center committees and working groups to support the organization’s growth and strategy.
• When needed provides supervision over junior staff members.

Position Type

Salaried, Non-exempt, Full-Time

Reports To

Senior LOP Staff Member

Hiring Timeline

Applications will be accepted and offers made on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

Salary [2]

$50,000-$66,000

[2] In 2018 Amica Center implemented a compensation framework to be more straightforward, transparent, and provide assurance of internal equity. The compensation model we use is based on an individual’s position and years of relevant work experience to avoid salary discrepancies and to reduce the risk of racial, gender, or other forms of bias affecting a candidate’s salary.

Location and/or Travel Requirements

Washington, DC

Due to business related travel expectations, it is recommended candidates live within 30-miles of their assigned primary office. Travel for work-related business is required monthly or as necessary based on the needs of the program.

Telework

Amica Center operates a hybrid work environment Where staff are required to work at least one day per week in-office, but some roles require more office/on-site attendance or travel.

COVID-19 Vaccination

All employees are required to be fully vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19. To be fully vaccinated means having completed the full dosages required for the type of vaccine obtained as designated by the CDC. If boosters are subsequently recommended by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) then employees will be required to receive the booster within thirty (30) days of their eligibility to access the boosters.

Amica Center benefits package includes:

• Free gym access located in Washington, D.C. or Baltimore, MD (dependent on employee’s primary office)
• Flexible working hours after successful completion of trainings and with approval of supervisor
• Pre-tax commuter benefits for those living in the DMV
• Subsidized health, dental insurance, and vision insurance (Amica Center pays a very high rate of the insurance package, for which we can provide additional information)
• An annual data reimbursement of $300
• Life insurance valued at $50,000, as well as long- and short-term disability
• The option to set up a Flexible Spending Account
• High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) with a one-time employer contribution of $350 to the Health Savings Account (HSA)
• The option to set up a 403(b) account (the equivalent of a 401(k) account for non-profits) which the organization has the option, for all employees on an annual basis, to match at a certain percentage after one year of continuous employment

Paid time off includes:

• 23 personal days per calendar year
• Up to 20 days of sick time per calendar year
• 7 hours of volunteer time off
• Federal holidays
• Winter break closure
• 12 weeks of parental leave

Legal Proficiency  

The employee demonstrates firm understanding of immigration relief eligibility to allow for meaningful contribution to client-facing legal activities and thought leadership in discussion during client intake, vetting, and follow-up work with limited supervision. The employee is self-sufficient in client-facing legal activities.

The employee demonstrates understanding of legal information versus advice and educates others on this distinction. The employee is familiar with preparing client filings and has experience in document assistance.

Client and Programmatic Proficiency 

The employee becomes comfortable presenting legal and procedural concepts to people detained by ICE with limited supervision, including working with clients and their families/support community throughout the course of a case. The employee provides educational presentations to clients efficiently and effectively. The employee demonstrates trauma-informed interviewing and rapport building skills. The employee adequately prioritizes time and resources. The employee contributes to the supervision and professional development of junior staff.

Administrative 

The employee ensures that all administrative aspects of their position, attendant to the provision of services to clients and jail visits, are carried out without managerial intervention, including jail visit preparation and breakdown, file upkeep, database upkeep, etc.

• Written and oral Spanish proficiency required; fluency preferred.
• It is expected that the candidate will need to travel for work-related business monthly. As a result, the candidate must possess a valid driver’s license and be comfortable operating a vehicle upon hiring. This role requires travel, but qualified individuals with disabilities may be accommodated in a reasonable manner under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
• Two or more years of experience working as a paralegal or similar role involving experience with trauma-informed client support, immigration law and detention.