Legal Assistant - Salinas, CA and Oxnard, CA

UFW FOUNDATION JOB POST

TITLE: Legal Assistant

FLSA STATUS: Hourly (Non-Exempt)

LOCATION: Salinas, CA

HIRING RANGE: $21.00 - $24.00 hourly, depending on experience.

About UFW Foundation: For nearly 20 years, the UFW Foundation has mobilized farm workers and their organizations across the country to advocate for more equitable policies, such as immigration reform, pesticide protections, heat standards, hazard pay and other worker protections. We engage constituents in systemic change to break the cycle of poverty while also providing critical services. The UFW Foundation is one of the largest federally accredited immigration legal service providers in the rural parts of the state of California. The organization has staff in California, Arizona, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, New York, and Washington state.

The UFW Foundation's Immigration Legal Services Program provides high quality comprehensive affirmative and removal defense services and representation before U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), and California State Courts.

SUMMARY: The legal assistant will support attorneys or Department of Justice (DOJ) accredited representatives to (1) provide affirmative immigration relief services; (2) assist in representation of clients in removal proceedings; (3) support services and outreach at assigned community college campuses and/or community events as needed; and (4) work closely with other UFW Foundation programs. Legal Assistants report to a lead staff attorney or senior accredited representative.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS (not exhaustive):

• Utilize computer hardware and software to produce documents.
• Read and route incoming legal mail; attach appropriate files to correspondence to be answered by DOJ Accredited Representative(s) or Attorney(s).
• Compose and type routine and complex correspondence.
• Facilitate completion of immigration applications (DACA, Citizenship, etc.).
• Translate documents from Spanish to English and vice-versa.
• Conduct initial intake for immigration clients and follow up to evaluate eligibility for relief.
• Assist, coordinate, and direct on-site/off-site group processing workshops.
• Maintain accurate client database and case files.
• Provide administrative and legal support to Attorney(s), DOJ Representatives, and management staff.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• Bilingual (English and Spanish, or English and an indigenous/other language as needed to meet communities' needs).
• Experience working in immigrant communities, communities of color, and low-income and working-class communities.
• Ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent oral and written communication and problem-solving skills.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE: Associate degree (A.A.) or equivalent from a two-year college or technical school; and two or more years of related experience and/or training; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS: Valid California Class C driver's license, access to an automobile, insurance, and willingness to travel to off-site locations. Ability to type at not less than 50 Net Words Per Minute (NWPM).

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS: Hourly pay range $21.00 to $24.00. Benefits include vacation accruals, 16 paid holidays, a mental health day, paid sick days, health/dental/vision benefits, life insurance, Flexible Spending Accounts, an Employee Assistance Program, and a 403(b) retirement plan with 2% employer match.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER: The UFW Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer and celebrates diversity. We encourage all qualified applicants to apply for a position fighting for farm worker and immigrant communities.