Legal Assistant - Salinas, CA and Oxnard, CA

UFW FOUNDATION JOB POST

TITLE: Legal Assistant

FLSA STATUS: Hourly (Non-Exempt)

LOCATION: Oxnard, 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. The UFW Foundation is one of the largest federally accredited immigration legal service providers in the rural parts of the state of California.

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. We represent low-income clients, including unaccompanied minors, in an array of affirmative and defensive applications, including family petitions, U-visa/VAWA, Waivers, Naturalization and DACA, as well as Asylum/Withholding/CAT, Cancellation of Removal and Special Immigrants Juvenile Status (SIJS).

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

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Utilize computer hardware and software to produce documents.
• Read and route incoming legal mail; locate and attach appropriate file to correspondence.
• Compose and type routine and complex correspondence.
• Prepare outgoing mail and correspondence, including e-mail and faxes.
• Facilitate completion of immigration applications (DACA, Citizenship, etc.).
• Translate documents from Spanish to English and vice-versa.
• Provide information to potential immigration applicants.
• Provide necessary follow-up after intakes to evaluate client's eligibility for relief, including legal research.
• Assist/coordinate and direct on-site/off-site group processing workshops.
• Provide administrative and legal support to Attorneys, DOJ Representatives, and other management staff.
• Assist in maintaining accurate client database and case physical and/or electronic files.
• Conduct initial intake for Immigration clients.
• Organize and maintain file system, file correspondence and other records.
• Other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• Ability to develop, implement and track day-to-day activities.
• Experience working in immigrant communities, communities of color, and low-income and working-class communities.
• Bilingual (English and Spanish or English and indigenous language).
• Ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.
• Self-motivated and able to work both independently and in conjunction with team members.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Excellent problem-solving skills.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE: Associate degree (A.A.) or equivalent from two-year college or technical school; and two years or more of related experience and/or training; or 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 a rate of not less than 50 Net Words Per Minute (NWPM).

COMPENSATION: The hourly pay range for this position is $21.00 to $24.00, plus benefits including vacation accrual, 16 paid holidays, paid sick days, health/dental/vision benefits, life insurance, Flexible Spending Accounts, Employee Assistance Program, 403(b) with 2% employer match, 401(k), and employer-sponsored pension plan.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER: The UFW Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are based on merit, qualifications, and abilities. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive work environment for all.