The Family and Immigration Rights Center (FIRC) works with low-income, non-citizen children and families across North Florida, South Georgia, and South Alabama to overcome barriers to justice. FIRC provides free direct legal services to children who come unaccompanied to the United States to help them obtain temporary and permanent immigration status and defend them from deportation. FIRC strives to implement best practices in culturally competent, trauma-informed, and client-centered lawyering to achieve our clients’ legal and non-legal goals. The representation of children in an adult system requires particular attention be paid to the child’s understanding of their legal case. FIRC strives not only to represent children in their legal immigration and family matters, but to empower them with knowledge about legal case and access to community resources.
With in-house expertise of family and immigration law attorneys, FIRC specializes in representing children in multifaceted legal proceedings involving state courts and federal agencies. Providing holistic, trauma-informed representation, FIRC fills a need for one-stop services specially tailored to immigrant children. FIRC represents immigrant youth, and their caregivers, in petitions for guardianship, dependency, adoption, paternity, custody, petitions for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS), applications for asylum and withholding of removal under the Convention Against Torture (CAT), petitions for U nonimmigrant status for survivors of crime, petitions for T nonimmigrant status for survivors of human trafficking, and other forms of humanitarian immigration relief. The FIRC Legal Assistant fills an integral role in the organization by being the first line of contact by phone, text, and email for our community.
Requirements for Candidate:
- Candidates must be bilingual in English and Spanish.
- Candidates must reside in or relocate to Tallahassee, FL; no relocation assistance offered.
- Candidates must be prepared to assist in handling a high volume of cases and to interact with a diverse client population in a sensitive and professional manner.
- Candidates should demonstrate a strong commitment to public service and have excellent communication and computer abilities.
- Experience in a law office is preferred but not required.
Responsibilities include:
- Conducting preliminary screenings and assisting with intake of potential clients and conducting appropriate follow-up.
- Scheduling consultations, intakes, and attorney-client meetings.
- Assisting with office administration and case management including updating database and calendars with case deadlines, progress and outcomes, and maintaining accurate records of clients as well as pro bono attorneys and support staff; answering and returning calls, emails, and texts to the office main line and referring to appropriate staff or external agencies as needed.
- Processing mail.
- Opening and closing case files.
- Translating documents and interpreting for Spanish-speaking clients, as needed.
- Providing legal referrals for clients who leave FIRC’s service area.
- Assisting clients with social services referrals.
- Assisting with case preparation for direct representation of clients, including drafting of forms, affidavits, and other supporting documentation.
Salary and Benefits include:
- Entry level salary of $20.00/hour is negotiable, depending on experience.
- Paid time off includes holidays, sick leave, and personal leave.
- Ability to flex time between office and home after probationary period.
- 100% fully paid health insurance, dental, and vision for employee & dependent children upon eligibility.
- 401(k) - 3% safe harbor elective share after one year of service.
Pay: $20.00 per hour
Work Location: In person
