The Organization:
The Florence Project was founded in 1989 to respond to a representation crisis for indigent non-citizens detained at the rural Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Detention Center in Florence, Arizona. Through our programs today, we provide services to thousands of adults, youth, and children detained in Eloy, Florence, Phoenix, and Tucson, Arizona on any given day. In 2001, the Florence Project implemented our Integrated Social Services Program, one of the first of its kind in this field. The Florence Project provides high quality legal and social services and supports initiatives for national changes in immigration law and policy.

Primary Purpose of the Job:

The Legal Assistant works under the direction of the Managing Attorney, and in collaboration with a team of pro bono mentors, staff attorneys, other legal assistants, and social workers. The Legal Assistant will assist the Pro Bono Adult Program to screen and develop adult cases for placement with pro bono counsel and facilitate pro bono representation, as necessary. The legal assistant will also provide support for advertising, outreach, and recruitment within the legal community. Most of the Legal Assistant’s work will be devoted to supporting the Pro Bono Manager and Mentors in providing an excellent and responsive mentoring service to pro bono attorneys handling Florence Project cases. The Legal Assistant will also support the direct representation caseload of the Pro Bono Manager and Mentors, including a mentor with an NQRP caseload.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

Provide direct support to the Pro Bono Manager and Mentors on the Adult Team.
Liaison with current and potential pro bono attorneys, law firms, and legal organizations to promote the Florence Project Pro Bono Program;
Assist Pro Bono Mentors in screening and tracking referrals made to the Pro Bono Team for potential placement, including visits to four facilities in Eloy and Florence. Assist Pro Bono Mentors as necessary to conduct in-depth interviews with detained clients, document collection, review of our files, and evidence collection as needed.
Provide support to out of state pro bono counsel as necessary, including gathering signatures and other time sensitive needs in the detention facilities.
Work to address basic needs of local pro bono counsel, such as organizing interpretation or other services essential to pro bono representation.
Work with the Pro Bono Team to continuously streamline and improve our placement system and improve our support to pro bono counsel in Arizona.
Responsible for administrative tasks such as tracking and inputting data in the case management system, maintaining electronic and physical case files, and creating and maintaining systems of organization, as necessary.
Responsible for maintaining caseload as assigned; daily case management, scheduling client visits, obtaining and preparing supporting documentation, including country conditions, and legal research.
Track and monitor caseload and filing deadlines.
Work with team members to develop case strategies consistent with immigration law and procedure. Assist in implementing agreed-upon strategy.
Assist clients with preparing and drafting applications for relief from removal.
Investigate and develop evidence to support clients' fear-based or waiver claims, such as drafting client declarations, witness letters and obtaining supporting documents from family or feared country of return.
Conduct translations between Spanish and English;
Conduct case and legal research (e.g., country conditions).
Communicate with experts or witnesses as needed.
Prepare legal filings and submissions and submit them to the court as needed by the attorneys.
Liaison between the attorney and the client to obtain required documentation and information. Routinely check client case status with the courts.
Keep family members/clients informed of the status of matters and comply with reasonable requests for information.
Maintain complete and accurate case notes and client records. Prepares timely statistical reports.
Ensure the accuracy, substance, and timeliness of data, statistical and narrative reports, projects, schedules, and other relevant work products.
Attend team meetings, and trainings.
Be well versed in immigration law, policies, and procedures.
In accordance with required ethical standards, preserves client confidentiality and avoids conflicts of interest.
Develop and maintain professional relationships with government, social service, and community organizations.
Communicate and interpret immigration and department policies and programs to the public, including public speaking on such matters as “Know Your Rights” and other matters as requested.
Refer clients who are released from ICE custody to appropriate pro bono resources in their destination community when such resources are available and develop a compilation of packets of support.

Data Entry

Data Entry, timekeeping, and file management.
Enter required organizational, pro bono, placement, and client information into required databases, maintain data entry requirements by following data program techniques and procedures. Support Managing attorney in quarterly and yearly reporting on placements and case outcome
Maintain client confidence and protect operations by keeping information confidential.
Generate form response letters to client inquiries where appropriate.
Prepare paper filings and copies of court documents for legal staff and clients.
Prepare monthly statistics for grant reporting purposes.
Work with legal staff to organize and maintain client files (both paper and electronic).
Other duties as necessary—which may include but are not limited to: coverage of other team legal assistant duties, traveling to other facilities to get signatures, translations, assisting with document collection, scanning, photocopying, collating, and faxing information.
Prepare, proofread, and send documents as assigned.

Minimum Requirements:

Bachelor's Degree preferred. A combination of relevant experience and education will be considered.
Demonstrate commitment to advocating for indigent immigrant clients in a respectful and empowering way.
Demonstrate a zealous support of the Florence Project’s mission.
Must be comfortable working with people with criminal convictions.
Strong research skills.
Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work with diverse populations.
Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.
Highly organized, an innovative thinker, and work in a high volume setting with limited resources.
Accuracy and attention to detail.
Excellent problem solving, research and analytical skills.
Effectively manage multiple projects and meet deadlines.
Demonstrate to be a hardworking, flexible, respectful team player that can work effectively in a collaborative, innovative, and client centered work environment.
Ability to work independently, be adaptable and reliable in the face of conflict, pressure, crisis or changing priorities.
Exhibit high ethical standards and the ability to maintain confidentiality.
Must be able to pass federal and state background checks.
Fluency or advanced proficiency in Spanish required.
Travel is required for this position.
Must have a valid driver’s license and reliable transportation.
Proven computer skills. Advanced understanding of basic office applications.

Other Duties & Responsibilities:

Participate in organizational fundraising and outreach efforts as requested.
Participate in developing and implementing special projects or presentations.
Other duties as assigned.

Preferred Requirements:

Prior office administrative experience is strongly preferred.
Prior work or internship experience in immigration rights, human rights, criminal justice, or a nonprofit legal services setting is a plus.
Prior advocacy work in immigrant rights, human rights, LGBTQ rights, criminal justice, or experience working with trauma survivors is a plus.
Experience with databases and data tracking (i.e., Legal Server, Caspio, Razor’s Edge, SharePoint) is a plus.
Experience or interest in graphic design is a plus;

Working Conditions/Physical Demands:

Operate in a professional office environment requires the ability to sit for long periods of time with intermittent walking, standing, bending, squatting, pulling, and pushing.
Requires the ability to use standard office equipment such as scanners, computers, keyboards, phones, shredders, photocopiers, and filing cabinets. Requires the ability to lift up to ten pounds -- accommodations may be available.
Requires to travel regularly between offices, and secondary work locations.
Effective September 1, 2021, FIRRP has implemented a mandatory COVID-19 vaccine policy. To comply with this policy, active employees must be fully vaccinated by October 15, 2021. Employees seeking an exemption due to a medical condition or sincerely-held religious belief should contact our Human Resources Department at humanresources@firrp.org.

Salary & Benefits:

This is a full-time position. Salary is competitive for our field and geographical area. Salaries will be calculated based on relevant experience and our established comprehensive wage scale: $45,656.00 - $61,751.17 DOE.

We strive to create and uphold a positive, supportive, and inclusive work environment for all staff. We offer excellent benefits, including:

Medical plans including health, dental, vision coverage, subject to plan terms
Short Term Disability
Eligibility for group benefits such as voluntary life insurance, subject to applicable waiting periods
Retirement plan, subject to plan terms
Paid Time Off earned on a biweekly accrual basis- Twenty-five (25) Days of Vacation Time, annually
Five (5) Days of Medical/Sick Time, annually
One (1) Day of Personal Time, monthly
Eight (8) Week Paid Sabbatical, after three years of employment
Bereavement leave.
Fifteen (15) Organization-paid holidays, all observed
Eligible for Parental Leave which includes Twelve (13) paid weeks
Mileage reimbursement for travel between offices and places of work.
Relocation Assistance for out of state new hires available for some positions.

Application Process:

This is an immediate opening. Salary is commensurate with experience. The position will remain open until we receive enough qualified applicants. To apply, please submit a cover letter detailing your interest in the position as well as your resume, three professional references. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and candidates are encouraged to apply early. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted. The Florence Project values diversity in the workplace and strongly encourages applications from people of color, LGBTQ individuals, persons with disabilities, and members of underrepresented communities.

At FIRRP, we recognize that people come with a wealth of experience and talent beyond just the requirements of a job.  If your experience is close to what you see listed in our current job opportunities, please still consider applying.  Diversity of experience and skills combined with passion is a key to innovation and excellence, which is very much valued at FIRRP.  Therefore, we encourage people from all backgrounds to apply to our positions.  Please let us know if you require accommodations during the interview process.

This job announcement is for informational purposes only and is subject to change and modification without notice. This job announcement includes a non-exhaustive list of responsibilities, qualifications and requirements of the position, but does not necessarily include all the job functions of the position.  This position is eligible for membership in the union Proyecto Solidaridad-FIRRP affiliated with OPEIU Local 251.