Immigration Specialist - Department of Justice (DOJ) Accredited Representative

Position Title: Immigration Specialist - Department of Justice (DOJ) Accredited Representative

Organization: Jewish Family Service of San Diego

Department: Immigration Legal Services Department

Position Type: Full-Time (37.5+ hours/week), Non-Exempt

Work Setting: Onsite

Reports To: Supervising Immigration Advocate

Pay Range: $23 to $29/hourly, depending on experience

Total Compensation:

In addition to standard pay, compensation for this position includes:

• Comprehensive, low-cost healthcare coverage for employees
• Generous employer 401(k) contributions
• Employer-covered life insurance

Time Away from Work:

Being able to take time away from work is critical in bringing your best self to work. Time off benefits for this position include:

• Paid vacation time and sick leave
• 15 paid holidays, including Federal and Jewish holidays (as long as the holiday lands on a normal scheduled work day), and floating holidays
• 2 Wellness Days to be taken any time during the year to support employees’ mental wellness

Position Overview: 

JFS is looking for a compassionate, mission-driven individual to join the Affirmative Services Program, Immigration Legal Services Department as the Immigration Specialist. In this role, you have the opportunity to use your skills and experience to make a meaningful difference in your community and help change lives across San Diego. This role requires undergoing extensive training in immigration law to apply for Department of Justice (DOJ) Accreditation. The Immigration Specialist plays an integral role on the team and supports the entire agency by providing direct representation in immigration cases, including representation before the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS), while helping to support the broader immigration efforts of JFS’s immigration legal services team. The Immigration Specialist’s legal work will be supervised by the Supervising Immigration Advocate, and on occasion some tasks will be supervised by the Directing Immigration Attorney. The Immigration Specialist will work closely with the other members of the Immigration Legal Services Team including attorneys, DOJ representatives, and support staff, where appropriate. 

Responsibilities:

• Conduct immigration legal screenings for individuals and families scheduled with the Affirmative Services program in person and virtually, as needed
• Provide eligibility and risk assessment for individuals and families seeking immigration representation before the USCIS
• Prepare immigration filings including DACA, naturalization, adjustment of status, family-based, and humanitarian immigration petitions
• Stay up to date on rapidly changing immigration laws and policies
• Manage and coordinate caseload of active cases, monitoring filing deadlines and other relevant dates
• Coordinate and document client communications in our shared data base
• Comply with data and program reporting requirements, as well as internal program and departmental policies
• Perform case management and any additional administrative tasks
• Actively participate in required weekly case review sessions, with the Affirmative Services team, and other program if collaboration is required across programs
• Participate in and present at community workshops, information sessions, and other outreach activities promoted by JFS or AS
• Be flexible and creative; the ideal candidate is someone that can easily adapt to constant changes

Skills/Experience/Abilities That Are a Must-Have:

• Willingness and ability to apply for partial accreditation within 6 months of starting position
• A willingness to undergo extensive immigration law-focused legal training and complete required bi-annual ethics trainings
• Ability to prioritize, multi-task and organize in a fast paced and fluid environment. With the constant changes in immigration law and policy, sometimes there is a need to change the way tasks or cases are handled
• A passion for providing culturally competent, trauma-informed, high quality legal services to noncitizens and newcomers in San Diego County, Imperial County, and generally in the San Diego border region, including but not limited Tijuana/Mexicali, Mexico
• Capable of handling complex legal issues on behalf of low-income immigrant populations
• Proficient in Microsoft software including Excel, Word, Outlook and Adobe
• Familiar and comfortable with the use of Zoom, Teams and other programs to provide remote/virtual services
• Detail oriented and self-directed with strong oral and written communication skills in English
• Strong relational skills and a professional attitude
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including good communication skills, listening skills and attitude
• Demonstrated ability to take initiative and work under pressure
• Ability to work both independently and in a group setting
• Ability to work flexible hours, including some evenings and weekends when needed
• Valid driver’s license, access to an automobile, insurance, and willingness to drive to off-site locations as needed
• Passion for social justice for immigrants required

Skills/Abilities We’d Like You to Have:

• Bilingual English/Spanish, Arabic, Farsi, Dari, Pashto, Tagalog, or other language - desired
• A minimum of 1year in Immigration Legal services experience, Having been previous experience as a a DOJ Accredited Representative, immigration paralegal or legal assistant us a plus
• Experience working with immigrant populations
• Experience working with marginalized populations and survivors of trauma;
• Dedication to serving immigrant communities with a sincere commitment to working on behalf of undocumented immigrants.

Physical Requirements:

• Evening and weekend work will be required when we conduct workshops
• Travel may be required for conferences, outreach meetings, or community events
• While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to sit, talk, and listen
• The employee frequently needs to stand, walk, use hands and fingers to operate a keyboard, handle documents, and reach for the telephone or other office equipment
• The work environment has a moderate noise level, requiring the ability to concentrate and maintain good auditory perception
• The employee must have the ability to lift, push, or pull up to 25 pounds as needed

Other Duties:

Please note that this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice. 

Important Notice:

Please submit your resume and cover letter on your application.

Incomplete submissions will not be considered. Please, no phone calls. Please, principals only. Please, local candidates only (relocation is not provided).

About Jewish Family Service of San DiegoJewish Family Service of San Diego is a client-centered, impact-driven organization working to build a stronger, more resilient community.  For over 100 years, Jewish Family Service has been a trusted resource for the entire community, offering an array of services that are always life-changing, and often life-saving.  At Jewish Family Service, we believe our employees are the backbone of our Agency.  We strive to ensure that each employee is treated with dignity and respect.  Our goal is your success.  Come work at JFS and be our partner in Moving Forward Together.  To learn more about JFS, please visit jfssd.org. 

*Jewish Family Service is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.