ILS Paralegal--Seeking DOJ Accreditation

ORGANIZATION SUMMARY:

World Relief is a global Christian humanitarian organization that is fighting for change that lasts, right here in the U.S. and across the globe. We bring sustainable solutions to the world’s greatest problems – disasters, extreme poverty, violence, oppression, and mass displacement. The organization is approximately 75 years old and has worked in over 100 countries around the world since its founding.

In the United States, we come alongside local churches, community organizations and hundreds of individual volunteers to support newly arriving refugee and other immigrant families. Today, we are proud to partner with over 6,000 local churches, and 95,000 volunteers globally to bring hope, healing and transformation to the most vulnerable.

POSITION SUMMARY:

Are you a person of compassion? An advocate for justice? Someone who stands up for the rights of the vulnerable and speaks out for the marginalized, the exploited and the forgotten?  Do you believe in our calling as Christians to welcome the least of these and love our neighbor?

If you answered ‘yes’, to any of the above, World Relief, and millions of people around the world need you.

World Relief is a unique and invigorating place to work. We are looking for talented, ambitious and collaborative people to come alongside our mission, vision and values as we partner with churches to empower the most vulnerable in the world. We hope these resources provide more insight into your hiring journey with us.  The Paralegal will play a critical role in World Relief Quad Cities’ growing Immigration Legal Services (ILS) team, which provides legal orientation, consultation and direct representation to immigrant clients, including Afghans evacuated to the United States after the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan, who are seeking to obtain legal benefits for themselves and their families. The Paralegal will assist immigration attorneys and accredited representatives with conducting legal orientations, legal referrals, and case preparation. This position is prepared for partial DOJ accreditation and includes mandatory 40 hours ILS training. 

• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Enter in-house and external legal referrals into data base system
• Schedule for initial consultation with representatives
• Provide client’s with intake forms and make sure they are completed by clients before forwarding them to DOJ Accredited Representative for legal assessment and consultation scheduling   

• Work with ILS Team members to organize and schedule legal orientation programs for recently arrived immigrants, refugees, and parolees 
• Interpret the legal orientation sessions as needed  Support to Legal Representatives

• Schedule appointments
• Receive and file USCIS notices and informing client’s about their upcoming appointments and case noting in LLX database any interaction with cient 
• Assist with consultations
• Prepare files oAssist representatives with preparing immigration applications
• Communicate clearly and professionally with clients
• Prepare reviewed filings for mailing oProvide clients with updates on case status
• Maintaining LLX database (opening and closing cases, uploading documents, writing case notes) 
• Other duties as assigned by legal supervisor

• Application types may include, but not limited to
• SIV, refugee and asylee adjustment of status to permanent resident status
• Naturalization oEmployment Authorization Documents
• Green card replacements and renewals
• Any other application as need arises and training is provided 

• Data input into various databases and spreadsheets based on grant requirements, such as NAI database, PC GAPS spreadsheet, and others as needed. 
• Client communication, correspondence and follow-up 

• Assist Administrative Team with calls from current clients: returning calls and scheduling filing appointments when necessary
• Translate documents (if applicable) 
• Scanning and upload client documents and files
• Process incoming and outgoing mail
• Participate in weekly ILS departmental meetings
• Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual grant reports

•  Highly detail oriented, very organized, and able to follow projects through to their completion
• Excellent inter-personal communication and enthusiasm for working as part of a team
• Flexibility and the ability to learn quickly in a fast-paced work environment
• Bachelor’s degree or Paralegal Certificate preferred
• Previous knowledge, experience and understanding of immigration law and systems preferred

• Mature and personal Christian faith
• Committed to the mission, vision, and values of World Relief
• Desire to serve and empower the Church to impact vulnerable communities
• Able to affirm and/or acknowledge World Reliefs Core Beliefs, Statement of Faith, Christian Identity and National Evangelicals For the Health of The Nation document
• Bilingual in both English and Dari, Pashto, Spanish, or Swahili is preferred but not required
• A desire to serve immigrants and refugees in support of the mission and vision of World Relief
• Ability to work both independently with minimum supervision, and in collaboration with others
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, and Outlook required; Ability to learn and use LawLogix database 
• Accurate data entry skills
• Strong administrative experience in an office setting
• Detailed-oriented and proactive •
• kill in organizing, coordinating and implementing various components of a project, and ability to provide accountability to ensure objectives are met
• Desire and ability to work with people of diverse ethnicities, nationalities, religions, cultures and language
• Strong oral and written English communication skills 
• valid drivers license, access to reliable vehicle and clean driving record

World Relief offers a competitive benefits package (25 hours + per week):

- Medical, Dental, Vision

- Offer 16 company Paid Holidays + 4 additional Personal days per year!

- Paid Sick and Vacation Time

- Paid Parental Leave (12 weeks for qualified employees)

- FSAs: Medical & Dependent Care, & Commuter Funding

- Supplemental Life Insurance (employee, spouse, and children)

- Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity, and Accident insurance policies

- Legal Shield Insurance

World Relief pays 100% for eligible employees:

- Group Term Life (employee, spouse, and children)

- Long Term & Short-term Disability

- Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D)

- Long Distance Travel Insurance

- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

World Relief - Retirement:

- 401K & Roth

- WR matches up to 4%, then an additional quarter percent up to 10%

- Eligibility: Full Time (40 hours per week) is eligible after 3 months of employment. Part time is eligible after 1000 hours in a year. 

World Relief Discounts (Immediately Eligible):

- Verizon

- Pet Insurance through Nationwide

- Home and Auto insurance through Liberty Mutual

- Working Advantage Discount Program

- Active & Fit Gym Membership

World Relief is honored to be recognized with the Gold-level Cigna Healthy Workforce Designation for exceeding the core components of our well-being program including leadership and culture, program foundations and execution, and whole person health.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: 

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

·         While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to have ordinary ambulatory skills sufficient to visit other locations

·         The ability to stand, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, and manipulate (lift, carry, move) light to medium weights of 10-15 pounds.

·         Requires good hand-eye coordination, arm, hand and finger dexterity, including ability to grasp, and visual acuity to use a keyboard, operate equipment and read application information.

·         The employee frequently is required to sit, reach with hands and arms, talk and hear.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: 

·         General office setting. World Relief also offers hybrid and remote schedules for limited positions.

·         Great lengths of time working on computer, reading from computer screen, entering information, standing at copier or fax machine, and some time on the phone or in virtual meetings may be required.

·         Year-end archiving activities involve repeated lifting and bending.

·         Physical, emotional and intellectual demands

·         Equipment used: Employee computer (desktop or laptop), printer, and copier.

·         All of the above duties and responsibilities are essential job functions subject to reasonable accommodation. All job requirements listed indicate the minimum level of knowledge, skills and/or ability deemed necessary to perform the job proficiently. This job description is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements. Individuals may be required to perform any other job-related instructions as requested by their supervisor, subject to reasonable accommodation. This position description is not all-inclusive and is always under review.

We are proud to be an EEO/AA employer M/F/D/V.

For World Relief staff, strong commitment to the mission, vision, and values of World Relief is essential, and Christian faith is a prerequisite for employment, based upon United States federal guidelines provided in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Legal Background in the United States

World Relief is both an equal opportunity employer and a faith-based religious organization. World Relief strictly prohibits and does not tolerate unlawful discrimination against employees on the basis of person’s race, color, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law, which does not conflict with the protections afforded World Relief as a faith-based employer.  

In addition, physical or mental limitations will not be a factor in the application of World Relief's employment policies or employee practices, except for those situations in which occupational requirement make consideration of such factors necessary.

Pursuant to the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 702 (42 U.S.C. 2000e 1(a) World Relief has the right to, and does, hire only candidates who agree with World Relief’s Statement of Faith.