Job Description

The mission of the International Institute of New England (IINE) is to create opportunities for refugees and immigrants to succeed through resettlement, education, career advancement and pathways to citizenship. One of the oldest and largest human services organizations for New Americans in the region, IINE serves more than 4,000 people each year in Boston and Lowell, Massachusetts, and Manchester, New Hampshire. Our programs include case management, youth and family services, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), employment and skills training, and immigration legal services.

Overview
The International Institute of New England has a rapidly growing immigration legal services practice. We are searching for an energetic and committed Staff Attorney to serve migrant families living in emergency shelters. The Staff Attorney will join a team of committed professionals that provides high quality, immigration legal assistance to migrants housed in State shelters/hotels. This role requires the Staff Attorney, Shelter Services to maintain their own caseload, including screening clients for possible legal representation, gathering documentation, preparing case files, submitting applications to USCIS, and preparing and accompanying clients to USCIS interviews when required. This role will specifically focus on working with migrants living in hotels within a 30 to 60 minute drive of our Boston and Lowell offices. The position will require travel to and working from one or more hotels where migrant families are housed. Fluency in Spanish, Portuguese, and/or Haitian Creole is a plus. This is a great opportunity for a licensed attorneys looking to respond to the state of emergency recently declared by Governor Healey. This is a one-year position with the possibility for renewal.

• Position: Staff Attorney, Shelter Services
• Reports to: President & CEO
• Supervises: Paralegal, Shelter Services
• Status: Exempt, Full-Time
• Location: Boston & Lowell, MA

Responsibilities

Client Services

• Perform client intake, gathering sufficient facts and information to assess eligibility for immigration relief with a specific focus on parole-based Employer Authorization Documents (EADs) and options for permanency in the United States, including asylum.
• Provide quality legal services in the two Massachusetts sites, traveling between offices and to shelters/hotels as needed.
• Develop policy, procedure, and best practices for immigration legal services within emergency shelters. - Monitor and maintain an organized caseload, including maintaining proper client files and documentary evidence required to prove eligibility for immigration relief. - Conduct legal research as necessary.
• Work closely with IINE programmatic staff and partner community-based organizations to ensure that clients receive holistic service addressing their many needs beyond legal representation.
• Remain current in best practices in immigration legal services, participating in continuing legal education (CLEs) programs as appropriate.
• Maintain and update immigration database with detailed client case notes and changes to contact information.
• Supervise one to two paralegals in our Shelter Services department.
• Report outcomes to the State of Massachusetts as required by contract.
• Achieve weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual forms completion goals. - All other duties assigned by supervisor/manager.

Administrative

• Responsible for updating case management systems with case notes, maintaining client files (physical and digital), and engaging in reconciliation activities with the finance department as needed.
• Pull relevant data as needed for reporting or work closely with IINE\'s Associate Director of Research & Evaluation to collect and provide information and data.
• Participate in legal providers meetings.
• Identify processes and procedures that can help the immigration legal services teamwork more efficiently and effectively.

Required Education & Experience

• J.D. from an ABA accredited law school or international equivalent, and a current bar membership in good standing in any State.
• Minimum of five years of experience practicing immigration law, with at least two years of asylum experience.

Required Skills/Abilities

• Fluency in Haitian-Creole, Spanish, and/or Portuguese is a plus.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills - demonstrated ability to meet deadlines.
• Ability to act independently and in a team setting.
• High degree of intellectual curiosity; willingness to learn as much as possible about immigration law and to contribute to the smooth operation of the immigration legal program at IINE.
• A strong sense of professionalism, discretion, and confidentiality.
• Effective communicator; should be comfortable working as part of a team and expressing innovative or critical ideas.
• Cooperative, friendly, and helpful attitude with clients and co-workers.
• Highly proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook.
• Experience with CRMs (E-Immigration and Salesforce) or other databases, or a demonstrated ability to learn new systems quickly.
• Strong writing skills (writing sample required).
• Professional and/or volunteer experience working directly with marginalized populations.

Work Environment Conditions

• Frequent interruptions from employees and clients- must have ability to multi-task.
• Must have access to a vehicle and auto insurance. Position requires travel to shelters/hotels within driving distance from our Boston and Lowell offices. (NOTE: IINE pays the government\'s mileage reimbursement rate for all travel).

Physical Demands

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds on occasion.

Covid-19 Policy

IINE does not require applicants for most positions to show proof of Covid-19. Some federal contracts, however, require IINE staff to show proof of Covid-19 vaccination, and some immigration status adjustments, such as a Green Card, require proof of Covid-19 vaccination as well. Consequently, for some positions, IINE staff may be required to show proof of vaccination, and in others, IINE staff will be supporting clients who are required by law to have proof of vaccination in order to adjust their status in the United States.

US Work Eligibility Notice

This position requires lawful authorization to work in the United States, and IINE is unable to provide visa sponsorship in connection with this.

International Insitute of New England