Oʻahu Paralegal

REPORTS TO:  Senior Staff Attorney and/or Managing Attorney

HOURS/STATUS:  Full-time, Mon-Fri; occasional evening and weekend events throughout the year.

ORGANIZATIONAL DESCRIPTION: TLC’s mission is to ensure justice for low-income immigrants and migrants in Hawaiʻi through high-quality immigration legal services, education, and advocacy. TLC was incorporated as an independent, secular 501(c)3 nonprofit in 2019 and is the Hawaiʻi affiliate of the National Immigration Law and Justice Network. TLC serves clients throughout Hawaiʻi. See www.tlchawaii.org for more information.

SUMMARY OF POSITION:  The paralegal is a critical part of TLC’s legal team, providing accessible and critical legal services to immigrants and migrants in Hawaiʻi, in order to help them acquire the highest level of immigration status available and to keep families together. The paralegal proactively and efficiently assists staff immigration attorneys in casework research and preparation.

RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES

I.        Legal Services Support

  1. Legal research: Conduct relevant legal research using the five primary sources of the law: statutes/laws, orders, cases, decisions, and regulations. Provide attorneys with the key information they need, as well as a list of sources they can refer to for their case. Case analysis by applying research to cases.

  2. Draft and organize legal documents: pleadings, motions, oppositions, briefs, memos. Legal correspondence of all kinds: letters, emails, etc. Affidavits and declarations. Keep records of case events in the case management system.

  3. Assisting with case preparation: Filing legal documents into platforms such as ECAS, JEFF, Pacer

  4. Assist in preparing clients and witnesses for testimony, including drafting potential questions for direct and cross-examination. Organize all documents and files, including the trial binder.

  5. Assist the attorney during trial.

  6. Communications with clients: Maintain detailed records and organize case files.

  7. Support clients through the technical aspects of the case and provide an empathetic, listening ear, without providing legal advice. Coordinate and schedule attorney meetings with clients and other stakeholders. Ensure that attorneys remain up-to-date on new case developments and due dates. Keep on top of all cases under their purview, ensuring that nothing falls through the cracks.

II. Administrative Support

  1. Provide reception duties (phones, in person) and client screening, scheduling, and intake.  

  2. Support attorneys and other members of the legal team with coordinating meetings, meeting preparation, calendaring, notetaking, and follow-up action steps.

  3. Maintain accurate and up-to-date physical and electronic files and detailed case notes.

  4. Manage case management database in a timely and accurate manner.

  5. Reporting: Generate, compile, and analyze data for reports within established timelines and standards. Help draft statistical and narrative reports for funders, Board of Directors and others.

  6. Prepare, track, scan/copy, and send outgoing mail, and digitize and store client files (data and document management).

  7. Help develop and update internal legal team procedures and forms as needed.

  8. Assist with, and/or represent TLC at community events.

  9.  Provide support for managing and training TLC interns & volunteers.

  10. Other administrative tasks as needed.

QUALIFICATIONS

  • At least one year of law school experience/coursework completed. More preferred.

  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills (English proficiency).

  •  Excellent attention to detail and superb organizational skills.

  •  Ability to work sensitively with colleagues and clients having diverse personalities, lifestyles, cultures, faiths, languages, and backgrounds.

  • Ability to maintain client confidentiality and communicate with professionalism and courtesy.

  • Ability to take initiative, multitask, meet deadlines, and work well under pressure.

  • Knowledge of Microsoft Office software such as Word, Excel, Teams, and Outlook. Ability to learn legal case management software and other databases/CRM.

  • Demonstrated interest in supporting immigrant/migrant rights, social justice, and/or human rights.

  • Ability to speak in one or more languages aside from English desired, but not required.

  • Familiarity with communities in Hawai‘i and/or immigrant communities is desired.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

$55,000-$67,000 FTE, salary commensurate with experience. A generous benefits package includes health/vision/dental insurance, 401k benefit with employer contribution (after 90-day period), unlimited paid time off, flex scheduling, personal cell/internet allowance, education and wellness benefit, and professional development opportunities.  Occasional work-from-home time negotiable after initial training period.

TO APPLY: Please submit a resume to jobs@tlchawaii.org. The position is open until filled. Those interviewed will also be asked to provide a writing sample and professional references.

The Legal Clinic is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnic background, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, or disability.