Legal Assistant
Placement position available to participants in year-long LVC program
The Capital Area Immigrants’ Rights (CAIR) Coalition is the only non-profit organization in the Washington, D.C. area focused exclusively on providing legal assistance to the adult and children immigrants detained by the government in the Capital Region.
Position Summary:
A legal assistant in the Detained Adult Program focuses on (i) the coordination and execution of visits to detention centers for the purpose of conducting know your rights presentation and intakes with detained adults, (ii) working with clients throughout the course of removal proceedings, including assisting with paperwork and case preparation, and (iii) supporting the program’s provision of services as a whole.
General Duties and Responsibilities :
Client Services:
o Participates in preparation and breakdown of detention facility visits.
o Conducts detention facility visits throughout Virginia and Maryland (at least one per week), for the provision of know your rights presentations and intake/follow-up.
o Assists with the recruitment and training of volunteers for jail visits, the jail hotline, or translation/interpretation volunteer work.
o Participates in intake review, additional case research, and preparing cases for pro bono placement.
o Provides follow-up after intakes to evaluate eligibility for relief from removal, including legal research, securing criminal records, and obtaining additional information from family members.
o Conducts administrative tasks, including database maintenance and reporting to funders.
o Actively engages in CAIR Coalition’s training and advocacy efforts, as needed.
o Interface with social services staff, where needed. Preparation of Post Release Plans and social service plans, in coordination with social services staff.
Organizational Services:
o Ensure the inputting and accuracy of data and case information into shared databases in a timely fashion.
o Assist other program staff in completion of their workload during high-work/low-bandwidth periods.
o Take part in stakeholder relationship activities, including in-person and telephonic meetings with community groups, governmental bodies and representatives, and other legal service providers.
o Engage with internal CAIR Coalition committees and working groups to lend a voice to the growth and strategy of the organization.
Program-Specific Duties and Responsibilities:
Members of the Detained Adult Program, in addition to the responsibilities above, also:
o Provide pro se assistance to detained adults.
o Interfacing with the community of support for clients in advance of their case.
o Help with the transfer of clients to other internal programs (e.g., NQRP, Lab, Safe Cities).
o Engage with experts and social services on NQRP cases
Qualifications Required:
o Written and oral Spanish fluency strongly preferred!!
o Driver’s license required