Legal Advocate Coordinator

We are looking for a Legal Advocate Coordinator to join our team in Los Angeles

WHO WE ARE

We are the nation’s largest legal and civil rights organization for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI). Our mission is to advocate for civil rights, provide legal services and education, and build coalitions to positively influence and impact Asian Pacific Americans and to create a more equitable and harmonious society. We serve more than 15,000 individuals and organizations every year, focusing on the most vulnerable members of Asian American and PI communities while also building a strong voice for civil rights and social justice. With our Advancing Justice affiliates in Atlanta, Chicago, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C., we enrich, enhance, and serve our communities all across the country.

WHAT WE BRING

• The special opportunity to join a mission driven team
• Flexible, hybrid work schedules
• Rich medical, dental and vision benefits
• Retirement options through 403B and match

WHO YOU ARE

You share our mission of advocacy for Asian Pacific Americans. You enjoy the thrill of serving the public interest while championing civil rights and social justice. You take pride in your work enriching lives and communities in Los Angeles and across the country. You are looking for your next role in an organization that supports your career as much as you support the organization and its goals. You are looking for a job where you make a difference, and your impact is directly proportional to your contribution. You are a game changer. You are a leader. You are an advocate.

WHAT YOU BRING

• Bachelors Degree or equivalent;
• 3-5 years of relevant work experience, with a preference for applicants with knowledge and experience in immigration or citizenship legal services
• DOJ Accreditation required, or in the process of applying for DOJ Accreditation status
• Experience with event planning and coordination preferred
• Valid driver's license, insurance, and access to an automobile or alternative means of transportation

ABOUT THE POSITION:

Under the direction of the Immigration Program Administrator, the Legal Advocate Coordinator provides and coordinates immigration services for clients primarily in the Los Angeles County region. These activities include screenings and application assistance for our naturalization clients, and other legal case support for attorney staff, as needed. The Legal Advocate Coordinator will be responsible for the coordination and execution of naturalization and immigration workshops, including managing volunteer and pro bono attorney recruitment, outreach and education to the community, and logistical planning among other duties. The Legal Advocate Coordinator will be the Immigration Services Program’s main point of contact with the Pro Bono and Communications Director leading efforts as they pertain to pro bono volunteer recruitment and social media outreach. This position also manages the day-to-day activities of the interns, such as clinic scheduling and assignments.

The Legal Advocate Coordinator must be held by an individual with DOJ accredited representative status, or in the process of applying for status. Once obtained, they are required to maintain their status through completion of necessary trainings, continuing legal education, and timely submission of their DOJ renewal. As a DOJ Accredited Representative, he/she will maintain a small caseload, file cases directly with USCIS, and provide direct legal representation in certain cases.

Your day-to-day responsibilities:

45% Project Management and Coordination

• Planning, coordination, and execution of citizenship workshops and legal clinics (virtual and in-person) where eligible lawful permanent residents receive naturalization assistance
• Maintaining clinic/workshop scheduling and internal/external event calendars regularly
• Volunteer management/supervision which includes volunteer recruitment, training, and retention (in coordination with the Pro Bono Director) as well as day-to-day management of interns and their assignments
• Ensuring events sufficiently meet community naturalization support needs and keeping the team on track to meet grant deliverables by organizing new events or new service provision systems

35% Legal Support and Administrative Assistance

• Prepare, assemble, and file naturalization applications as well as other immigration remedies (i.e. DACA, I-90ís, N-600’s, etc.)
• Provide immigration case assistance support, such as document requests, document/case evidence analysis, case and calendar management, and scheduling client meetings;
• Conduct legal intakes and screenings, client/case follow ups, and answer client correspondence;
• When DOJ accredited, provide direct legal representation and maintain a small case load of immigration cases;
• Provide in-language assistance to immigration and citizenship clients;
• Client engagement via SMS, e-mail, telephonic communication including: appointment confirmation, bring list confirmations, post submission follow-up, and other case related information;
• Provide general case management and administrative support as assigned

15% Outreach & Education

• Maintain and develop content for outreach efforts including flyer development, social media (i.e. Facebook), ethnic media ads, and website maintenance
• Maintain civic engagement efforts using our SMS text messaging platform to clients undergoing the naturalization process and educating newly naturalized clients about the importance of voting
• Storytelling - identify naturalization stories to uplift and use for outreach purposes
• Develop annual report of citizenship project data and identify trends and recommendations
• Coordinate implementation of outreach plans with Communications Team as needed

5% Grant and Network Manager Support

• Completing Civic Engagement Report twice a year;
• Provide support to the Immigration Program Administrator in grant reporting if needed;
• Attending the LA NAC site meeting (bimonthly) and NAC conference (annually)

At AJSOCAL, we value a diverse, inclusive workforce and we provide equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees. All qualified applicants for employment will be considered without regard to an individual’s race, color, sex, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition, family care status, marital status, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local laws.  AJSOCAL strictly prohibits and does not tolerate discrimination against employees, applicants, or other covered persons, including interns.