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Job Description
About KIND
Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) is a global leader in the protection of unaccompanied and separated children who are forcibly displaced from their countries of origin. Launched in 2008, KIND champions a world in which every child’s rights and well-being are protected throughout their journey to safety.
Building on its extensive programming and successful model in the United States, KIND is expanding in the Americas and Europe to bring its experience to bear in working with unaccompanied and separated children. Our work focuses on addressing the legal and mental health needs of this population; building strong partnerships and engaging in training and capacity strengthening with governments, NGOs, and the private sector; and advocating for systemic and pragmatic reforms to advance the rights of unaccompanied and separated children.
Position Summary
KIND seeks a Supervising Paralegal who will be responsible for supporting KIND’s delivery of legal services through a range of case support tasks and responsibilities in coordination with the Managing Director, and Managing Attorney(s) in our field office. Supervising Paralegals provide supervision, training, and mentorship to Senior Paralegal(s), Paralegal(s) and other non-attorney staff, and interns as needed. The incumbent will oversee training and development of paralegal staff in collaboration with Managing Attorneys and the Managing Director; and perform other related duties.
Essential Functions
- Oversees the overall programmatic function of the field office paralegal program.
- Onboards, trains and supervises paralegals, including conducting initial and ongoing trainings for paralegal staff; troubleshoots, reviews and provides quality assurance of referrals, filings, and pleadings; provides daily support and coaching, and conducting regular check-ins and performance evaluations; provides consistent and effective supervision to ensure the provision of consistent, high-quality paralegal support to the legal team.
- Assists with the professional development of paralegals and other staff in collaboration with attorneys, and in consultation with KIND’s national Training and Technical Assistance Teams.
- Supervises paralegals in the consistent and quality provision of intake interviews, phone screenings, intake memos, and presentation of cases to attorneys; conduct intakes and phone screenings as needed.
- Conducts initial assessment of case referrals received against case acceptance criteria and program priorities.
- Provides support to attorneys, including conducting legal research; preparing immigration benefit and other standard forms, specifically for humanitarian parole and employee authorization documents; drafts affidavits; translates documents; assists with preparation of state court filings; in coordination with attorneys, assists in clients’ preparation for hearings and adjudicatory interviews; maintains case files and data entry in case management database; and other tasks as needed.
- Serves as point of contact for clients as assigned, proactively ensures that case files and case management system reflect current contact information and status updates on case developments and child’s wellbeing.
- Provide support to pro bono attorneys during case placement and assists with administrative and planning tasks related to pro bono attorney training and mentoring; targeted pro bono team support in provision of relevant samples, guidance, and training resources; for non-attorney pro bono team members, supports through preparation of training materials, provision of discrete trainings on topics such as translation; and other related tasks.
- Assists in case audit efforts for pro bono cases, ensuring that updates from pro bono attorneys regarding legal case status and child’s wellbeing are timely and accurately recorded in case management system.
- For direct representation cases, assists in case audit efforts, ensuring that updates regarding case status and child’s wellbeing are timely and accurately recorded; proactively ensures that case files and case management system reflect current contact information, case developments, are conducted in consultation with attorney, particularly in cases in which case adjudication is delayed due to retrogression or otherwise; keeps counsel apprised of updates and issues needing follow-up.
- Assists with overall administrative duties of the local office, including database management, operations, translations, technical support, and similar, and may include other administrative duties for the office such as mail processing, supplies, and related tasks; conducts client phone screenings and intake interviews and draft intake memoranda; tracks and ensures referral and intake metrics achievement under grants and contracts in consultation with Managing Director, Managing Attorney(s), and Program Coordinator, where relevant.
- Assess cases for social service needs and assist with social services referrals; liaise with Social Services Coordinators to achieve programmatic goals where legal services/social services intersect.
Qualifications and Requirements
- Graduate degree preferred; undergraduate degree with 1 year of relevant experience; high school diploma with minimum of 5 years of relevant experience.
- Advanced fluency in English and Spanish (for direct communication with the children we serve and their caregivers, the majority of whom are Spanish speaking).
- Minimum of 6 years of experience working with children and in humanitarian-based immigration work. including conducting intakes, assessing legal claims, and assisting attorneys on legal applications to obtain immigration benefits.
- Minimum 6 years of experience working with children, preferably at-risk youth, immigrants or refugee children, and/or working with vulnerable populations, survivors of abuse, human trafficking, or other trauma.
- Minimum of 4 years of experience working independently on projects and/or programs, demonstrating initiative and willingness to learn and contribute thought leadership and innovative strategies to the work.
- Minimum of 3 years of experience preparing and delivering on legal and KYRs presentations information to immigrant audiences, preferably families and children.
- Minimum of 3 year of primary leadership experience on office projects including maintenance of data integrity and reporting, developing and conducting training modules and programs, and/or program onboarding.
- Minimum of 2 years of experience interviewing children, preferably in the humanitarian immigration or refugee context.
- Minimum of 1 year of experience supervising, mentoring, or coaching staff, interns, or fellows on programs and/or projects.
- Demonstrated effective and authentically engaged leadership; ability to critically assess challenges and propose and execute solutions with appropriate consultation and visibility to supervisors; excellent professional judgment.
- A deep understanding and ability to work and lead effectively with stakeholders.
- Ability to work within an office environment and have regular interaction via telephone, videoconference, IM, and email with KIND's team.
- Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (such as Teams, Excel, etc.).
- Ability to work collaboratively and multi-task in our KIND environment, managing numerous priorities and emerging opportunities.
- Excellent organizational skills with the ability to work on multiple projects in a deadline-oriented environment; ability to prioritize tasks and delegate as appropriate.
- Ability to multitask and work with a sense of urgency in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
- Committed to practicing and supporting wellbeing and a work-home life balance.
- Experience working and communicating in a remote environment preferred but not required.
$67,566 - $84,458 a year
Our Benefits
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance with KIND paying 100% of the employee only portion of the premium for one of the three medical plan options, dental, and vision.
- Pre-tax flexible spending account (FSA) for both medical and dependent care.
- Pre-tax transit and parking spending account.
- Employer-paid life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment insurance.
- Employer-paid short and long-term disability insurance.
For a complete list of benefits, please click here.
Our Focus on Wellness
KIND recognizes that our ability to help our clients starts with helping our team members. KIND has prioritized wellness for employees through Mindfulness and Wellness Trainings, Wellness Platforms, Employee Assistance and Resilience Programs, Time Away and Office Wellness Activities.
For more information regarding our Wellness initiatives please visit this link.
Application Instructions
To be considered for this role, please submit an employment application at supportkind.org/join-the-team, along with your resume and cover letter.
Disclaimer: KIND is committed to an ethical recruitment and hiring process and maintains a firm “no fees” recruitment policy. We will never charge a fee or ask for money as part of the application process. KIND also conducts all interviews via telephone or video conference, and at no time will KIND engage in a text or mobile app-based application or interview process. For more information, please visit the following website: https://supportkind.org/join-the-team/kind-employment-practices/.
