Rapid Response Paralegal
The Rapid Response Paralegal at Confidential Client supports legal assistance for New York residents detained or at risk of detention by ICE, working under attorney supervision to screen clients, prepare legal documents, and manage case data. This role requires handling high volumes of cases with trauma-informed professionalism, collaborating with partners, and providing critical support in immigration relief efforts within a social justice framework.
About Careertakes
👉 Important disclosure: Careertakes is a third-party recruiting platform supporting this hiring process. If selected, you will be employed directly by our client, a civil legal services nonprofit.
Applicants for this role may also receive access to additional matched opportunities through the Careertakes platform.
Role overview
Confidential Client seeks a highly motivated, full-time Rapid Response Paralegal to support work under the Rapid Response Legal Collaborative (RRLC). This role provides advice and both pro se and represented assistance to New York residents detained by, or at risk of detention by, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Under attorney supervision you will contact eligible individuals, field partner referrals, support evidence and testimony preparation, file affirmative applications, and manage data and case communications. This position requires trauma-informed client interaction, strong organizational skills, and Spanish fluency.
What You’ll Do
- Conduct pre-screening of clients for basic eligibility requirements; track contacts and collect documents.
- Screen clients for potential immigration relief and relay attorney guidance.
- Assist clients in obtaining documentation, completing forms, and following up by phone, mail, and email.
- Support legal research and draft documents under attorney supervision.
- Interview clients and witnesses as appropriate; help prepare affidavits, forms, and supporting evidence for USCIS or Immigration Court.
- Manage data entry across internal and external systems and assist in generating reports.
- Assist attorneys and case handlers with document translation and verbal interpretation when needed.
- Support attorneys in evidence preparation for filings and hearings.
- Provide internal referrals for financial counseling and other wraparound services; coordinate external partner referrals.
- Maintain regular contact with RRLC partners and support high-volume correspondence and case workflows.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree required.
- Fluency in Spanish is required.
- 1–2 years of immigration-related experience strongly preferred but not required.
- Experience working with immigrant communities of color, including LGBTQIA+ individuals, youth, and survivors of violence preferred.
- Excellent written, oral, and analytical skills.
- Strong time and project management skills; ability to manage multiple tasks and high-volume caseloads.
- Ability to work collaboratively, communicate clearly, and problem-solve creatively.
- Commitment to social justice and anti-racism.
- Must be able to interact with clients in a trauma-informed, respectful manner.
Compensation & Benefits
- Salary range (unionized position): $67,793 – $72,442 per year.
- Benefits include medical, dental, vision, 401(k), life insurance, long-term disability, commuter benefits, and flexible spending accounts (medical & dependent care).
- This is a unionized role; salary and other terms are determined pursuant to the collective bargaining agreement.
Location & Schedule
- Work location: Manhattan, NY.
- Employment type: Full-time. Entry-level professional level.
- Confidential Client follows a hybrid work policy for roles that do not require full-time on-site presence; most staff are expected to work in the office at least two days per week (policy subject to change).
Other important information
- COVID-19 policy: Confidential Client requires employees to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 unless a documented medical or religious exemption is approved.
- Reasonable accommodations: Applicants with disabilities who require reasonable accommodations to participate in the application or interview process may contact the recruiter or Careertakes.
- Confidential Client is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages applications from people of color, women, people with disabilities, immigrants, veterans, and LGBTQIA+ applicants.
Equal Opportunity & Hiring Transparency
Careertakes and our client are Equal Opportunity Employers committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. We prohibit discrimination or harassment of any kind. To support a fair and efficient hiring process, AI tools may be used to assist with application review or resume screening. These tools do not replace human decision-making. Final hiring decisions are made by people.
If you have questions about how your data is used, please contact us directly.
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