Purpose of the Job

The Legal Services Coordinator will support the work of Human Rights First’s Refugee Representation team. The Legal Services Coordinator will work closely with our asylum-seeking clients, and in-house and volunteer attorneys during the clients’ immigration cases. The Legal Services Coordinator will coordinate and conduct initial screenings and interviews with refugees seeking legal representation; handle the administrative details of our asylum legal representation work, including scheduling and case management; and assist with outreach and advocacy goals related to asylum and refugee protection.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

Duties and responsibilities will include:

Assist in responding to inquiries and requests for assistance from asylum seekers, including scheduling, coordinating, and conducting initial screening interviews;
Perform in-depth, detailed interviews with potential clients, who are often victims of torture and human rights abuses, to ascertain their eligibility for asylum and representation through our program; and conduct related country conditions research;
Assist in placing accepted cases with appropriate volunteer attorneys; communicate in a responsive and efficient manner with volunteer attorneys, other human rights organizations, and the public; and assist in the provision of support for volunteer attorneys;
Contact volunteer attorneys and clients to obtain updates on cases; coordinate the case closure process; and serve as liaison among volunteer attorneys, clients, and in-house Refugee Representation team staff;
Assist with organizing legal trainings and other events;
Assist in managing the Refugee Representation team’s administrative/clerical needs:
- compiling information packets and case summaries;
- entering, maintaining, and retrieving data, including entering new cases and contacts into client database, and coordinating with the information services department on database and technology issues;
- maintain and organize electronic and hard copy files, correspondence, and publications;
- coordinate meetings and draft agendas.
Support organizational outreach, development, and advocacy objectives, including assisting with creating content, building coalitions, and planning and executing fundraising events;
Assist with the hiring, orientation, and supervision of interns and ensure that these volunteers are fully and meaningfully intellectually engaged;
Coordinate client-support services;
Assist with grant reporting and maintenance of relevant data;
Assist with legal mail in New York office; and
Other duties as requested, based on department and/or organizational needs.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility Competencies (DEIA)

Human Rights First acknowledges the existence of systemic and structural biases and believes it is necessary to be strategic and intentional in pursuing diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in all aspects of governance, operations, and programming. As an employee, you are expected to:

Support adoption of best practices to create a more diverse, equitable, inclusive, and accessible work experience for colleagues and external partners.
Strive to consider the people, places, and cultures that might be missing from your work and look for opportunities to increase inclusivity in all the work you do.
Support the mission of Human Rights First in all interactions with colleagues and stakeholders.
Dedicate efforts to enriching DEIA consciousness throughout our office-wide interactions.
Foster a culture of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility by promoting adherence to the standards delineated in the Culture of Respect and Teamwork statement in the Employee Handbook.

Required Knowledge, Skill, and Experience

A Bachelor’s degree and at least one year of post-college work experience in a related field, with previous experience working with asylum-seekers or refugees strongly preferred;
Fluency in Spanish required (reading and writing); fluency in additional languages, particularly French, Arabic, or Russian is highly desirable;
Willingness to complete legal trainings and work toward obtaining partial accreditation under the Department of Justice Recognition and Accreditation program;
Demonstrated excellence in written and oral communication, with advanced research and analytical skills;
Superb organizational skills, including the ability to manage numerous tasks simultaneously, work under pressure, and meet deadlines;
Capacity to prioritize duties, and work independently while functioning as a member of a team;
Ability to communicate patiently, respectfully and empathically with individuals from a variety of backgrounds;
Excellent computer skills, including knowledge of database, word processing, and spreadsheet applications;
Good judgment and attention to detail;
Adaptability to embrace and navigate new, dynamic projects, and an ability to recognize and maximize opportunities on behalf of the organization; and
Ability to work from the New York office at least one day a week and attend in person client appointments or other meetings, as required.

Human Rights First

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Legal Services Coordinator