Focused on employment and labor law since 1958, Jackson Lewis P.C.’s 1,000+ attorneys located in major cities nationwide consistently identify and respond to new ways workplace law intersects business. We help employers develop proactive strategies, strong policies and business-oriented solutions to cultivate high-functioning workforces that are engaged and stable, and share our clients’ goals to emphasize belonging and respect for the contributions of every employee.
The Firm is ranked in the First Tier nationally in the category of Labor and Employment Litigation, as well as in both Employment Law and Labor Law on behalf of Management, in the U.S. News - Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms”.
Job Summary
The Lead Immigration Paralegal plays a critical role in supporting the firm’s immigration practice group by leading a team of immigration paralegals—either within a single office or across multiple locations—focusing on team performance, professional development, and operational integration.
Key responsibilities include providing feedback on performance trends, supporting paralegals in compliance with hourly billable requirements, overseeing the approval process for timecards and leave requests, maintaining adequate team coverage, ensuring compliance with firm and office protocols and guidelines, managing workflow efficiency and cross-office work, and helping to advance firm-wide initiatives. In collaboration with the Immigration Paralegal Manager and the Director of Legal Operations, the lead will also contribute to strategic efforts such as interviewing, hiring and onboarding candidates, and supporting mentorship and training programs.
This position carries an annual billable expectation of 1,250 net hours, allowing for continued engagement in hands-on paralegal work. In addition to team oversight, the supervisor will work closely with firm leadership to support program management, drive process improvements, and coordinate key initiatives. The individual will continue to perform a wide range of standard paralegal duties necessary to meet the reduced billable hour requirement of 1,250 net hours.
Essential Functions
Lead Responsibilities:
- Lead team of immigration paralegals to enhance team performance with excellent work product and client service.
- Responsible for timely approval of timecards and management of absence requests.
- Ensure compliance with firm and local office policies.
- Partner with Paralegal Manager on paralegal compliance with billable and non-billable hours expectations, work performance, work product, as well as other administrative challenges, and coordinate improvement plans as needed.
- Lead the onboarding process for new paralegals, ensuring seamless integration and clear communication of firm policies and performance expectations.
- Partner with Paralegal Manager to provide paralegal training, assess competency levels, and collaborate with the Learning & Professional Development team to identify training gaps and develop targeted learning resources.
- Collaborate with Paralegal Manager to complete and administer mid-year and year-end evaluations.
- Support and implement firm-wide and Practice Group-specific best practices to promote consistency and operational excellence across paralegal teams.
- Leverage paralegal experience to drive process improvements in areas such as billing efficiency, mentorship, and workflow optimization.
- Collaborate with Paralegal Manager and leadership to identify paralegal-related challenges and develop strategic solutions.
- Make measurable contributions to the success of the paralegal program through relationship-building, mentorship, training initiatives, and improved organizational workflows.
Immigration Paralegal Responsibilities:
- Wide range of experience in immigration paralegal tasks reflecting required level experience including, but not limited to:
- Analyze and review case details and determine future actions.
- Demonstrate strategic thinking and initiative with case assignments.
- Assist and support attorneys in the preparation and filing of immigration applications, including immigrant and non-immigrant visa petitions, applications for permanent residency, naturalization applications, including preference petitions and adjustment of status applications.
- Liaison with relevant government agencies including USCIS, ICE, CBP, US Department of State, and US Department of Labor.
- Analyze, review and organize documents to identify additional documentation needed for specific filing.
- Assist attorneys with gathering evidence, preparing declarations and supporting documents, preparing evidence and exhibits, and complying with procedural requirements and filing deadlines for cases in the Immigration Court.
- Assist and support attorneys in obtaining civil and criminal court records for immigration matters.
- Prepare responses to audit requests.
- Maintain calendars, provide attorney billing/invoice processing support, complete reports, enter time records, create new files and update client matter reports.
- Address client case status inquiries, including steps in process remaining, processing times, and consular appointment issues.
- Responsible for personal billable time entries and maintaining billable hours requirements.
- Responsible for personal time management and productivity.
- Coordinate with KM/Product Specialist concerning case management system upgrades and training.
- Maintain 1,250 personal billable hours requirement while balancing supervisory tasks.
Qualifications/Skills Required:
- Minimum 7 years of immigration paralegal experience, including 2 years at Jackson Lewis or relevant experience.
- Proven track record handling a wide range of immigration tasks with minimal supervision.
- Comprehensive knowledge of immigration processes and paralegal responsibilities.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Highly detail-oriented with strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
- Demonstrated ability to manage multiple tasks under pressure and meet tight deadlines.
- Proficient in leveraging firm resources to ensure attorney support and efficient task completion.
- Ability to work closely and professionally with Paralegal Manager to support team goals.
- Demonstrates a positive leadership presence and the ability to collaborate across practice group, offices, and departments.
- Exercises sound judgment and professionalism in all situations, especially when handling confidential matters.
- Proactive, self-motivated, and highly reliable.
- Demonstrates exceptional time management and organizational skills.
- Balance high-quality work product, billable hour requirements, and lead responsibilities effectively.
- Able to troubleshoot billing and training issues by identifying appropriate solutions and partnering with the Paralegal Manager.
- Demonstrated ability to clearly organize and present ideas to various audiences.
- Works both independently and as part of a team, with shared commitment to client service excellence.
- Applies understanding of firm, practice group, and industry priorities to project execution.
For Boston, San Diego, Chicago and DC Metro areas, the expected salary range for this position is between $51.90 hourly and $58.40 hourly. This position is also eligible for annual bonuses.
Note – only include the bonus sentence if the position is eligible for a bonus. The actual compensation will be determined based on experience and other factors permitted by law.
Jackson Lewis offers a competitive benefits package that includes:
- Medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance
- 401(k) Retirement Plan
- Flexible Spending & Health Savings Account
- Firm-paid holidays, vacation, and sick time
- Employee assistance program and other firm benefits.
For Los Angeles and NY Metro area, the expected salary range for this position is between $56.50 hourly and $61.90 hourly. This position is also eligible for annual bonuses.
Note – only include the bonus sentence if the position is eligible for a bonus. The actual compensation will be determined based on experience and other factors permitted by law.
Jackson Lewis offers a competitive benefits package that includes:
- Medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance
- 401(k) Retirement Plan
- Flexible Spending & Health Savings Account
- Firm-paid holidays, vacation, and sick time
- Employee assistance program and other firm benefits.
For those applying for a position in the city of Los Angeles, the firm will consider for employment qualified applicants with a criminal history in a manner consistent with applicable federal, state and local law.
We are an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, gender, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, marital status or any other characteristics protected by law. For those applying for a position in the city of Los Angeles, the firm will consider for employment qualified applicants with a criminal history in a manner consistent with applicable federal, state and local law.
