Based in Portland, Maine, with a satellite office in Lewiston, the Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project (ILAP) is Maine’s only state-wide immigration legal aid organization. ILAP’s mission is to help low-income immigrants improve their legal status and to work for more just and humane laws and policies affecting immigrants. ILAP’s work includes direct legal services for over 3,000 clients each year; education and outreach to immigrant communities and service providers; and systemic advocacy on local, state, and federal immigration law issues.

ILAP is committed to having a respectful, collaborative, and equitable work environment, with equal opportunity for all employees. We hire candidates based on qualifications and comply with all federal and state equal employment laws.We encourage applications from individuals with lived immigrant experience, as well as those from other underrepresented and historically marginalized groups. We believe in building an organization that is reflective of the communities that we serve and is diverse in work background, experience, education, race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, ancestry, national origin, or sensory, mental, and physical abilities. We believe that having a diverse and equitable organization strengthens our programming and services and advances our organizational values.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

The Lewiston Program Assistant/Associate is responsible for providing administrative and legal support for the smooth operation of ILAP’s direct legal services program in Lewiston, including administrative duties, client reception and intake, coordination of walk in hours, and paralegal support for ILAP attorneys. The Lewiston Program Assistant/Associate also provides direct legal services to clients through ILAP’s Immigration Forms Assistance Program.

RESPONSIBILITIES

- Provide reception and administrative support to ILAP’s Lewiston Office, including greeting and assisting walk-in clients with general inquiries, maintaining common areas, ordering supplies, photocopying and shredding, mail, and other administrative assistance as needed.
- Schedule, coordinate, and provide logistical and administrative support for walk in hours held both offsite and at ILAP.Participate in additional outreach activities, legal clinics, and community collaborations as needed.
- Respond to intake requests by phone, email and online form for prospective ILAP clients living in Androscoggin and Kennebec counties. Interview potential clients and assess eligibility for ILAP services. Obtain documents from potential clients as needed and schedule appointments for brief assistance, forms assistance, and initial consultations for eligible individuals. Provide referral lists and/or other appropriate resources to those we cannot assist.
- Work within ILAP’s Immigration Forms Assistance Program to assess client eligibility, prepare U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) forms, review forms with clients, collect evidence, and prepare pro se cases for filing.
- Provide paralegal support to ILAP attorneys in ILAP’s Lewiston office.Responsibilities include: preparing case-related documents, including retainers, records requests, and cover letters; assisting with client communication and scheduling; and providing administrative support such as filing, photocopying, and scanning.
Maintain client data in accordance with ILAP protocols, grant requirements, and ethical obligations.
Perform such other tasks and assume such other responsibilities deemed appropriate by the Co-Legal Director, Lewiston or Executive Director.

QUALIFICATIONS

- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
- One to four years of experience with immigration matters or paralegal experience preferred.
- Professional or lived experience with immigrant or other vulnerable communities preferred.
- Strong computer skills including proficiency with Office 365.
- Strong analytical, research, and writing skills.
- Ability to multi-task effectively, including having strong detail-orientation, planning, and organizing skills; and the ability to work well under pressure.
- Demonstrated passion for advancing immigrants’ rights, and an ability to work well with individuals from different cultures and with varying levels of English proficiency.
- Proficiency in a relevant community language preferred, especially French, Spanish, Portuguese, or Lingala. Personal and professional commitment to racial justice and equity.

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Lewiston Program Assistant/Associate