Lutheran Services Florida

Lutheran Services Florida (LSF) envisions a world where children are safe, families are strong and communities are vibrant .Since 1982, Lutheran Services Florida has been providing and sharing solutions to protect Florida's most vulnerable. Today, we are one of the largest nonprofits in Florida touching 1 in 50 Floridians with a wide range of services, including: early childhood education refugee and immigration mental health and substance abuse juvenile justice child welfare LSF is looking for a talented Paralegal I who wants to make an impact in the lives of others. Purpose & Impact The primary responsibilities are to assist the clients with their immigration needs. Fluent in English and Spanish REQUIRED! A Day in the Life of a Background Specialist Essential Functions: • Make determinations as to whether clients are eligible for LSF services • Help attorneys and senior paralegals coordinate all immigration related services • Provide counseling to immigration clients and refer them to attorneys when necessary • Prepare and file immigration petitions with USCIS • Prepare weekly activity reports illustrating tasks that were completed the week prior for the Tampa office to review • Ensures that all client conversations and documentation is kept confidential according to the Model Rules of Professional Responsibility • Draft legal correspondence to government agencies, complete legal research tasks, and continuously study everchanging immigration laws • Inform clients of available low-bono Immigration Services if they do not qualify for grant based free services • Attend essential monthly/quarterly stakeholder meetings for important immigration law updates • Contact clients with case updates on a regular basis and ensure that clients attend hearings when needed • Obtain/maintain accreditation with the Department of Justice Other Functions: • Attend staff meetings • Attend immigration workshops when possible • Present workshops and training sessions on immigration issues if needed • Other duties as assigned Physical Requirements: • Be able to travel if needed & have a valid FL driver's license • Be able to operate a computer & a camera Education and Related Work Experience: • High School or GED Diploma • At least 1 year of relevant work experience • Be eligible for accreditation by the Department of Justice Skills: • Ability to work well with people from all cultures while showing sensitivity to issues our client populations face. • Ability to utilize discretion and exercise independent judgment • Good working knowledge of immigration law • Strong document-gathering and management, filesystems, correspondence/referrals, follow-up, and organizational skills • Have excellent facility with computer systems and the ability to learn how to use immigration software • Bilingual-English and second language such as Spanish strongly preferred Principle Accountabilities: • Report to the Manager • Team-player with co-worker and staff • Trustworthy and dependable/Handles money from clients • Adheres to LSF's policies and procedures Other: • Employee will be required to complete (one) year of service time from the date of hire with LSF before being considered for promotion. Why work for LSF? Ability to Make an Impact in Multiple Areas LSF offers several programs, spanning across a wide range of populations in need. This gives our team members an opportunity to learn and potentially work in programs outside of their direct area. Either way, members of the LSF family will play a part in transforming the lives of those in need. Community A career at LSF means working and learning alongside talented professionals in a dynamic and inclusive environment. The values of our organization - OPEN-MINDED, COMPASSIONATE, GENEROUS, VISIONARY and HONESTY - drives each one of us. People working at Lutheran Services Florida treat each other like family. Whether you work on the front lines or work in an office, you share a common bond that is felt throughout the organization. Growth Opportunities Because of the variety of programs we offer throughout Florida, team members have the option to explore areas of interest in other programs or grow within their existing program/department. Amazing benefits package including : Medical, dental and vision Teledoc (24/7 access to doctors via phone and video) Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Long-term disability Employer paid life insurance (1X salary), AD&D Health and dependent care FSA 12 paid holidays + 1 floating holiday Generous PTO policy 403(b) Retirement plan with 3% discretionary employer match Tuition reimbursement Additional Voluntary Benefits Short-term disability Group life insurance Accident, critical illness/Cancer and hospital policy Legal Shield coverage Lutheran Services Florida embraces diversity, equity and inclusion in all business practices. LSF is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.