Be part of a critical effort to serve homeless, disabled, and at-risk immigrants and tenants in San Francisco. The Justice & Diversity Center of The Bar Association of San Francisco (JDC) advances fairness and equality by providing free legal services to low-income individuals and educational programs that foster diversity in the legal profession. JDC currently has an exciting opportunity for a full-time Bilingual (Spanish) Paralegal with its Homeless Advocacy Project (HAP) in San Francisco's Civic Center/Tenderloin area. The paralegal will split their time between immigration and eviction defense work.

About HAP:

HAP is a program of the Justice & Diversity Center (JDC), a nonprofit provider of legal services to low-income and indigent San Francisco residents. JDC serves clients by recruiting and training private attorneys and legal support staff to assist individual clients, as well as through direct representation by experienced staff. HAP is primarily a staff-based project. HAP works to end homelessness in San Francisco and reduce the negative effects of homelessness on the individuals and families we serve. Our work has the greatest impact when we focus on eviction prevention, benefits advocacy, and immigration issues. Our clients are individuals and families who are homeless or at serious risk of homelessness. Each client comes to us with their own story and challenges, and we give priority to clients with mental health disabilities, as they often have greater difficulty navigating the legal system without representation. HAP takes a holistic approach to the challenges our clients face by providing legal representation along with supporting social services. About the

Job:

The paralegal will work on two projects:

Eviction Defense Paralegal:

Approximately 15 hours a week will be spent providing support to HAP attorneys in eviction defense cases. This will include some administrative support, as well as assisting with the preparation of documents, drafting discovery, interviewing witnesses, conducting home visits, filing and serving documents, managing referral systems and case documentation, and other tasks as needed.

Immigration Paralegal:

Approximately 20 hours a week will be spent working under the supervision of the Immigration Supervising Attorney. The paralegal will evaluate HAP clients' immigration status and help documented or documentable residents obtain or replace their immigration documents. This may include obtaining and evaluating criminal records and other supporting documentation; obtaining, translating, and evaluating legal documents from clients' countries of origin; working with local, state, and federal officials and agencies, including ICE; and appearing with or on behalf of clients before USCIS. Advocacy and representation may also include applications for adjustment of status or citizenship, U visas, or asylum, as well as appropriate advice and referrals for undocumented clients. The Immigration Paralegal will manage a busy caseload at all stages, from initial intake through successful achievement of the clients' objectives, and will play an important role in reporting outcomes to our funders. The paralegal will meet with clients in the HAP office and may also conduct outreach on the street or in shelters.

EDUCATION

Bachelor's degree, or an equivalent combination of relevant education, training, and expertise sufficient to perform the essential duties of the position Paralegal certification, training or experience preferred

EXPERIENCE

At least two years' experience with and knowledge of immigration law and issues; Experience with and interest in eviction or civil court practice preferred; Experience serving very low-income clients and clients who have mental health disabilities Bilingual in Spanish (required), including strong written skills Ability to: Be professional, mature, flexible, jump in to help in any capacity as needed for the project and HAP overall, demonstrate a good sense of humor, and maintain confidentiality Be self-directed and resourceful with high ethical standards Communicate in person, on the telephone, and in writing in a clear, calm and courteous manner, including with individuals at government agencies and other organizations, and with opposing counsel and individuals who have physical or mental disabilities or who may be agitated or in crisis. Multi-task in a high volume, fast-paced environment and independently prioritize with high attention to detail, effectively managing multiple cases, clients or projects simultaneously Simultaneously managing multiple components of a case or project from beginning to end, including setting and meeting deadlines Enter all data in database in compliance with the requirements of our funders Excellent oral, written, and client service skills Knowledge of MS Office (Outlook, Word, Excel)

Why Work For Us:

We offer a collaborative work environment, a progressive work culture, and a wonderfully diverse staff. We have a 35-hour workweek, Tuesday through Friday, and currently offer a hybrid schedule with two days in the office and two days working remotely. We are a mission- and values-based organization. We also offer a generous benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision insurance; pretax commuter benefits; health and dependent care accounts; employer-paid short- and long-term disability insurance; life insurance; a 401(k) plan; and more! To find out more about BASF, JDC and HAP, please visit our website at www.sfbar.org/jdc/

To Apply:

Please submit your resume and cover letter. Equal Opportunity Employer JDC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We conduct all employment-related activities without regard to race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation or any other classification protected by applicable Local, State or Federal employment discrimination laws.

Job Type:

Full-time Pay:

$35.36 per hour Expected hours: 35.0 per week

Benefits:

401(k) Dental insurance Flexible spending account Health insurance Health savings account Life insurance Paid sick time Paid time off Vision insurance Application Question(s): Will you now or at any time in the future require employer sponsorship to work in the United States? How many years of experience do you have with eviction defense, housing law, or civil court matters?

Work Location:

Hybrid remote in San Francisco, CA 94102