Legal Aid Case Manager/Paralegal

This position supports the legal aid department in moving a client’s case forward, including document preparation, client interviews, and research. This position will report to the Legal Aid Manager.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• Some experience or knowledge of U.S. immigration process and/or U.S. court system.
• Bilingual Preferred (high-need languages: French, Spanish, Portuguese, and Arabic)
• Ability to effectively communicate verbally and in writing.
• High comfort level working with persons who speak a primary language other than English, persons who are unhoused, marginalized populations, torture survivors, survivors of sexual violence/gender-based violence, highly traumatized people, and people suffering from PTSD.
• Experience and comfort understanding and working with spreadsheets, data, and databases.
• Valid driver’s license, passport, and State of Michigan background check

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Work with the legal aid manager, clients, case managers, medical professionals, and therapists to prepare supplementary evidence for a client's case.
• Develop and keep files organized and databases up to date and accurate.
• Audit digital data to ensure clients’ legal cases are up to date and clients meet legal obligations on time.
• Screen clients for program eligibility.
• Interview and assess clients to understand their cases.
• Assist clients with filling out government forms.
• Escort clients to government appointments.
• Research client cases.
• Assist the legal representative in court and interview preparation.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Fast-paced work environment
• High degree of working on a team with social work, medical, and legal professionals
• Work may be stressful at times

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Commitment to a professional and social work code of ethics.
• Ability to work effectively with clients, caregivers, staff, volunteers and external contacts to build and maintain effective teams.
• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple priorities.
• Problem-solving skills.
• Ability to travel as needed to perform job duties.
• Ability to operate designated office equipment.

This job profile in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the jobholder. The holder of this position will be required to follow any other instructions or perform any other duties as requested by their supervisor. This is notmeant to be an exhaustive list of responsibilities for this position. Essential elements may change if and when necessary.

FREEDOM HOUSE IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Freedom House is an equal opportunity employer committed to the principle of equal opportunity for all. This principle will be adhered to in order to ensure that equal employment opportunity is available to all persons, regardless of race, religion, color, creed, ancestry, country, national origin, citizenship, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression age, height, weight, veteran status, marital or familial status, pregnancy, membership in any labor organization, political ideology affiliation, genetic information or physical and/or mental disability as required by federal and/or state law. This reaffirmation is not intended to create any new remedies.

Pay: $50,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Opportunities for advancement
• Paid sick time
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person