Advocate, UC Unit

Description

About the Organization  

Canal Alliance exists to break the generational cycle of poverty for Latino immigrants and their families by lifting barriers to their success. 

Canal Alliance is a nonprofit champion of immigrants who are challenged by a lack of resources and an unfamiliar environment. Every day, we educate, empower, support, and partner with motivated immigrants to best meet all their unique needs—from putting food on the table, to becoming American citizens, to learning English, to graduating from college. 

Canal Alliance strives for a trauma-informed collaborative and inclusive culture. We invest in high quality services, professional development, and work-life balance. 

Position Summary

The Advocate will work under the supervision of the Senior Supervising Attorney of the

Unaccompanied Children Unit (UC Unit) of the Immigration Legal Services department. The

position will perform tasks related to both client support and case management as well as provide

administrative support to the UC Unit.

The Advocate will work in a collaborative and trauma-informed environment delivering high

quality service. This is a full-time, exempt position with a hybrid work model requiring three days

a week in the office. Must be available to attend USCIS/EOIR appointments in San Francisco or

other Bay Area locations as needed.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to"

• Provide case management support to unaccompanied youth clients by assisting them with gathering documents, communicating frequent case updates, and offering guidance in navigating the state court and immigration system
• Track clients’ progress in obtaining Special Immigrant Juvenile Findings from the state court
• Return voicemails for current UC Unit clients
• Provide case status updates to current UC Unit clients
• Schedule client appointments as needed
• Conduct in depth reviews of previous affirmative applications for case audits, receipts, and case processing times
• Review cases & submit inquiries for cases outside of processing times
• Request case assistance from the Ombudsman and Congressperson’s offices
• Sign updated G-28s and releases with clients for case inquiries
• Conduct FBI fingerprinting, once fingerprint rolling certification has been obtained
• Submit Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests
• Draft & provide letters for clients and employers
• Submit change of address updates to EOIR and USCIS
• Translate documents from English to Spanish and Spanish to English
• Provide client support, document gathering, and document review in preparation of appointments with paralegals and attorneys.
• Develop simple declarations with clients
• Interpret (Spanish/English) for clients during interviews and hearings
• Contact clients for simple Requests for Evidence (RFE) and file responses
• Assist with simple form filling, preparation, and submissions, as needed
• Comply with ILS policies, procedures, and best practices, including entering data into our case management software (LawLogix), collecting fees, executing contracts with clients, and filing applications in a timely manner
• Compile client data for grant reporting requirements
• Participate in regular peer review meetings, one-on-one check-in meetings with
• supervisor, UC Unit meetings, ILS department meetings, all staff meetings, and quarterly all-staff retreats
• Attend immigration legal trainings and behavioral health trainings as needed
• Participate in other team and agency meetings

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree
• Minimum of 1 year of experience working in immigration law under the supervision of an attorney.
• Bilingual - Spanish and English written & oral fluency (required)
• Excellent attention to detail, organizational, communication, writing and analytical skills
• Ability to meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment and excel in working
• individually/remotely as well as in a team setting
• Ability to work efficiently and manage multiple priorities
• Knowledge of Microsoft applications including Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, and Excel
• Experience working with LawLogix or other legal case management software preferred
• Must be willing to complete a Comprehensive Overview of Immigration Law (COIL) course within the first year
• Must be able to pursue fingerprint rolling certification
• Able to sit for an extended period and sufficient mobility to work in standard office/courtroom settings
• Commitment to serving immigrants and sensitivity to the needs of low-income, vulnerable clients
• Canal Alliance requires all staff be COVID vaccinated except for those who have medical or religious beliefs exemptions

Compensation

This is a full-time, non-exempt position with benefits. We offer a competitive salary with a

benefits package that includes:

• Hourly pay range of $33 - $36 for a 32-hour week
• 3 weeks paid vacation per year
• 12 days of sick leave per year
• Paid Birthday each year
• 13 paid holidays per year
• 100% paid employee medical & dental insurance, life insurance, LTD, and EAP
• 403(b)-retirement plan with employer match of up to 4% after 3 months of employment
• Voluntary benefits include FSA, vision, life, and pet insurance, as well as coverage for dependents
• Telehealth for physical and mental health

At Canal Alliance we have a 4 Day Work Week, with typical hours Monday–Thursday, 9am-

5pm.

Location

This position is hybrid, minimum of 3 days onsite at our HQ on 711 Grand Ave., San Rafael, CA.

Attendance at quarterly in-person staff retreats, and any other in-person trainings and

meetings as needed, as well as occasional night and weekend events.

Canal Alliance Equity and Inclusion Statement

Canal Alliance actively promotes and recognizes principles of fairness, equity and social

justice in relation to, and across, intersections of race, age, color, national origin,

ethnicity, citizenship, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression,

religion, disability, ancestry and all other identities represented among our diverse

employees.