Job Description

Overview:

The Immigration Impact Unit of the Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS), the public defender agency of Massachusetts, is seeking paralegals to work as part of the Massachusetts Access to Counsel Initiative (MACI). Under the direction of the Supervising Attorneys, the paralegals will support MACI Staff Attorneys and Supervising Attorneys in their direct representation of individuals in removal proceedings.

We fight for equal justice and human dignity by supporting our clients in achieving their legal and life goals. We zealously advocate for the rights of individuals and promote just public policy to protect the rights of all.

Our Values

C ourage • A ccountability • R espect • E xcellence

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION MISSION STATEMENT

CPCS is committed to protecting the fundamental constitutional and human rights of our assigned clients through zealous advocacy, community-oriented defense, and the fullness of excellent legal representation. We are dedicated to building and maintaining strong professional relationships, while striving to accept, listen to and respect the diverse circumstances of each client, as we dedicate ourselves to meeting their individual needs. It is our CPCS mission to achieve these goals, and in furtherance thereof, we embrace and endorse diversity, equity and inclusion as our core values as we maintain a steadfast commitment to: (1) Ensure that CPCS management and staff members represent a broad range of human differences and experience; (2) Provide a work climate that is respectful and supports success; and (3) Promote the dignity and well-being of all staff members. CPCS leadership is responsible for ensuring equity, diversity, and inclusion. The ability to achieve these goals with any level of certainty is ultimately the responsibility of each member of the CPCS community.

AGENCY OVERVIEW

CPCS is the state agency in Massachusetts responsible for providing an attorney when the state or federal constitution or a state statute requires the appointment of an attorney for a person who cannot afford to retain one. The agency provides representation in criminal, delinquency, youthful offender, family regulation, guardianship, mental health, sexually dangerous person, and sex offender registry cases, as well as in appeals and post-conviction and post-judgment proceedings related to those matters.

The clients we represent are diverse across every context imaginable and bring many unique cultural dimensions to the matters we address. This reality creates a critical need for CPCS staff to be culturally competent and able to work well with people of different races, ethnicities, genders and/or sexual orientation identities, abilities, and limited English proficiency, among other protected characteristics.

OFFICE OVERVIEW

The Massachusetts Access to Counsel Initiative (MACI) office located within the IIU will be a new legal services program for immigration representation that will embrace the tenets of public defense and universal representation to provide zealous, holistic, and client centered representation. The MACI-IIU office will provide full-scope representation to people in removal proceedings, both detained and non-detained. The office will set standards of practice and create training to increase the capacity for removal defense representation within Massachusetts.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Immigration Impact Unit is seeking paralegals to work as part of the Massachusetts Access to Counsel Initiative (MACI). Under the direction of the Supervising Attorneys, the paralegals will support MACI staff attorneys and supervising attorneys in their direct representation of individuals in removal proceedings. Paralegals will support both detained and non-detained clients in removal and bond proceedings before the Immigration Court, the Board of Immigration Appeals, related proceedings before the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services ("USCIS") and, when appropriate, in Federal Court.

Please note, these positions are contingent on grant-funding from the Governor’s Office for Immigrant and Refugees. Funding for this position is only guaranteed for the duration of the grant period. While it is anticipated that additional funding may be awarded, that is not guaranteed.

MINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS

Candidates must have:

• A Bachelor's degree or Paralegal certificate;
• Access to reliable transportation in order to travel to locations that are not easily accessible by public transportation; and,
• Access to home internet access sufficient to work remotely.

Substitution: Two years of paralegal experience may be substituted for the degree/certificate.

QUALIFICATIONS/SKILLS

• Commitment to working with a culturally diverse, low-income population;
• Knowledge of and/or experience in immigration law preferred;
• Experience interviewing clients and evaluating relevant information from clients and families;
• Demonstrated ability to take initiative and work under pressure;
• Detailed oriented and able to work on multiple projects (clients) under tight deadlines;
• Strong organizational skills;
• Ability to organize and prioritize caseloads, calendars and work assignments;
• Interpersonal and communication skills that enable healthy and productive working relationships;
• Ability to perform duties with the highest regard for confidentiality, integrity, and respect; and,
• Proficiency in language(s) other than English preferred.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The duties of the Paralegal include, but are not limited to:

• Preparing and reviewing immigration forms with clients;
• Collecting and organizing necessary supporting documents from clients and family;
• Drafting affidavits with clients, friends, and family for use in immigration proceedings;
• Assisting in client communication and correspondence, attending client visits in detention centers;
• Gathering, organizing and analyzing information and legal documents for attorney review and case preparation;
• Conducting legal and country conditions research as requested by attorneys;
• Monitoring case progress;
• Assisting in data collection for grant reporting purposes; and,
• Other duties as assigned.

EEO Statement

The Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS) is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnicity, sex, disability, religion, age, veteran or military status, genetic information, gender identity, or sexual orientation as required by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and other applicable federal and state statutes and organizational policies. Applicants who have questions about equal employment opportunity or who need reasonable accommodations can contact the Chief Human Resources Officer, Sandra DeBow-Huang, at sdebow@publiccounsel.net

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