Seeking bilingual legal assistant

Immigration Legal Assistant

Kentucky Equal Justice Center seeks a part-time bilingual Legal Assistant for its vibrant immigration law program at Maxwell Street Legal Clinic in Lexington.  The Legal Assistant will help with client intake, file management, translations/interpreting, and general administrative tasks. 

Duties and responsibilities

The Legal Assistant will:

• Conduct client intake via telephone interviews in English and Spanish, as well as other languages through use of telephonic interpretation service

• Meet daily with program attorney to discuss client eligibility for Clinic’s services

• Schedule appointments with clients; refer clients to other service providers

• Translate various documents between English and Spanish

• Provide interpretation between English and Spanish during client consultations

• Create files for clients and input data into legal case management software

• Perform various administrative tasks, e.g., answering calls, mailing closing letters, assisting with planning for fundraising events

Qualifications

The Legal Assistant should:

• Be fluent in Spanish and English

• Have strong communication skills, both written and verbal

• Have excellent interpersonal skills

• Be comfortable working in a multi-cultural setting, sensitive to language and cultural issues

• Have excellent organizational and problem-solving skills

• Have strong computer skills and excellent attention to detail

• Have some knowledge of internet communications tools

• Be a self-starter in developing and carrying out activities

• Be able to take initiative and work independently, as well as in a team 

• Have some knowledge of low-income issues and a commitment to social justice, particularly immigrants’ rights

Additional language skills, as well as prior experience with immigration law, the immigrant community, and/or case management software are also strongly preferred.

Salary and benefits

$19.00 to $31.30 an hour DOE.  Part-time, 16 to 20 hours a week, depending on funding.  Health and other fringe benefits not included.   

Application instructions

To apply, please email a cover letter and resume to:

Allison Hight, Program Director

Maxwell Street Legal Clinic

ahight@kyequaljustice.org

Please put “MSLC Legal Assistant” in the subject line of your email.  Only applicants selected for an interview will be contacted.  No phone calls please.

Application deadline:  Open until filled.

For more information:  Contact Allison Hight at Maxwell Street Legal Clinic, 315 Lexington Avenue, Lexington, KY, 40508.  Email: ahight@kyequaljustice.org. 

Diversity Statement: KEJC welcomes your application. Employees shall be selected entirely on a nondiscriminatory basis with respect to age, ancestry, disability, ethnicity, familial status, gender, gender identity, limited English proficiency, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status and all other categories provided nondiscriminatory treatment by law, statute, or ordinance.