Since 1981, the Central American Resource Center (CARECEN) has fostered the comprehensive
development of the Latino/a/x population in the Washington metropolitan region by providing
direct legal services, housing counseling, citizenship education, and community economic
development, while promoting grassroots empowerment, civic participation, and human rights
advocacy.
CARECEN’s Legal Services Program provides low-income immigrants and Latino/as in the
Washington metropolitan area with affordable, high-quality immigration law assessment and
representation in a wide variety of legal matters, including family-based petitions for adjustment
of status and consular processing, citizenship and naturalization, humanitarian relief such as U
(visa) nonimmigrant status, green card and work permit renewals for asylum, Deferred Action for
Childhood Arrivals (DACA), Temporary Protected Status (TPS), and others. Additionally,
CARECEN provides general immigration consultations on a regular basis. This is a full-time
position under the supervision of CARECEN’s Director of Legal Services.
Position Overview:
CARECEN seeks an Immigration Paralegal to support CARECEN’s Legal Services Program and
assist clients with immigration law-related matters. The Immigration Paralegal’s essential duties
include the following:
- Conduct in-depth consultations and screenings with clients to assess their situation and
needs. - Prepare immigration applications for relief under the supervision of the Director of Legal
Services - Investigate facts and law of case to determine causes of action/defense and prepare cases
accordingly. - Provide referrals to other service providers as needed.
- Manage cases in accordance with the case management policies of the Legal Department
- Follow up with clients regarding client progress toward legal goals.
- Recommend and implement strategies to persuade clients to participate fully in their own
legal process. - Interpretation for clients at interviews with the United States Citizenship and Immigration
Service (USCIS) - Translate documents as needed for clients.
- Draft letters to clients and agencies
- Assist with drafting and editing correspondence for clients and other documents.
- Assist with financial matters including processing client invoices, accounts, and financial
reports. - Contribute to the recruiting, supervision, and oversight of student interns and volunteers.
- Conduct presentations and training sessions to community and other organizations to
promote the mission of the agency. - Assist in organizing, coordinating and conducting immigration/asylum/citizenship
workshops throughout the year in partnership with other organizations, schools and
community groups in the metro area. - Other duties as assigned.
Candidate Qualifications: - Bachelor’s degree preferred.
- Candidates who have completed an associate degree, paralegal training, or professional
certificate, or have an equivalent combination of training and experience related to the
duties of the position are encouraged to apply. - Minimum of 3 years of experience in immigration legal services; must have experience
preparing asylum or VAWA applications. - Written and verbal fluency in Spanish and English is required. In addition,
conversational ability in Amharic, French, or Chinese is a plus. - Ability to draft, edit, and translate documents from Spanish to English and vice versa.
- Experience serving as a Spanish-English interpreter is a plus.
- Exhibit patience and support clients with low-literacy, developmental disabilities, and/or
native speakers of languages other than English and Spanish. Engage Language Line, as
appropriate. - Awareness and sensitivity of the challenges involved in working with limited-English
proficient clients. - Ability to work on multiple projects at the same time and meet deadlines is required.
- Maintain a high level of attention to detail.
Please Note: There is an occasional need to work on weeknights and weekends for outreach
activities and to conduct workshops.
Compensation:
Salary is $50,000 – 58,000, commensurate with experience. Benefits package includes paid
medical and life insurance and generous vacation, holidays, and personal/sick leave.
Application Process:
Applicants with professional, volunteer, and/or personal ties to the low-income immigrant
communities in the metropolitan Washington, DC area are encouraged to apply. Those interested
should send a resume, cover letter, and writing sample by April 30, 2023, to Genevieve Augustin,
Central American Resource Center via e-mail at legal@carecendc.org.
No phone calls please. Applicants are encouraged to apply by April 30, 2023, but all applications
will be considered on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Only applicants selected for
interviews will be contacted