About the position 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. CPCS is dedicated 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. 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. 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.

Responsibilities

• 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
• Other duties as assigned

Requirements

• 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
• Access to home internet access sufficient to work remotely
• Two years of paralegal experience may be substituted for the degree/certificate

Nice-to-haves

• Knowledge of and/or experience in immigration law preferred
• Proficiency in language(s) other than English preferred