Prisoners’ Legal Services of New York (PLS) is seeking the immediate hire of a Spanish-speaking Legal Secretary/Paralegal for our Immigration Unit office in Albany, NY. The Legal Secretary/Paralegal  will provide support to the Immigration Unit’s team of immigration attorneys, who provide free legal representation to non-citizens in removal proceedings in Immigration Court.

Overview:

PLS is a non-profit legal services organization providing civil legal services to indigent inmates in New York State correctional facilities in cases where no other counsel is available.  Founded in 1976, PLS has regional offices in Albany, Buffalo, Ithaca and Newburgh.

As part of the New York Immigrant Family Unity Project (NYIFUP), PLS provides free legal representation to non-citizens incarcerated in New York State prison who are in immigration removal proceedings under the Institutional Hearing Program. These proceedings take place at the Bedford Hills and Ulster Immigration Courts, located inside New York State correctional facilities in upstate New York. PLS also represents noncitizens in immigration detention at the Albany County Jail, Rensselaer County Jail and Clinton County Jail, as well as clients who are detained at the Buffalo Federal Detention Center  in Batavia, NY. 

Job Description:

The ideal candidate should have a minimum of 2 years’ combined experience in the paralegal, administrative or secretarial fields, or have other relevant experience, and must be fluent in Spanish.  The position requires an individual who can perform legal secretarial, administrative and paralegal duties, and who has extremely strong research and writing skills. The applicant should be detail-oriented, organized, a team player, and passionate about immigration. This position calls for flexibility, excellent interpersonal skills, project coordination experience, and the ability to work well with all levels of internal management and staff, as well as with clients, agencies and vendors.  

Responsibilities

Perform a wide range of duties including, but not limited to:

• Answer phone calls, receive and screen visitors
• Open mail and process intake
• Case management system data entry
• Scheduling and calendaring of court hearings
• Compose correspondence of a routine nature for attorneys
• Establish and maintain record keeping and filing systems for office
• Assist attorneys in conducting intakes with clients, and preparing clients for court proceedings
• Interpret phone calls and client interviews and translate documents
• General office administration
• Work cooperatively with clients, peers and supervisors

Salary and Benefits:

Salary will be commensurate with experience. PLS offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, short and long-term disability, life insurance, and a 401(k) retirement plan. All qualified applicants will be afforded equal employment opportunities without discrimination because of sex, race, color, age, national origin, religion, disability, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, citizenship, pregnancy or veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law.

Deadline to Apply:

Submission by April 10, 2023 is highly encouraged, but applications will be processed immediately in an effort to fill this position as soon as possible. 

Please submit your cover letter, resume, and at least three (3) references by mail or email to: Sarah Spiak, Prisoners’ Legal Services of NY, 41 State St., Suite M112, Albany, NY  12207 or to sspiak@plsny.org. Include “PLS Paralegal / Administrative Assistant” in the subject line.  Please note all language skills and level of proficiency in your application.  No phone calls please.