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Legal Assistant, Complementary Pathways

About IRAP

The International Refugee Assistance Project (“IRAP”) is a dynamic and growing legal, policy, and advocacy organization that works to develop and enforce a system of legal and human rights for refugees and displaced people around the world. We are the leading organization that provides free and comprehensive legal services to people we serve through registration, protection, and resettlement processes.

IRAP operates offices in the U.S. (New York City), Jordan (Amman), and Lebanon (Beirut). Our legal services are supplemented by a corps of pro bono lawyers from leading U.S. and international law firms and multi-national corporations, and law students who have created IRAP chapters across the United States and Canada. Through this work, we aim to assist refugees and other displaced people to find safe passage and to transform the landscape of refugee rights in the U.S. and internationally. IRAP has over 70 full-time staff, the majority of whom are based in the New York City office, with others working in field offices in Jordan and Lebanon or remotely. We are a nimble organization staffed by an innovative and collaborative team that is committed to high standards of quality and close partnerships with our clients, peers, and colleagues.

IRAP’s Complementary Pathways team assists refugees seeking relocation from countries of first asylum through family reunification, humanitarian visa, private sponsorship, and other pathways outside of traditional resettlement. The Complementary Pathways team consists of a Director, Europe Legal Program Manager, Project Manager, Caseworker, and German Family Reunification consultant. The team members are spread out in IRAP’s offices and other remote locations. The team regularly works with other members of IRAP’s Legal Services team in New York, Lebanon, and Jordan. 

Opportunity

IRAP is seeking a Legal Assistant to support the work of our Complementary Pathways team in its individual representation of refugees and displaced people seeking relocation through humanitarian visas, family reunification, and other pathways to countries in North America, Europe, and elsewhere. The position will report to the Complementary Pathways Project Manager and work closely with other Complementary Pathways team staff. This is an exciting opportunity for an individual interested in refugee rights, immigration, and international law to be part of a growing organization that makes an impact on the lives of refugees and displaced people.

Responsibilities

  • Provide administrative support to the Complementary Pathways Team, including through receipt and organization of new referrals and supporting materials, updating the team’s case docket, proof-reading, fact-checking, collating and mailing applications and supporting materials, and organizing information as needed for reporting to partners and donors on the team’s casework.
  • Provide administrative support for the team’s ongoing project providing remote legal assistance to unaccompanied children and their family members in East and North Africa seeking reunification with family members in various countries in Europe and North America.
  • Organize and maintain the team’s programmatic documents and case files.
  • Provide administrative and logistical support for the team’s work with law firms on pro bono cases.
  • Enter, maintain, and organize data.
  • Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

  • Associate’s Degree or Bachelor’s Degree, or three years of work experience in an office environment with responsibilities similar to those required for this position. 
  • Motivated to provide administrative support in a dynamic work environment.
  • Ability to manage and prioritize a diverse workload with flexibility and strong time management skills.
  • Strong organizational skills, analytical skills, and attention to detail.
  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills, both oral and written.
  • Sensitivity to client empowerment and to working with clients of all backgrounds, including LGBTI clients, survivors of trauma, and other vulnerable populations.
  • Familiarity with and orientation towards technology systems, including Microsoft, Adobe, and Google Suite.
  • Fluency in spoken and written English required.
  • Fluency in one or more of the following languages is a plus: French, Arabic, Farsi, Tigrinya, Swedish, and/or German.

Location and Working Hours

  • This position will be based in IRAP’s New York City office. As of the time of this posting, IRAP’s New York City office has adopted work from home procedures, and physical presence in the office will not be required before January 2021 at the earliest. Accordingly, the selected candidate will be permitted to work remotely initially. 
  • The working hours for this position will generally be 8am to 4pm Eastern Time to allow for overlap with colleagues based in Europe and the Middle East. 
  • IRAP is unable to sponsor work permits for this role; applicants must have permission to work in the U.S. at the time of application. 

IRAP believes that diversity is critical to fostering a strong workplace and serving our clients well. We strongly encourage applications from people with lived experiences in the communities that we serve, members of other marginalized communities, and individuals whose identities are underrepresented in the legal profession.

Salary

This position is covered by a collective bargaining agreement. The role’s salary will range from $49,014 to $64,184, depending on years of experience. 

IRAP offers a competitive salary and excellent benefits including family health, dental and vision benefits with no employee-paid premiums, a retirement plan with an employer matching component, flexible work schedules, and twenty days of vacation, five personal days, and twelve sick days per year.

Application Instructions

Please submit a cover letter, resume, and a list of three references at this link. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue on a rolling basis. 

IRAP believes that diversity is critical to fostering a strong workplace and serving our clients well. We strongly encourage applications from people with lived experiences in the communities that we serve, members of other marginalized communities, and individuals whose identities are underrepresented in the legal profession.