ABOUT PUBLIC COUNSEL

Public Counsel is a nonprofit public interest law firm dedicated to advancing civil rights and racial and economic justice, as well as to amplifying the power of our clients through comprehensive legal advocacy. Founded on and strengthened by a pro bono legal service model, our staff and volunteers seek justice through direct legal services, promote healthy and resilient communities through education and outreach, and support community-led efforts to transform unjust systems through litigation and policy advocacy in and beyond Los Angeles.

Public Counsel organizes its work through seven legal teams: Child, Youth & Family Advocacy, Community Development, Consumer Rights & Economic Justice, Homelessness Prevention, Immigrants’ Rights, Education Equity, and our impact litigation team, Opportunity Under Law. 

Public Counsel has a full-time staff of approximately 160. We are committed to building a diverse staff and encourage applications from people of color, people with disabilities, and people of all gender identities, gender expressions, and sexualities. We recognize the essential role of staff in achieving our goals, and we have set a long-term intention to provide competitive compensation, benefits, training, mentorship, and overall workplace wellness, making Public Counsel a leader among nonprofit law firms.

ABOUT IMMIGRANTS’ RIGHTS 

Public Counsel’s Immigrants’ Rights team envisions a world where all (im)migrants live with dignity, power, and opportunity. Staffed by approximately 30 attorneys, administrative staff, and social workers, the team provides direct legal representation to detained immigrants as well as non-citizens seeking asylum, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS), VAWA, T and U visas, and other relief in immigration court. In addition to direct representation, the Immigrants’ Rights team engages in advocacy at the local and national levels, recruits, trains, and mentors hundreds of pro bono attorneys each year, handles appeals before the Board of Immigration Appeals, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and the California Court of Appeal, and conducts impact litigation. For 35 years, the team has been at the forefront of protecting the rights of immigrants in Los Angeles. 

JOB SUMMARY

Reporting to the Program Manager, the Paralegal will provide administrative legal support for a new program under the Long Beach Justice Fund, in partnership with the Esperanza Immigrants’ Rights Project, to provide immigration legal services to individuals who have meaningful connections to the City of Long Beach. This is a one-year fixed-term position, with the possibility of renewal, contingent upon continued funding from the Long Beach Justice Fund.

The Paralegal will:

• Manage a caseload of pending cases under the supervision of multiple attorneys
• Conduct client intakes and prepare applications for immigration relief
• Maintain ongoing communication with clients, including clients in immigrant detention
• Communicate with clients’ families and other community members
• Create and maintain case files
• Maintain calendar to track deadlines and court hearings
• Request criminal and immigration records
• File documents in court and online
• Assist in the creation of materials for pro se clinics (that is, clinics for people representing themselves in their immigration matters) and other community education materials
• Provide administrative support to staff members working under the Long Beach Justice Fund program
• Provide translation and interpretation assistance, as needed
• Provide case management support to identify and link clients to community resources
• Perform administrative tasks including data tracking and grant reporting
• Work collaboratively to provide client-centered, holistic, trauma-informed, and interdisciplinary services
• Perform other duties as assigned 

ESSENTIAL JOB SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and either: (1) a paralegal certificate/degree in paralegal studies from an ABA-approved institution; or (2) at least 1 year of legal experience under the supervision of a California attorney
• 1–7 years of paralegal experience 
• Ability to read, write, and speak fluently in Spanish is strongly preferred
• Experience in immigration law preferred, with particular preference for experience in humanitarian immigration cases and removal defense
• Strong organizational skills
• Excellent inter-personal written and oral communication skills
• Comfort and experience working with clients from diverse racial and socioeconomic backgrounds, including those with criminal history and/or complex trauma
• Willingness and ability to travel to/from the Long Beach area
• Ability to work independently and engage in creative problem-solving
• Commitment to working well as a member of a collaborative team that includes other advocates, community organizations, and city officials
• Desire to learn and grow as an advocate, and openness to feedback
• Capacity to juggle and prioritize multiple competing tasks
• Commitment to immigrants’ rights and the mission of Public Counsel
• Commitment to economic and racial justice, including participating in and advancing the equity and inclusion work at Public Counsel 

JOB TYPE AND BENEFITS

• Full-time/non-exempt 
• Salary range is $56,000–$65,030.88 ($28.72–$33.35 per hour) depending upon years of experience. 
• Bargaining
• Probationary period: 9 months
• Fixed-duration position funded for one year from start date. This position is created with designated funds for one year from start date. Continued employment past this date is contingent on additional funding for the position. We expect that the funder will extend the funding for this position for a second year. However, continued funding cannot be guaranteed. 

Public Counsel offers a competitive benefits package including:

• Medical coverage with an option for 100% employer-paid employee and dependent child(ren)’s premiums; buy up options are available for other HMO and PPO coverage 
• Dental and vision coverage 
• Option to enroll in a  Flexible Spending Account
• Employer-paid life insurance and disability plans

Generous paid time off (per year):

• 15 accrued vacation days that increase to 20 days after 3 years of employment
• 12 accrued sick days that may be used for physical and mental health needs
• 2 personal observance days 
• 11 paid holidays plus 2 one-week office closures (during the summer and winter)
• Up to 60 hours of compensatory time per calendar year (for exempt staff only)

Additional benefits:

• 403(b) retirement plan with an elective employee contribution, and after a year of employment a discretionary employer contribution 
• Free on-site parking or public transportation reimbursement 
• $45 per pay period for employees who use non-English language skills to perform work duties
• Up to 6 months of parental leave 
• Organizational and team wellness activities to build team cohesion and camaraderie
• Professional development support and opportunities
• Annual payment of dues for required licenses or certifications (state bar dues for attorneys) and for a mutually agreed-upon professional organization 
• Centrally located headquarters in the heart of Koreatown, a vibrant neighborhood with easy access to public transportation, diverse dining options, and cultural attractions

HOW TO APPLY

We value lived experiences and experiences working with clients  across a range of settings. Please consider discussing such experiences in your cover letter, especially if they are not reflected in your resume. 

PUBLIC COUNSEL VACCINATION POLICY AND COVID-19 PROTOCOLS

Public Counsel requires vaccination against COVID-19 for all employees, including new hires. Pursuant to federal and state laws, Public Counsel will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified employees with disabilities or sincerely held religious beliefs, unless doing so would pose an undue hardship. 

Public Counsel is generally office-based, but remote work was launched during the pandemic. All employees with Public Counsel are now required to work in the office at least one day per week, at the discretion of the head of   department. Some positions require additional in-office days. This policy is subject to redesign by leadership. Public Counsel will work in a manner consistent with public health and local and state emergency orders.  

PUBLIC COUNSEL EEO POLICY

Public Counsel is an Equal Opportunity Employer that does not discriminate against employees or prospective employees on the basis of union membership or activity, race, religious creed, religious observance, ethnicity, color, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information or predisposition, military service, military and veteran status, pregnancy, child birth and related medical conditions, marital and family status, national origin, ancestry, age, medical conditions as defined by state or federal law, or disability, or any other basis prohibited by law.

All qualified applicants with criminal histories will be considered in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring. Our leadership team is dedicated to this policy with respect to recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, transfer, training, compensation, benefits, employee activities discipline, discharge and general treatment during employment.