Job Description

Legal Advocate - WA MASS Unit

Full-Time, Non-Exempt

Granger, WA

SUMMARY:

Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP) seeks a full-time bilingual Legal Advocate to work in our WA MASS unit as part of our Granger, WA office. Applicants must be fluent in English and another language, with preference for Spanish, Portuguese, French, Mandarin, Somali, or Russian. The applicant must be able to start the position by November 15, 2025. A minimum two-year commitment to the position is expected.

As a legal advocate under supervision of an attorney, you will work closely with other staff members across NWIRP’s four offices and community partners in Washington State, providing individual consultations and direct representation to members of immigrant communities in Washington State through various forms of immigration protection, including asylum relief.

Initially, you will be joining NWIRP’s WAMASS Unit focusing on providing legal assistance through comprehensive intakes and in some cases providing brief services to immigrant community members who have recently arrived in Washington State and are facing deportation proceedings.

ABOUT NORTHWEST IMMIGRANT RIGHTS PROJECT:

Founded in 1984, Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP) is a nationally-recognized legal services organization on the front lines of defending and advancing the rights of immigrants. With over 180 employees, NWIRP provides direct legal representation and assistance in immigration matters to thousands of people with low incomes who come from over 150 countries and speak over 60 different languages.

NWIRP challenges unjust policies through high-impact lawsuits and advocates for laws and policies that respect the rights of immigrants. NWIRP is also a trusted provider of immigration-related community education for immigrant communities and social service providers. NWIRP serves the community through four offices in Washington State (Granger, Seattle, Tacoma and Wenatchee), but the impact of our work is felt nationwide.

NWIRP’s WAMASS Unit is an organization-wide unit that conducts comprehensive intakes with the purpose of providing limited legal representation to newly arrived migrants through the Washington Migrant and Asylum Seeker Support program or WAMASS program. WAMASS is a universal services model comprised of case management, housing, and legal services that include accessible legal-clinics, consultations, and brief services to immigrant community members who are facing deportation. NWIRP’s brief services include intakes and consultations.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Legal advocates are expected to:

• Under attorney supervision:
  • Conduct intakes, by phone and in person, and interview clients to gather or clarify information;
  • Assist in conducting case analysis to determine eligibility for immigration protections/status under the immigration laws;
  • Assist in providing consultations and direct representation, preparing and submitting immigration forms and supporting documents to immigration courts, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), or other immigration agencies;
  • Assist in providing pro se assistance, community outreach and education, as directed;
• Maintain a working knowledge of significant policies, laws, practices, and trends in immigration law, particularly as it impacts low-income immigrants and those impacted by the criminal justice system;
• Establish, organize, and maintain files up to date;
• Translate documents;
• Perform data entry regarding the services provided to clients, including the preparation of monthly status reports;
• Perform administrative tasks related to grant reporting, such as timekeeping, submitting timesheets, tracking training, and other duties in a timely manner;
• Participate in NWIRP’s outreach, community education and development efforts; and
• Perform other tasks and responsibilities assigned by supervisory staff depending upon NWIRP’s needs.

Specific to this position:

Under supervision of an attorney:

• Provide intakes to community members referred to NWIRP through the Washington Migrant and Asylum Seeker Services (WA MASS) Hub or who connect directly through NWIRP;
• Provide brief legal services (Pro se assistance);
• Provide referrals to other legal services organizations; and
• Assist in providing intakes, consultations, and brief legal services to community members at monthly clinics. Assisting with the provision of monthly clinics requires travel to other NWIRP offices and community partner offices in Washington State.

SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS:

• Demonstrated commitment to advancing and defending the rights of immigrants and willingness to support NWIRP’s mission, vision, and values;
• Oral and written fluency in English and another language, with preference for Spanish, Portuguese, French, Mandarin, Somali, or Russian (additional languages are encouraged);
• Extensive experience assisting community members in removal proceedings preferred;
• Commitment to creating a welcoming, professional, and inclusive environment for staff and clients, and to working with a diverse community in a challenging environment;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills and ability to organize information in a clear and concise manner, including strong problem-solving, research, and analytical skills;
• Ability to assist in the provision of trauma-informed and culturally inclusive legal representation;
• Ability to work independently (with competing deadlines) as well as in a team environment;
• Special consideration will be given to applicants with at least two years of prior relevant legal experience;
• Sound judgment and decision-making skills;
• Strong organizational skills;
• Proficiency in the use of web-based software, Microsoft Office applications, including Word and Excel, and web peer-to-peer communication platforms; Familiarity with G-suite tools like Google Docs, Google Sheets, and Gmail; and
• The applicant must have a valid driver’s license as the position involves some travel.

Physical demands : While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand and walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; talk and hear; utilize a phone, computer, keyboard, pen and paper. Occasional work on night and weekend hours. Travel may be required. Travel reimbursements apply.

Emotional demands : While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to discuss topics including, but not limited to, discrimination; child abuse, neglect, abandonment; domestic abuse; violence, and psychological trauma.

The anticipated hours of work are Monday – Friday, 9 am – 5 pm, with a 30 – 60 minute unpaid lunch. At the time of this posting, NWIRP staff is operating in a hybrid model, and some in-office work will be expected of this position (at least two full days per week).

Northwest Immigrant Rights Project is an equal opportunity employer committed to having a diverse staff, board, and volunteer base reflective of the communities we serve and that enhances our ability to create a vibrant environment where all members of the NWIRP community thrive.

NWIRP is committed to providing a work environment free from discrimination and harassment. NWIRP does not discriminate on the basis of class, race, color, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, political ideology, age, creed, religion, ancestry, national origin, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability. Excepting any undue hardship, NWIRP will provide reasonable accommodations upon request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process. Please contact HR@nwirp.org for accommodations.

BENEFITS AND COMPENSATION:

This is a non-exempt, hourly position, and the minimum pay rate for candidates with no experience is $38.01 per hour (approx. $69,192.64 annually). Compensation increases based on years of directly relevant experience. For example, candidates with 10 years of relevant experience will earn $44.54 per hour (approx. $81,068.80 annually), while candidates with 20 years of experience will earn $50.88 per hour (approx. $92,604.95 annually). The maximum pay for this role is currently $64.07 per hour (approx. $117,555.19 annually), for 40 years of experience.

NWIRP is proud to be a unionized employer, and this full-time position is covered by NWIRP’s Collective Bargaining Agreement. NWIRP offers a generous benefits package, including:

• Fully paid health, vision and dental plans for employee-level coverage with employer-funded HRA and HSA options;
• FSA and Dependent Care accounts;
• Automatic, employer contribution of 3% to 403(b) retirement plan;
• Generous paid health-related leave (12 days per year);
• Generous paid vacation (16 days during your first year);
• 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 6 months of employment, plus the ability to extend with State-paid leave;
• 14 paid Holidays with the ability to float 5 holidays;
• Employer-paid disability, life, AD&D and long-term care insurance;
• 4 weeks of paid sabbatical after every five years of employment at NWIRP;
• Eligibility to earn compensatory time;
• Opportunities for paid professional development;
• New employees may be eligible for a relocation bonus, per the CBA; and
• Free onsite parking at the Granger office.

NWIRP is an eligible employer under the Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program.

REPORTS TO:

Supervising Attorney

TO APPLY:

Please upload a single-file document on our Careers Page containing your cover letter, resume, and a list of (3) references.

In your cover letter, please address:

1. How your personal or professional experiences qualify you for this role, and;
2. What challenges you recognize as barriers to providing legal advocacy to immigrant community members, with a focus on rural communities.

Qualified applicants will be considered for the position on a rolling basis from the date of this posting until the position is filled.

Job Tags

Hourly pay, Full time, Casual work, Work at office, Relocation package, Monday to Friday, Night shift, Weekend work, 2 days per week,

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