Casa & Casa In Action Synopsis
CASA’s mission is to create a more just society by building power and improving the quality of life in working class Black, Latino/a/e, Afro-descendant, Indigenous, and Immigrant communities. Rooted in the collective power of our community, our inclusive, permanent, member-led movement radically transforms communities and systems to ensure the needs, dreams, and aspirations of members are fully met as we strive for justice and full liberation at home and in solidarity with others across the world. CASA has a sister organization, CASA in Action, a separate, but related, nonprofit organization that is exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code. Although CASA and CASA in Action share a common goal of supporting immigrants and low-income people in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, they are separate organizations with their own board of directors. A set of employees at the two organizations, including the person filling this position, shares their time between the two organizations. This has no effect on salary or benefits.
Department Synopsis
The legal program at CASA operates under the principles of Justice is the goal, law is a means. It is a marathon, not a sprint. We endeavor to find the most creative strategies to combat the abuses and injustices identified by our constituents. We value justice in the largest sense possible, not only one person at a time legal solutions, but broad, transformative solutions created in combination with immigrant leaders, CASA organizers and other staff, other local and national organizations and direct service staff. We value our time and believe that through hard and sustained effort is often required, real rest is also necessary for creativity, stamina and “a life,” however defined.
Position Summary
The Legal Services Coordinator provides general, case, and project support to the members of the legal team. Upon receiving DOJ accreditation, the Legal Services Coordinator will be responsible for providing direct representation to CASA members in immigration cases, including representation in immigration court and/or United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The Legal Services Coordinator works with a dynamic group of attorneys, paralegals, organizers, advocates, and social service staff in a friendly and fast-paced environment.
Essential Responsibilities
Case Management
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to sit; lift, carry, reach push or pull objects; climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl; handling, feeling or grasping.
The employee is occasionally required to stand or walk. The employee must rarely lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision and ability to adjust focus.
Work Environment
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. When it comes to physical strength the employee will rarely perform heavy or medium work.
While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is rarely exposed to wet and/or humid conditions and outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
ADA: CASA will make reasonable accommodations in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
OSHA: A Senior Staff Attorney is not to handle any human body fluids, biological agents, laboratory chemicals, or be exposed to hazardous materials such as noise, asbestos, or carcinogens.
This is a union position, represented in collective bargaining by a Collective Bargaining Agreement with the Communication Workers of America, Local WBNG 32035 - Communication Workers of America (CWA). If you are offered and accept this position, you will be invited to become a member of the union. All bargaining unit positions require membership or agency fee payer status.
CASA Inc. and CASA in Action do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, mental or physical disability, ancestry, marital status or national origin.
This job description will be reviewed periodically as duties and responsibilities change with business necessity. Essential and marginal job functions are subject to modification. Nothing in this job description restricts management's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.
CASA has implemented a mandatory vaccination policy effective 01 February 2022, requiring COVID‑19 Booster vaccination(s) for all employees and prospective employees, AmeriCorps members, and paid or non-paid internships. In accordance with CASA's duty to provide and maintain a workplace that is free of known hazards, we are adopting this policy to safeguard the health of our employees, AmeriCorps members and interns, and their families, CASA members and visitors, and the community at large from infectious diseases that may be reduced by vaccinations. In making this decision, the executive leadership team reviewed recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, CASA’s Legal Counsel and local health officials. All prospective employees will be required to provide proof of COVID 19 vaccination or appropriate medical / religious accommodation documentation prior to the first day of employment with CASA. AmeriCorps member candidates will be required to provide proof of COVID 19 vaccination or appropriate medical / religious accommodation documentation at the time of presenting proof of citizenship and SSN eligibility.
CASA’s mission is to create a more just society by building power and improving the quality of life in working class Black, Latino/a/e, Afro-descendant, Indigenous, and Immigrant communities. Rooted in the collective power of our community, our inclusive, permanent, member-led movement radically transforms communities and systems to ensure the needs, dreams, and aspirations of members are fully met as we strive for justice and full liberation at home and in solidarity with others across the world. CASA has a sister organization, CASA in Action, a separate, but related, nonprofit organization that is exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code. Although CASA and CASA in Action share a common goal of supporting immigrants and low-income people in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, they are separate organizations with their own board of directors. A set of employees at the two organizations, including the person filling this position, shares their time between the two organizations. This has no effect on salary or benefits.
Department Synopsis
The legal program at CASA operates under the principles of Justice is the goal, law is a means. It is a marathon, not a sprint. We endeavor to find the most creative strategies to combat the abuses and injustices identified by our constituents. We value justice in the largest sense possible, not only one person at a time legal solutions, but broad, transformative solutions created in combination with immigrant leaders, CASA organizers and other staff, other local and national organizations and direct service staff. We value our time and believe that through hard and sustained effort is often required, real rest is also necessary for creativity, stamina and “a life,” however defined.
Position Summary
The Legal Services Coordinator provides general, case, and project support to the members of the legal team. Upon receiving DOJ accreditation, the Legal Services Coordinator will be responsible for providing direct representation to CASA members in immigration cases, including representation in immigration court and/or United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The Legal Services Coordinator works with a dynamic group of attorneys, paralegals, organizers, advocates, and social service staff in a friendly and fast-paced environment.
Essential Responsibilities
Case Management
- Solve problems presented by CASA members and others identified by the organization as high-priority or urgent.
- Conduct initial client intake and case assessment; work creatively to assist clients, including assisting with legal work, research, writing, advocacy, negotiations & referrals.
- Under supervision of CASA attorney, assist clients with completion of immigration applications and preparation of filings, such as evidentiary packets and motions; and advocate directly for clients as appropriate under the rules of the adjudicating agencies
- Upon receipt of DOJ accreditation, provide independent legal representation to CASA members in immigration cases
- Maintain documentation of all client contact and service provision, including contemporaneous notes of all case work, client contact or other relevant interactions in Salesforce.
- Maintain physical records of all cases and relevant documents in an organized manner.
- Compile and publish information in one or more areas of expertise by writing referral guides, updating on-line guides and writing community education publications.
- Create and coordinate referral lists.
- Conduct community education “know your rights” sessions and community outreach.
- Support CASA’s power building activities, including by referring members to the organizing department and working to empower members to engage in relevant advocacy campaigns.
- Support the development and expansion of CASA membership program and services.
- Collaborate with other CASA Departments and programs to ensure that high quality services are being delivered to ensure that members enjoy an excellent experience with CASA such that they can contribute to building the power of the immigrant community. In particular, CASA expects services and organizing to be delivered in an integrated way.
- Ensure that the Legal Services section of CASA’s website is accurate and up-to-date.
- Identify spokespeople for campaigns and media.
- Familiarize self with and cultivate relationships and develop a network of agencies and organizational partners that can support CASA’s mission and provide services to CASA members.
- Attend on-going training workshops and trainings relevant to work.
- Serve as a liaison between CASA and assigned agencies and partners.
- Complete on-going data entry, data verification, and internal activity reports.
- Maintain contemporaneous and complete notes of all case-related activity in CASA’s case management systems.
- Engage in an annual planning process, developing and executing individual work plans, evaluating and providing feedback on plans as the year progresses.
- Contribute creative ideas about ways to further improve specific job and CASA as an organization
- Other relevant duties as assigned by supervisor
- Minimum of three years of legal training, or minimum of three years of experience performing related work
- Knowledge of legal ethics rules, including the boundary between legal assistance and legal advice, and consistent adherence to those rules.
- Excellent computer skills, including Microsoft Word and Excel and other databases, and willingness to learn other needed computer programs. Familiarity with Salesforce is a plus.
- Bilingual English/Spanish (written and spoken). French is a plus.
- Excellent customer service skills and ability to handle changing situations and walk-in and phone requests.
- Quick learner, able to prioritize tasks in stressful situations.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
- Experience providing legal services to immigrant or low-income communities.
- Positive attitude
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to sit; lift, carry, reach push or pull objects; climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl; handling, feeling or grasping.
The employee is occasionally required to stand or walk. The employee must rarely lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision and ability to adjust focus.
Work Environment
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. When it comes to physical strength the employee will rarely perform heavy or medium work.
While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is rarely exposed to wet and/or humid conditions and outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
ADA: CASA will make reasonable accommodations in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
OSHA: A Senior Staff Attorney is not to handle any human body fluids, biological agents, laboratory chemicals, or be exposed to hazardous materials such as noise, asbestos, or carcinogens.
This is a union position, represented in collective bargaining by a Collective Bargaining Agreement with the Communication Workers of America, Local WBNG 32035 - Communication Workers of America (CWA). If you are offered and accept this position, you will be invited to become a member of the union. All bargaining unit positions require membership or agency fee payer status.
CASA Inc. and CASA in Action do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, mental or physical disability, ancestry, marital status or national origin.
This job description will be reviewed periodically as duties and responsibilities change with business necessity. Essential and marginal job functions are subject to modification. Nothing in this job description restricts management's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.
CASA has implemented a mandatory vaccination policy effective 01 February 2022, requiring COVID‑19 Booster vaccination(s) for all employees and prospective employees, AmeriCorps members, and paid or non-paid internships. In accordance with CASA's duty to provide and maintain a workplace that is free of known hazards, we are adopting this policy to safeguard the health of our employees, AmeriCorps members and interns, and their families, CASA members and visitors, and the community at large from infectious diseases that may be reduced by vaccinations. In making this decision, the executive leadership team reviewed recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, CASA’s Legal Counsel and local health officials. All prospective employees will be required to provide proof of COVID 19 vaccination or appropriate medical / religious accommodation documentation prior to the first day of employment with CASA. AmeriCorps member candidates will be required to provide proof of COVID 19 vaccination or appropriate medical / religious accommodation documentation at the time of presenting proof of citizenship and SSN eligibility.