Legal Advocate​/Intake Coordinator

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 200 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.

Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP) seeks a full-time Legal Advocate/Intake Coordinator to work in our Citizenship and Naturalization Unit as part of our Seattle office. Applicants must be fluent in English. Fluency in one other language is preferred, and additional languages are encouraged. The applicant must be able to start the position as soon as possible. A minimum two-year commitment to the position is expected.

Under the supervision of an attorney, the legal advocate will assist in directly representing immigrant community members in Washington State. The Legal Advocate will focus primarily on cases involving naturalization and U.S. Citizenship. Additionally, the legal advocate may handle other immigration matters as needed and will help manage and coordinate cases from the prescreen waitlist with other NWIRP staff members.

The Citizenship & Naturalization Unit primarily assists immigrants and refugees—particularly elderly individuals and those with disabilities—in obtaining citizenship. Representation includes requesting disability waivers for the required English language and civics tests, as well as advocating for individuals with complex criminal and immigration histories.

The unit also helps community members with other naturalization and citizenship-related matters, including green card renewals, applications for certificates of citizenship and U.S. passports based on derivation or acquisition of citizenship, and replacement naturalization certificates. The Citizenship & Naturalization Unit provides direct representation, legal advice, and pro se assistance.

Legal advocates are expected to:

• 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;
• 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.
• Fluency in English is required, fluency in one other language is preferred, and additional languages are encouraged.
• Familiarity working with interpreters;
• 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,…