Position Title: Immigration Specialist

Organization: Jewish Family Service of San Diego

Department: Immigration Legal Services

Position Type: Full-Time (37.5+ hours/week), Non-Exempt

Work Setting: Fully Onsite

Reports To: Managing Attorney

Pay Range: $26 -$28/hour

Total Compensation:

In addition to standard pay, compensation for this position includes:

• Comprehensive, low-cost healthcare coverage for employees
• Generous employer 401(k) contributions
• Employer-covered life insurance

Time Away from Work:

Being able to take time away from work is critical in bringing your best self to work. Time off benefits for this position include:

• Paid vacation time and sick leave
• 15 paid holidays, including Federal and Jewish holidays (as long as the holiday lands on a normal scheduled work day), and floating holidays
• 2 Wellness Days to be taken any time during the year to support employees’ mental wellness

Position Overview:

Jewish Family Service of San Diego (JFS) is a Department of Justice-recognized provider of immigration legal services and a key refugee resettlement agency in San Diego County. As co-lead of the Immigration Legal Services Coalition of San Diego (ILSC) with Casa Cornelia Law Center, JFS plays a critical role in coordinating rapid-response efforts and delivering legal support for vulnerable noncitizens impacted by immigration enforcement.

Serving low-income and vulnerable immigrants across San Diego and Imperial Counties, JFS offers legal representation and support tailored to each client’s needs. Services include removal defense, humanitarian relief, family-based petitions, naturalization, and administrative remedies. JFS provides representation before USCIS, ICE, CBP, and Immigration Courts, as well as in select cases before the Board of Immigration Appeals, federal courts, and San Diego Superior Court.

JFS also leads the Higher Education Legal Services (HELS) program, supporting immigrant students, faculty, and staff at two California State Universities and ten regional community colleges. Beyond direct services, JFS engages in advocacy to advance the rights and well-being of immigrants and refugees throughout the region.

The Immigration Specialist plays a critical role in supporting unrepresented noncitizens, especially low-income and vulnerable immigrant populations, in navigating complex immigration systems. Working under the supervision of the Managing Attorney or Lead Staff Attorney, the Immigration Specialist will coordinate Immigration Legal Support Workshops throughout San Diego County and participate in a rigorous training program to become a DOJ Partially Accredited Representative. Once accredited, the specialist will be authorized to offer limited legal representation before DHS agencies, advancing the mission of the JFS Immigration Legal Services Division (JFS-ILSD).

Responsibilities:

Under the supervision of the Managing Attorney or Lead Immigration Advocate, the Immigration Specialist will be responsible for:

Workshop Coordination & Client Support

• Coordinate and manage immigration legal workshops for unrepresented noncitizens in San Diego County
• Support with workshop logistics, including:
• Phone calls, participant enrollment, staff coordination, and onsite logistics
• Communicating with potential participants regarding their case status and workshop eligibility
• Adjust work schedule to accommodate evening or weekend events as needed

Legal Support & Case Management

• Conduct immigration legal screenings to assess eligibility and legal risk for individuals and families being supporting under the immigration legal workshops
• Draft pro se legal filings and immigration applications under attorney/DOJ-accredited representative supervision
• Provide case management and support for individuals assisted through workshops
• Maintain accurate and timely records of client communications and case activities
• Assist with preparing pro se filings before EOIR, USCIS, ICE, CBP (OFO), and other DHS agencies
• Manage and coordinate a full caseload of pro se cases with a high level of ethical and professional standards

Outreach & Administrative Support

• Respond to public inquiries about workshop services via phone, email, or online intake systems.
• Participate in community outreach activities, such as public information sessions and legal education events
• Comply with all data tracking and program reporting requirements
• Support and help supervise ILSD volunteers and interns that support with workshops
• Attend mandatory department or project meetings

Additional Duties

• Stay up to date on changes to immigration laws, policies, and procedures
• Provide pro se accompaniment to non-detained individuals at ICE check-ins and possibly act as Friend of the Court in appropriate settings
• Perform any additional casework or administrative responsibilities, as assigned

Skills/Experience/Abilities That Are a Must-Have:

• Strong commitment to social justice and immigrant rights
• Willingness to undergo intensive legal training focused on immigration law and DHS representation
• Commitment to trauma-informed, culturally competent service delivery for noncitizens and newcomers
• Ability and willingness to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and active listening skills
• High attention to detail with accurate data entry and record-keeping abilities
• Ability to handle multiple responsibilities in a fast-paced, dynamic environment
• Comfortable working independently and collaboratively as part of a team
• Demonstrated initiative, resilience, and professional demeanor under pressure
• Minimum 1 year of immigration legal experience (preferred)
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook)
• Experience working with immigrants and survivors of trauma
• Strong legal writing, research, and case management skills
• Experience with community organizing, outreach, or public interest law
• Bilingual/multilingual proficiency in Spanish or Haitian Creole

Skills/Abilities We’d Like You to Have:

• Ability to travel locally within San Diego and Imperial Counties
• Must be eligible and willing to seek DOJ Partial Accreditation (training and support provided)
• Must attend scheduled mandatory regional and program meetings

Physical Requirements:

• Evening and weekend work will be required when we conduct workshops
• Travel may be required for conferences, outreach meetings, or community events
• While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to sit, talk, and listen
• The employee frequently needs to stand, walk, use hands and fingers to operate a keyboard, handle documents, and reach for the telephone or other office equipment
• The work environment has a moderate noise level, requiring the ability to concentrate and maintain good auditory perception
• The employee must have the ability to lift, push, or pull up to 25 pounds as needed

Important Notice:

Please submit your resume and cover letter on your application.

Incomplete submissions will not be considered. Please, no phone calls. Please, principals only. Please, local candidates only (relocation is not provided).

About Jewish Family Service of San Diego
Jewish Family Service of San Diego is a client-centered, impact-driven organization working to build a stronger, more resilient community. For over 100 years, Jewish Family Service has been a trusted resource for the entire community, offering an array of services that are always life-changing, and often life-saving. At Jewish Family Service, we believe our employees are the backbone of our Agency. We strive to ensure that each employee is treated with dignity and respect. Our goal is your success. Come work at JFS and be our partner in Moving Forward Together. To learn more about JFS, please visit jfssd.org.

*Jewish Family Service is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.