SARPA LAW

Passion.  Honesty.  Excellence.

Business Immigration Paralegal (aka: Employment-Based Paralegal or Legal Assistant) at law firm’s recently opened Lake Oswego, Oregon location (Portland suburb).  The firm maintains a satellite office in Medford, Oregon.  We pay for relocation.

Company Culture

We are a small immigration firm established more than 10 years ago, having rapidly grown primarily through word of mouth. Our trademark is excellent customer service and a dedication to thorough case work. This is a firm with a modern outlook that seeks to retain the best and brightest employees, because that is what our clients deserves. We are equally selective as to the quality of clients and case-types we accept, thus ensuring that our office remains conducive to being a happy place where we can focus without disruption on doing the best work possible and in turn that work is appreciated by clients. We value a positive-energy client base above profit. Quality and care are paramount in everything we do, our clients notice the difference with our firm. You will be working closely with the attorney/owner, with an open-door policy, and free of office politics. While we handle most aspects of immigration, our firm is a leader in the specialties of physicians, healthcare, and crimmigration.

Minimum Requirements

• BA/BS Degree, and
• 3 or more years in employment/business immigration law, preferably complex H-1B, H-4, Schedule A, PERM-based I-140 and adjustment, J-1 waivers, TN, EB-1A, and E-2.

What You Will Be Doing

The above list of case types are our primary focuses within EB immigration. You will also work on a myriad of non-employment cases, but only a basic familiarly is required for those other categories. You must be self-motivated, good with people, and proficient with technology. We seek someone who can complete their daily tasks in a timely manner without interruptions and will communicate effectively and efficiently with the attorney. This is not a remote position. Some of our local clients prefer their initial meeting in-person. You will work with staff at our second office, where many of our clients are located.

Currently, this paralegal position includes all firm-wide roles, including administrative: such as case filing, phones, consultation setup, and payments. This will permit you to become knowledgeable about the entire law firm operation. In turn, you will be given an opportunity to shape and make improvements to the law firm. Administrative staff will thereafter be added as soon as possible, thereby eliminating the enumerated administrative duties listed below. Additionally, a family-based paralegal will be added in the near future to relieve you of those case types, if you so desire. If you have a spouse, partner, or colleague who wishes to take the administrative staff position at the same time as your hiring, we welcome you as dual applicants.

What The Future Holds

You will be in a vibrant environment with career development opportunities, as you will be on the ground floor of a firm with big future plans and innovative ideas. Your work will be directly responsible for growing the firm and sharing in our success. This may include a future opportunity to train and lead your own team, if it fits your desires. We want you to stay long-term and love what you do. We understand this can be at times a high pressure career field and as a result we are open to constantly improving our work environment and management.

You will be having one-on-one interactions with inspirational and prominent people from all over the world. If you want to be responsible for changing people’s lives as part of a passionate legal team and be in the middle of a law firm shaping modern immigration law and the legal industry, then read further.

Administrative Duties:

• Answer and return the law firm’s phone calls, while maintaining a positive relationship
• Qualify and screen consultation callers
• Greet clients and prospective clients attending in-person meetings
• Schedule and confirm consultations (remote or in-person)
• Conduct intake at consultation prior to attorney
• Schedule and conduct hiring meetings, including payment & retainer agreement collection (remote or in-person)
• Monitor and follow-up on payment deadlines
• Timely reply to all e-mails
• Confer with attorney & follow up with assigned tasks
• Digitally scan mail, file into client e-files, calendar RFE deadlines & interviews, notify clients of appointments, and review new mail with attorney
• Maintain a daily call log, if necessary
• Digitally scan application filing packets, prepare mailing labels, package for mailing, and deliver to USPS/FedEx
• Notify clients of initial or RFE filings
• Electronic file organization: open cases, closes cases, update case registry, save credit card payments and bank deposits
• May need to drive own vehicle to make nearby mail drop-off/pick-up

Paralegal Duties:

• Issue document lists and question lists to newly retained clients
• Collect, organize, and e-file client documents
• Monitor outstanding documents
• Answer client questions and troubleshoot issues, primarily prior to case filing
• Obtain application signatures & filing fees (via e-mail or in-person)
• Draft and physically assemble application/petition filing packets, including supporting evidence and letters, for attorney review and subsequent edits
• Online filing of select non-complex cases
• Draft simple Request for Evidence (RFE) replies
• Attend daily team meeting to provide updates and receive follow-up tasks regarding cases to be filed
• Obtain certified criminal records from various courts throughout the nation including locally
• Work with moderate supervision and guidance and be accountable for your individual results
• Receive guidance and development on requirements for various immigration case types, when necessary

Benefits include (but not limited to):

• $65,000 to $72,000 DOE
• $2,000 out-of-state relocation coverage
• Earned annual bonus
• Your choice of new office equipment
• Health, paid time off, gym membership, and birthday off = after orientation period
• Additional future benefits will accrue (401K, dental, vision)
• Professional development such as paralegal training materials and online courses/conferences
• Full-time exempt/salaried
• Overqualified candidates will be given special wage considerations
• All interviews and inquiries will be kept FULLY CONFIDENTIAL

Submit your resume in PDF format, which must list 2-3 references, and complete the required questionnaire.

Specific Requirements:

• 9:00am to 5:30pm, M-F
• Ability to focus on efficiency to prioritize and meet competing deadlines/demands in a fast-paced work environment
• Self-motivated, able to work independently in an office setting
• Honest person with integrity and professionalism during pressure
• Loves helping people, devoted to going above and beyond for clients
• Excellent writing and grammar skills
• Ability to type at least 40 WPM
• Well versed in technology and can grasp emerging innovations, specifically able to use Windows OS (we do not use Mac), Microsoft Office, scanning documents & PDF organizing
• Work well with the cloud and USCIS applications
• Enjoy being on the phone and writing emails
• Detail oriented & highly organized
• Open minded and willing to adapt or be versatile as the law firm expands
• Spanish speakers encouraged
• Non-smoker
• Does not use social media/personal cell phone during work hours
• Authorized to work in the US