Careers
Current Job Openings
About Us: Founded in 1976, MWLS provides free civil legal services to protect and advance the rights
and well-being of poor, elderly, disabled, and otherwise disenfranchised individuals and families in the communities that we serve. MWLS strives to help clients overcome barriers to achieving justice in areas that address their most basic human needs.
The Position: Over the course of 2023, hundreds of newly arrived and unhoused immigrants have begun residing in emergency shelters in communities served by MWLS. In response, MetroWest Legal Services is seeking a Paralegal who will share the responsibility of supporting MWLS’ delivery of immigration legal services to newly arrived immigrants residing in emergency shelters in the MetroWest communities. The Paralegal will report to the Staff or Supervising Attorney.
Responsibilities include: ?
1. As a member of MWLS’ Immigration Unit, providing various forms of support to immigration attorneys including conducting client intakes and interviews with newly arrived immigrants residing in emergency shelter; assisting with hearing and interview preparation, maintaining case files and data entry into case management system; and other tasks as needed.
2. Participating in client meetings either remotely or in-person at off-site community spaces such as a local emergency shelters.
3. Preparing immigration forms and other related documents, such as employment authorization applications and affidavits, for submission to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (“USCIS”) and Immigration Court.
4. Serving as a point of contact for clients, proactively ensuring that case files and case management systems reflect current contact information and status updates on case developments.
5. In collaboration with members of the Immigration Unit members, monitor program intake, referrals, and other administrative processes as needed.
6. Performs additional duties as assigned.
Qualifications and Requirements:
· Bachelor’s, or Associate’s degree with at least 1 year of relevant immigration experience; or high school diploma with at least 3 years of relevant immigration experience preferred.
· Demonstrated ability to utilize appropriate, non-judgmental communication techniques when responding to immigrant clients that illustrates sensitivity to their experiences and needs. Prior experience interviewing and counseling survivors of trauma and abuse preferred.
· Ability to work and advocate in a collaborative style with diverse ethnic, cultural, linguistic, and socio- economic groups, as well as diversity based on ability/disability, sexual orientation, and religion.
· Spoken fluency in Spanish or Portuguese or Haitian Creole is required. Language competencies will be tested during the interview process.
· Ability to manage multiple projects in a deadline-oriented environment with a keen orientation for details and work independently and a contributing team member.
· Strong organizational skills, time management skills and ability to multi-task.
· Sense of humor and willingness to be a team player.
· The ability to travel throughout the MWLS service area and to occasional statewide events (MWLS has a travel expense reimbursement plan).
The mission of MetroWest Legal Services is to provide legal advocacy to protect and advance the rights of the poor, elderly, disabled and other disenfranchised people in our service area and to assist them in obtaining legal, social, and economic justice.
Responsibilities:
Under the oversight of the Director of Pro Bono Services, the paralegal will:
- Support the Director of Pro Bono Services in all aspects of the operation of the program.
- Conduct client intakes, meets with clients, gather documents, prepare correspondence, schedule client meetings, and advise clients and volunteers on procedures and protocols.
- Prepare summaries of cases after advice calls for referrals, assist in the assignment and referral of cases to volunteer attorneys and manage continued relations and forward moving of cases.
- Coordinate and is responsible for the logistics of the orientation sessions, clinics, Lawyer for the Day programs, trainings, and other PBI events.
- Assist with the development and compilation, presentation and distribution of orientation and training program materials.
- Assist with the management, retention, and expansion of the volunteer base.
- Responsibility for scheduling and assisting in the implementation of recruitment and recognition events, as well as assisting in the organization and implementation of a variety of program events and activities that promote the recruiting and retention of Pro Bono attorneys and other volunteers.
- Assist with grant reporting and fundraising activities.
- Engage in outreach to community organizations and partners, attorneys, social organizations, and others to promote the activities of the Pro Bono Unit and develop, maintain, and encourage collaborations and partnerships.
- Attend bar association meetings and other events to encourage, promote and retain collaboration with other organizations, attorneys and volunteers.
- Assist with developing outreach and other social media avenues to increase relations with community partners.
- Contribute new ideas to expand and improve all aspects of the unit, and it’s function within MWLS and in the community.
- Participate in unit and other staff meetings.
- Review active cases and close cases in a timely manner in accordance with office procedures.
Qualifications/Competencies include:
· Associate degree required, Bachelor’s degree preferred.
· Proven interest in and commitment to advocacy for the legal rights of low-income and other vulnerable populations.
· Must be able to communicate effectively in writing and orally with clients, staff, volunteers, court personnel and other agencies.
· Excellent organizational and time management skills.
· Must be self-directed, motivated and detail oriented.
· Ability to meet deadlines and manage tasks independently.
· Must be able to appropriately prioritize and re-prioritize tasks based on changing circumstances.
· Interest in and some experience working with low-income populations.
· Ability to handle multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment.
· Demonstrated understanding and commitment to anti-bias principles, cultural competency and addressing systemic racism and other forms of oppression.
· Enthusiasm, creativity, good judgment, initiative, and willingness to work collaboratively.
· Bilingual in Spanish or Portuguese helpful.
About Us: We are a team of passionate lawyers and administrators, many who have had other careers as educators, social workers, advocates and in the arts. We believe in serving our community and breaking the cycle of poverty, oppression, and inequality. We work hard, but recognize that to serve others, we must also prioritize ourselves and family. In our free time we travel, we coach softball teams, and volunteer for other nonprofits. In providing free civil legal aid services, we keep people in their homes, provide safety through immigration status or protection from abuse, and fight against systems and individuals that oppose our vulernable neighbors. We are an organization that professionally empowers our team and values mentorship.
About You: You choose to make a difference in the world. You return your grocery cart. You pay it forward when you can and ask for help when you need it. You believe that race, language, wealth, identity, disability, or socio-economic status shouldn’t impact the type of justice one receives. You are fueled by doing what’s right, and ready to step up to ensure the rights and well-being of your clients are protected. You are ready to learn, help out a colleague, and be fulfilled in your career.
Responsibilities include:
- As a member of MWLS’ Immigration Unit, maintain the existing Medical-Legal partnership between MWLS and the Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center and Emerson Hospital by providing immigration legal services to patients of the Health Center and Hospital as a member of the health care teams.
- Advise and represent clients in a variety of humanitarian immigration matters including applications for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, Asylum, VAWA and U visa relief before the Immigration Court, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and the Probate and Family Courts.
- Educate Health Center and Hospital staff about health-harming legal needs of immigrant patients so they may identify and make appropriate referrals for legal assistance.
- Provide consultation with medical, behavioral health and social service providers to discuss issues and determine if legal remedies are available.
- Coordinate and monitor program intake, referrals, and other administrative processes as needed.
- Perform additional duties as assigned.
- Travel to courthouses throughout the MWLS service area and to occasional statewide events (travel expense reimbursement provided).
Is This Position Right for You?
- The candidate must be admitted to the Massachusetts bar, be able to site for the Massachusetts bar exam in 2023 or be admitted to the bar in another state with the ability to waive into the MA bar.
- Two (2) plus years’ experience in providing immigration law services preferred; focus on representing juveniles, survivors of domestic violence and/or other similar crimes preferred.
- Demonstrated ability to utilize appropriate, non-judgmental communication techniques when responding to survivors that illustrates sensitivity to their experiences and needs. Prior experience interviewing and counseling survivors of trauma and abuse preferred.
- Ability to work and advocate in a collaborative style with diverse ethnic, cultural, linguistic, and socio-economic groups as well as diversity based upon ability/disability, sexual orientation and religion.
- Spoken fluency in Spanish or Portuguese is required. Language competencies will be tested during the interview process.
- Strong organizational skills and ability to multi-task.
- Excellent writing and oral advocacy skills.
- Sense of humor and willingness to be a team player.
MetroWest Legal Services is a legal aid organization, founded in 1976, with a mission of providing free legal advocacy in civil cases to protect and advance the rights of the poor, elderly, disabled, homeless and other disenfranchised individuals and families so they may obtain legal, social and economic justice. MWLS assists client-eligible persons in securing access to basic needs and in challenging institutional barriers to achieve justice.
MetroWest Legal Services (MWLS) is seeking a committed, creative, and organized individual with strong people skills who is excited to work in the legal aid space to assume leadership of our fundraising and development work. The Development Manager will work closely with the Executive Director and the Board of Directors Fundraising Committee to generate and maintain financial resources for MWLS.
The Development Manager will have primary responsibility for creating and driving all development and annual fundraising plans, developing a donor cultivation strategy including fundraising, cultivation, stewardship, and a special events calendar; and working with the Executive Director to identify and expand a diverse grant portfolio.
Core Job Responsibilities:
- Individual Donor Development
- Identify a robust pipeline of prospective donors and craft a management strategy to grow MWLS’s major giving and individual donor base.
- Create and implement an individual donor communication strategy to engage existing and prospective donors in our work.
- Produce solicitation materials including an annual appeal, newsletters, and other engagement materials.
- Together with the Executive Director, build and nurture relationships with individual donors.
- Oversee and maintain donor database (Donor Perfect).
- Manage the integration of Donor Perfect with other software applications and related needs.
2. Institutional fundraising
- Perform organizational research to build a pipeline of prospective foundation and corporate funders and with the Executive Director, develop a comprehensive grant plan and calendar.
- Cultivate relationships with current and potential funders.
- Work with the Executive Director to gather information and assist with the writing of grants.
3. Communications/Website
- Utilize multiple platforms in communications strategy (print, electronic, social media, etc.)
- Prepare organizational publications (i.e., newsletters, press releases, annual reports)
- Maintain MWLS mailing list.
- Maintain consistency in all areas of organizational branding.
- Maintain and update MWLS website.
4. Events
- Plan and execute fundraising and stewardship events, as determined annually with input from the Executive Director and Board Fundraising Committee.
- Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree helpful.
- 3-5 years of proven experience and knowledge in the development field with:
- Major gift programs, including prospect research, cultivation, personal solicitation, acknowledgment, and recognition.
- Annual giving programs including new donor development, renewals, stewardship; and
- Recruitment, training, and motivation of leadership volunteers.
- Strong interpersonal skills
- Ability to work cooperatively with and under the direction of the Executive Director
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Ability to influence and engage a wide range of donors and build long-term relationships.
- Strong organizational, time management skills, able to manage multiple tasks and projects simultaneously.
- Ability to work independently without close oversight.
- Excellent team player who is open to working in a fluid, fast paced environment
- Commitment to MWLS mission
- Able to work some evenings and/or weekends during special events and major campaigns.