Job Description

ILU is seeking an intake coordinator to support referrals to the Unit and initial intake processes, including conducting initial client communications and providing administrative support for client-facing work. This position will ensure that referrals are handled promptly, respectfully, and efficiently, and that staff receive accurate, well‑organized information to support case assessment and service delivery. The ideal candidate is detail‑oriented, compassionate, and comfortable working in a fast‑paced environment with diverse communities.

The Immigration Law Unit (ILU) is a recognized leader in providing high-quality representation to non-citizens in all five boroughs of New York City and surrounding counties. Our staff of almost 100 attorneys, social workers, and paralegals across seven different projects and initiatives provides low-income New Yorkers with free comprehensive immigration services, including both affirmative and defensive case matters. The Unit specializes in the intersection between immigration and criminal law and works collaboratively with all practice areas to serve the society’s diverse immigrant clients through a comprehensive service model. Unit staff represent immigrants before USCIS, immigration judges in removal proceedings, and the Board of Immigration Appeals, as well as in federal court on habeas corpus petitions, petitions for review, administrative and judicial appeals, and other matters.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

Data collection and maintenance

• Ensure accountability and maintenance of practice standards
• Work with ILU and other Civil Practice administrative staff to ensure that ILU case matters are timely updated with data required for grants management

Referrals and Intake Coordination

• Monitors shared inboxes, voicemail boxes, and intake queues
• Conduct initial communications with prospective clients and referring entities
• Gather essential demographic, procedural, and case‑related information with accuracy and sensitivity
• Apply established eligibility criteria to determine whether cases should be referred for further review
• Provide clear information about next steps, required documents, and timelines

Administrative

• Enter and maintain intake information in the organization’s case‑management system
• Track incoming requests, deadlines, and follow‑up needs to ensure timely processing
• Flag urgent or high‑priority matters for supervisory review
• Maintain confidentiality and data‑security standards at all times

Professional Development and Other Duties as Assigned

• Participate in continuous professional development
• Continuously learn about forms of bias in the workplace and demonstrate affirmative behaviors that support an inclusive work environment
• Other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS

Required qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of 4+ years of post-secondary education and/or work experience
• Excellent computer skills including Office 365 and all Microsoft Office programs
• Previous administrative experience

Preferred qualifications:

• Proficiency in Spanish preferred

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Position Based Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of basic immigration application forms and forms of relief, highly preferred
• Excellent organizational skills
• Experience in and/or commitment to advocacy on behalf of low-income immigrants is strongly desired
• Experience working in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to work in a team setting including strong communication and follow-up skills
• Ability to manage relationships and effectively communicate with others
• Demonstrated ability to accurately and quickly gather data, compile information, and keep accurate records
• Highly self-motivated and able to work independently
• Excellent judgement, including ability to handle sensitive or confidential information
• Ability to multitask

Organizational Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Commitment to Legal Aid Society’s mission to secure equal justice before the law for all New Yorkers 
• Interpersonal and communication skills that enable healthy and productive working relationships
• Ability to perform duties with the highest regard for confidentiality, integrity, and respect
• Commitment to Legal Aid Society’s mission and values

Physical, environment, travel, and other duties required:

• Mostly sedentary, significant time using a computer and monitor; communicating and meeting using video
• May or will require travel within NYC, across the five-borough region

SALARY AND BENEFITS

The salary range represents a good faith estimate of the range we expect to pay for this role. The actual salary offered may vary depending on many factors, including but not limited to job-related knowledge, skills, and experience, as well as collectively bargained salary steps for unionized roles.

Salary Range: $79,372 - $84,372

The Legal Aid Society offers a generous benefits package including health insurance, paid vacation, disability, and life insurance, and more. Click here to read more about benefits.

Higher Education and Loan Forgiveness

The Legal Aid Society is a qualified employer for the purposes of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness. This position allows an employee to take advantage of PSLF and other State and Federal loan forgiveness programs. Additionally, employees who are New York residents may be eligible for assistance from New York state to assist with loan repayments, depending on years of practice. To learn more, click the links below.

studentaid.gov

hesc.ny.gov/loan-forgiveness-programs

WORK AUTHORIZATION

All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States for any employer without sponsorship for a work visa or permit. We are currently unable to sponsor employment visas or permits. (However, for citizens of Canada and Mexico, LAS will provide a letter documenting employment status that is needed to obtain a TN visa.)

HOW TO APPLY

All applications must be completed online via the career portal. We do not accept emailed applications. Submit the following documents as a combined PDF:

• Cover Letter
• Resume

For technical difficulties or questions regarding this posting, please email TalentAcquisition@legal-aid.org.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

As an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer, The Legal Aid Society prohibits discriminatory employment actions against and treatment of its employees and applicants for employment based on actual or perceived race or color, size (including bone structure, body size, height, shape, and weight), religion or creed, alienage or citizenship status, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity (one’s internal deeply-held sense of one’s gender which may be the same or different from one’s sex assigned at birth); gender expression (the representation of gender as expressed through, for example, one’s name, choice of pronouns, clothing, haircut, behavior, voice, or body characteristics; gender expression may not conform to traditional gender-based stereotypes assigned to specific gender identities), disability, marital status, relationship and family structure (including domestic partnerships, polyamorous families and individuals, chosen family, platonic co-parents, and multigenerational families), genetic information or predisposing genetic characteristics, military status, domestic violence victim status, arrest or pre-employment conviction record, credit history, unemployment status, caregiver status, salary history, or any other characteristic protected by law.

OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION

The Legal Aid Society is committed to a work culture of zealous advocacy, respect, diversity and inclusion, client-oriented defense, access to justice and excellent representation. We are dedicated to building a strong professional relationship with each of our clients (people), to understanding their diverse circumstances, and to meeting their needs. Our ability to achieve these goals depends on the efforts of all of us and our ability to build strong relationships with our colleagues. Every member of our community is expected to continuously learn about the dynamic, evolving, and emerging field of knowledge of identity, bias, and systemic forms of oppression and participate in productive efforts to dismantling bias in all forms.