Legal Assistant - Bakersfield, CA and Fresno, CA

Position

Title: Legal Assistant Locations: Bakersfield, CA;
Fresno, CA FLSA Status: Hourly (Non‑Exempt)
Hiring Range: $20.00 – $24.00 hourly

For 19 years, the UFW Foundation has mobilized farm workers and their organizations across the country to advocate for more equitable policies, including immigration reform, pesticide protections, heat standards, hazard pay and other worker protections. The organization is one of the largest federally accredited immigration legal service providers in California and serves low‑income clients in a variety of immigration cases. Regional offices are located in California, Arizona, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, New York, and Washington state.

The legal assistant supports attorneys or DOJ‑accredited representatives by providing affirmative immigration relief services, representing clients in removal proceedings, outreach at community college campuses and events, and collaborating with other UFW programs to influence systemic change. Legal Assistants report to a lead staff attorney or senior accredited representative.

Open, route, and respond to correspondence; answer the telephone and take messages; provide high‑level general clerical support; and offer legal case support. Secondary duties include special projects related to events and activities.

• Utilize computer hardware and software to produce documents.
• Read and route incoming legal mail, attaching it to the appropriate file for DOJ representatives or attorneys.
• Compose and type routine and complex correspondence, creating merge documents and graphics.
• Make copies of correspondence or other printed materials.
• Prepare outgoing mail and correspondence, including e‑mail and faxes.
• Assist with the coordination of special events.
• Facilitate completion of immigration applications (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, Citizenship, etc.).
• Translate documents from Spanish to English and vice versa.
• Provide information to potential immigration applicants.
• Follow up after intakes to evaluate client eligibility, including legal research and gathering additional client information.
• Assist/coordinate and direct on‑site/off‑site group processing workshops.
• Develop and disseminate programmatic materials.
• Provide administrative and legal support to attorneys, DOJ representatives, and other management staff.
• Assist in maintaining accurate client database and physical/electronic files.
• Conduct initial intake for immigration clients.
• Answer and screen telephone calls and arrange conference calls.
• Coordinate DOJ representatives or attorneys and make appointments.
• Assist other office staff with administrative needs.
• Arrange and coordinate travel schedules and reservations for legal team members.
• Organize and maintain file system, file correspondence and other records.
• Greet all visitors/clients and assist with questions and appointment needs.
• Coordinate meetings, prepare agendas, reserve and prepare facilities, and record and transcribe minutes.
• Coordinate office volunteers.
• Other duties as assigned.

• May involve coordinating and supervising office volunteers.

• High level of professionalism and organization.
• Ability to develop, implement, and track day‑to‑day activities.
• Experience working in immigrant communities, communities of color, and low‑income and working‑class communities.
• Bilingual (English and Spanish or other language).
• Ability to manage multiple projects in a fast‑paced environment.
• Self‑motivated and able to work independently and with a team.
• Collaboration:
  
  work with teammates in a professional, solutions‑oriented manner.
• Dedication to mission: genuine interest in immigrant and farm worker rights.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Excellent problem‑solving skills.
• Experience managing and executing across several communications media.
• Flexibility, speed, and precision: adjust quickly to changing priorities.
• Si Se Puede® attitude.

• Language skills: read, analyze, and interpret business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or government regulations.
• Mathematical skills: calculate figures, discounts, interests, proportions,…