Legal Assistant - Salinas, CA and Oxnard, CA

Legal AssistantThe legal assistant will support attorneys or Department of Justice (DOJ) accredited representatives to enable (1) provision of affirmative immigration relief services; (2) assist in providing representation of clients in removal proceedings; (3) services and outreach at assigned community college campuses and/or community events as needed; and (4) work closely with other UFW Foundation programs to drive an organizing culture which influences systemic change. Legal Assistants report to lead staff attorney or senior accredited representative.The responsibilities of the incumbent include, but are not limited to opening, routing, and responding to correspondence, answering the telephone and routing/taking messages, as well as providing high-level general clerical support to the lead manager and assigned supervisor, and providing legal case support. Secondary duties will include various special projects related to the events and activities in which the organization or lead manager is involved.The ideal candidate for this position must have a high level of professionalism and organization. The candidate must demonstrate competency in the following areas: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 English and indigenous language or English and other language as needed to meet communities' needs).Ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.Self-motivated and able to work both independently and in conjunction with team members.Collaboration. Ability to work with teammates in a professional and solutions-oriented manner.Dedication to Mission. A 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. Ability to adjust quickly to constantly changing priorities with speed, precision, and accuracy.Si Se Puede® (It Can Be Done) Attitude. The embodiment of a personal spirit that promotes confidence, courage and risk-taking.To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.Language Skills: Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations.

Ability to write legal briefs, reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Requires ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.Mathematical Skills: Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume. Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra and geometry.Reasoning Ability: Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.The annual hourly pay range for this position is $21.00 to $24.00, and benefits include:Accruals of 2, 3, and 4 vacation weeks per year depending on tenure16 paid holidays (includes a personal day)1 mental health day per calendar yearPaid sick daysHealth, dental, and vision benefitsLife insuranceFlexible Spending AccountsEmployee Assistance Program for support with personal and work-related challenges403(b) retirement plan with 2% employer match (providing employee meets criteria)401(k) retirement plan with no employer match (providing employee meets criteria) *Employer-sponsored pension plan *Supplemental insurance (within 30 days of hire date) *Professional development opportunities and access to thousands of courses20% discount for immigration services through the UFW FoundationMany discounts, such as entertainment discounts for movie theaters, theme parks, etc. via ADP Lifemart, TicketsatWork, and UnionPlus*Note: Some of the benefits listed above are not available to temporary employees. Eligibility and access to benefits may vary based on employment status and other factors.COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement – The UFW Foundation is committed to ensuring the health and safety of our community, employees, and program participants. While vaccinations and boosters are not currently mandatory, we strongly recommend their use as a crucial measure in reducing the transmission of COVID-19. It is imperative to emphasize that if a pandemic situation arises that necessitates vaccines and/or boosters, we will reinstate this requirement to protect everyone effectively. Vaccinations have proven to be effective in preventing the spread of the virus and reducing severe illness.

By choosing to get vaccinated, individuals contribute to the collective effort in mitigating the impact of the pandemic and creating a safer environment for all. We will continually monitor the evolving situation and follow the guidance of health authorities.The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER:The UFW Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We believe a strong commitment to equal employment opportunity is more than a legal and moral obligation – it is also a sound business practice to realize the potential of every individual. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive work environment for all! In order to provide equal employment and advancement opportunity to all individuals, employment decisions at the UFW Foundation will be based on merit, qualifications, and abilities.

Except where required or permitted by law, employment practices will not be influenced or affected by an applicant's or employee's race, color, religion, sex/gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, ancestry, disability, genetic information, age, or any characteristic protected by law.We encourage all qualified applicants to apply for a position fighting for farm worker and immigrant communities! The UFW Foundation believes in second chances. As an organization, we will rely on individualized assessments in the hiring of those with past criminal convictions. The UFW Foundation will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with qualified disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act unless doing so would result in an undue hardship. Persons of color, gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people, persons with disabilities, persons who have lived in poverty, formerly incarcerated, persons 40 years old or older, and people fluent in more than one language are strongly encouraged to apply for open positions with the UFW Foundation.This policy governs all aspects of employment, including selection, job assignment, compensation, counseling, discipline, termination, access to benefits and training. Our commitment to equal opportunity employment applies to all persons involved in our operations and prohibits unlawful discrimination by any employee, including supervisors and co-workers.