Paralegal, Immigration Practice

Paralegal Immigration Practice

Brooklyn Defender Services (BDS) is seeking a Paralegal to join the detained removal defense team in our Immigration Practice.

BDS is a public defense office representing low-income New Yorkers in criminal family immigration and civil legal matters. For nearly 30 years BDS has worked in and out of court to protect and uphold the rights of individuals and to change laws and systems that perpetuate injustice and inequality. Our legal expertise work with clients is focused on the intersections of these legal systems that disproportionately impact Black and Brown communities living in poverty.

BDS represents thousands of people each year who have diverse complex and multi-faceted legal addition to a zealous legal defense our interdisciplinary teams of attorneys social workers and advocates provide a wide range of legal and advocacy services including housing public benefits education and employment. BDS staff work collaboratively and across disciplines to deliver high-quality legal services that serve the people we represent their families and communities.

BDSs Immigration Practice is a collaborative team working to help noncitizen clients maintain family unity and obtain lawful immigration status in the United the direct supervision of the Paralegal Supervisor Immigration Paralegals provide support to attorneys and clients in removal proceedings before the Immigration Courts and on applications before U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Responsibilities:

• Collect necessary records and documents from clients hospitals courts and other entities.
• Complete immigration application forms with a high level of factual accuracy and attention to detail.
• Copy scan and otherwise assist in the preparation of application packages for bond relief from removal and immigration benefits.
• Under attorney supervision interview clients and witnesses to prepare draft affidavits and letters of support.
• Under attorney supervision conduct country conditions and factual research.
• Deliver filings to New York City immigration courts.
• Maintain accurate digital and paper files according to office protocol.
• Timely and accurately enter information into case management system.
• Complete other tasks as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Advanced or bilingual proficiency in Spanish.
• Excellent organizational oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with a team.
• Ability to take direction and feedback and adjust workload with agility.
• Excellent time management and task triage skills.
• High proficiency in Adobe Pro and Microsoft 365 Suite programs (Outlook Word Excel etc.).

Additional Preferred Qualifications:

• Paralegal certificate and/or Bachelors Degree and/or prior paralegal experience in the immigration field.
• Notary Public or willing to become one.

Position Information

This is a non-exempt salaried position in the collective bargaining unit. The normal schedule is Monday to Friday 9am-5pm. The position is based at BDSs offices in downtown Brooklyn.

BDS determines salary on a pay scale based on education and experience. For this position there is a salary range of $63113 - $69863 depending on the applicants education and experience. Applicants with extensive experience may make more than the upper part of the range. BDS offers comprehensive benefits including health insurance and a 403(b) retirement order to support work/life balance and family-friendly policies BDS has generous vacation sick holiday family and medical leave policies.

Application Instructions

Click Apply Now to submit a cover letter and resume on our online application portal. Please submit your application by August 15 2026.

Brooklyn Defender Services is a proud equal opportunity employer committed to celebrating diversity and maintaining an equitable and inclusive work environment. We strongly encourage candidatesof all identities expressions orientations disabilities and experiences to apply. If you require an accommodation due to a disability or another reason please contact the Managing Director Human Resources Christina Wallace at cwallace @ .