Special Immigrant Juvenile Status Case Coordinator

YOU MUST APPLY VIA THIS LINK: https://payroll.justworks.com/jobs/82cf45e2-56af-477a-a840-cbd1cec9bc52-job

Please note: Fluency in Spanish or French is strongly preferred for this position. 

About Project Rousseau: 

Project Rousseau is a non-profit organization that empowers youth in communities in the greatest need to excel in higher education. The majority of the young people served by Project Rousseau are homeless and/or asylum seekers; Project Rousseau is at the forefront of the humanitarian migrant crisis in New York City. 

Position Overview

Through Project Rousseau’s Immigration Legal Services Program, we provide high-quality legal representation to some of New York City’s most vulnerable immigrant young people, including unaccompanied children and youth who have experienced abuse, abandonment, neglect, or other significant adversity. We believe that every young person, regardless of their circumstances, deserves the opportunity to pursue their education, live in safety, and build a future with dignity and hope. Our team helps young people navigate the complexities of the immigration system, understand their rights, and pursue pathways to legal status and long-term stability.

Project Rousseau seeks an exceptionally organized, detail-oriented Immigration Legal Services Associate (Special Immigrant Juvenile Status) to provide essential paralegal and case management support to attorneys representing vulnerable immigrant youth in New York Family Court and related immigration matters. This is a full-time, on-site position based in Manhattan, New York.

The Associate will play a critical role in ensuring that cases progress efficiently and that legal documents are prepared to the highest standards of accuracy and completeness. Working directly with young people and their caregivers, the Associate will gather information, organize documentary evidence, and prepare materials for attorney review and filing. The Associate will also be responsible for maintaining organized case files, tracking outstanding documents and deadlines, coordinating the collection and review of materials, and proactively following up to ensure that cases continue moving forward.

Exceptional proofreading skills, meticulous attention to detail, and outstanding organizational abilities are essential for this position. The successful candidate must be able to review complex legal documents with precision, identify grammatical errors and factual inconsistencies, ensure consistency across affidavits and supporting evidence, and produce polished, professional written materials. Equally important is the ability to develop and maintain effective organizational systems, manage multiple competing priorities, and oversee the flow of documents from initial collection through drafting, attorney review, revision, and final submission.

We are looking for someone who takes pride in producing accurate, high-quality work and who is naturally proactive, systematic, and resourceful. The ideal candidate will be comfortable taking ownership of administrative and document-management processes, anticipating what is needed next, identifying bottlenecks, and ensuring that outstanding tasks are followed through to completion. They should be able to bring structure to complex workflows, maintain clear records of case progress, and help attorneys manage substantial caseloads efficiently without sacrificing accuracy or attention to individual clients.

Depending on organizational needs, the Associate may also support attorneys with other immigration matters, including affirmative asylum applications for unaccompanied children filed with USCIS. This position is particularly well suited to someone who combines a commitment to serving vulnerable immigrant youth with exceptional written accuracy, strong organizational instincts, and the ability to keep complex legal processes running smoothly.

Responsibilities include:

• Support attorneys representing vulnerable immigrant youth, including unaccompanied children, in New York Family Court proceedings seeking custody, guardianship, and Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) findings.
• Assist with client intake and interviews, draft affidavits and declarations using trauma-informed practices, and prepare supporting evidence, petitions, motions, and other legal filings.
• Meticulously proofread and review legal documents to ensure grammatical accuracy, factual consistency, completeness, and professional presentation.
• Develop and maintain effective organizational systems for case files, document management, and deadline tracking, proactively managing workflows, following up on outstanding tasks, and ensuring cases progress efficiently.
• Coordinate with clients, caregivers, and attorneys to gather documentation, prepare for hearings, maintain accurate case records, and support timely filings, including Form I-360 SIJS petitions.
• Provide translation and interpretation support between English and Spanish and/or French, and assist with other immigration matters, including asylum applications for unaccompanied children, as needed.

Qualifications and Requirements:

• Education and Licensing:
  • Associates or Bachelor’s Degree
• Experience:
  • At least 1 year of demonstrated experience as a paralegal or in a similar administrative role 
  • Preferred: 2+ years of experience as a paralegal in immigration law or a related field.
• Skills and Attributes:
  • Fluency in Spanish or French
  • Outstanding organizational skills, including time management, record-keeping, and the ability to manage multiple assignments and deadlines independently.
  • Excellent attention to detail and ability to complete forms accurately in a timely manner.
  • Strong interest in adopting a comprehensive approach to addressing the needs of young people and their families. 
  • Strong communication skills, both written and verbal.
  • Exceptional interpersonal skills, enabling effective collaboration with young people, management, and program staff.
• Values and Commitment:
  • Deep commitment to social justice and a passion for serving immigrant communities.
  • Demonstrated ability to handle complex and sensitive matters with discretion, empathy, and sound judgment.

Work Schedule: Full-time, 35 hours per week

Job Location: 1560 Broadway, NY, 10036, please note this is an in-person role. Candidates should be comfortable with being in-person at least 4 days per week. 

Salary Range: $53,000-$63,000 per year

Benefits: Employer contribution to ICHRA (Healthcare Reimbursement)

Application: Cover letter and resume should be submitted via Justworks. This position is for an immediate start, and applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. 

This is a contract-funded position with an initial term of one year.