Paralegal - Immigration

Phelps Dunbar LLP is an AmLaw 200 full-service law firm. The Paralegal in the Immigration practice will perform immigration legal duties under the supervision and direction of the attorneys in the New Orleans office.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Familiar with all types of immigration practices including employment based, individual and family-based petitions and applications.
• Experience with H-2A and H-2B case documentation and procedure for agriculture and other temp workers.
• Provide support to the attorneys in the preparation and filing of petitions and applications with federal government agencies.
• Experience in preparing H-1B visa petitions.
• Experience with PERM cases.
• Provide consult on immigration audits including pleading clips, recruitment, calendaring, and familiarity with immigration forms.
• Organize and maintain files from the inception of the case through the completion.
• Interact with various government and court officials as well as with clients.
• Maintain attorney calendars with case deadlines.

Education and Experience Required

• A minimum of a high school diploma or GED is required. A four-year college degree and a certificate in paralegal studies is preferred. Significant prior experience may be substituted for a combination of the educational requirements.
• 2+ years experience and the ability to manage immigration case management software is required.
• Must have a high level of computer literacy including proficiency in MS Office Suite and a working knowledge of a document management system.
• Experience using electronic resources is strongly preferred.
• Excellent time management, organizational abilities and strong proofreading skills are also required.
• Spanish language skills (both written and spoken) are highly desirable.

Performance Measures

• Ability to perform responsibilities as outlined above, both in terms of the quality and quantity of work.
• Ability to meet firm billing requirements.
• Knowledge of support technology utilized in practice area.
• Ability to work independently; degree of motivation and initiative.
• Dependability and cooperation with attorneys, clients and other support staff.
• Ability to meet required deadlines.