Entry Level Immigration Attorney Jobs in California

Who we are: BAL is a team of brilliant people who change lives through elite immigration work and collaborative innovation. We pursue the exceptional in all that we do, but never at the expense of our values. There's no denying our work is demanding, both in volume and pace, but we're up for the challenge. We love the balance of hard work and fun - so, you'll see us in jeans as we shatter glass ceilings and conventional stereotypes. BAL employees feel valued, rewarded, and respected. We seek opportunities to be of service to others and our communities. We are committed to your growth and development, and want to set you up for success here at BAL and beyond.
Who you are: You are looking for work that has a purpose. You aren't afraid to roll up your sleeves and get stuff done. You learn quickly. You move fast. You embrace challenge and detail as well as creative thinking. You believe you have something unique to contribute and you aren't afraid to raise your hand. You understand that powering human achievement is ultimately about impacting a real person. You are looking for a place to grow and an environment where everyone has a spot and is genuinely welcome.
We're better together: A bright, driven person like you and an industry-leading powerhouse like BAL? It's a perfect combination! We truly want to see you succeed here and become an integral part of our mission to provide an experience that makes a positive difference in people's lives. Come be a part of something special, where you can have an impact and be valued just for being you!
In addition to competitive pay, a discretionary annual bonus, and a supportive, team oriented culture, we offer an outstanding benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance, sick time, unlimited vacation, and 401(k) with company match.
OVERVIEW: The Immigration Consultant is an early-to-mid-career legal delivery professional responsible for supporting high-volume immigration casework and delivering day-to-day client service. Reporting to an Associate or Senior Associate, this role focuses heavily on case production, routine client communication, and developing procedural expertise across a wide range of immigration processes.
The Consultant serves as a primary point of contact for clients on standard inquiries, manages the full lifecycle of immigration filings using established workflows, and performs essential administrative tasks to ensure accuracy, compliance, and timely case progression. The role requires strong organizational skills, the ability to manage large volumes of work using reports and dashboards, and a commitment to producing precise documentation aligned with legal and firm standards.
In addition to case preparation, the Consultant supports initial assessments, gathers client information, drafts forms and supporting letters, and coordinates with government agencies on case updates, RFEs, and deadlines. They are expected to build foundational paralegal knowledge across all immigration case types, stay updated on immigration law and policy changes, and participate in training and process improvements.
Time is allocated primarily to casework and client engagement (90%), with time for ongoing learning and development (10%) as required. Success in the role is demonstrated through accuracy, compliance, professional communication, workflow management, and learning agility.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Serves as the primary point of contact for routine client communications, ensuring timely and professional responses to inquiries and updates.

• Responsible for case production, including initiating, assessing, preparing, assembling, and filing high-volume immigration filings using established templates, processes, and proprietary case management system.

• Performs administrative duties including scanning and filing of complex immigration petitions and supporting documentation to facilitate efficient case management.

• Maintains accurate and complete case records, ensuring data integrity and responsiveness to client and attorney requests.

• Utilizes reports and dashboards to prioritize high volumes of work effectively to meet deadlines.

• Conducts or supports initial case assessments and gathers required documentation from clients, including forms, supporting evidence, and biographical information.

• Drafts immigration forms and supporting letters for a variety of case types, including employment-based NIV, IV, and PERM petitions.

• Coordinates with government agencies (e.g., USCIS, DOL, DOS) to track case status, respond to Requests for Evidence (RFEs), and monitors deadlines.

• Builds foundational knowledge across all immigration case types and develops mastery in procedural requirements, filing protocols, and client service standards.

• Ensures compliance and helps to update internal team procedures as needed following changes to immigration law and policy.

• Participates in internal training programs and contributes to process improvement initiatives to enhance team efficiency and service quality.

• Escalates operational issues promptly to legal team leadership.

QUALIFICATIONS:
Skills and Abilities:

• Attention to Detail: Produces accurate, compliant immigration forms, letters, and case documentation.

• Client Communication: Responds promptly and professionally to routine client inquiries and information requests.

• Organization & Time Management: Prioritizes high-volume workloads using reports and dashboards to meet deadlines.

• Learning Agility: Quickly absorbs new processes, systems, and immigration requirements and applies them to casework.

• Technical Proficiency: Navigates case management systems and document-handling tools effectively.

• Document & Data Management: Maintains clean, complete, and well-organized case records with strong data integrity.

• Problem Solving: Conducts basic case assessments and escalates issues or anomalies appropriately.

• Team Collaboration: Works reliably with attorneys and colleagues to support smooth case progression.

• Professionalism: Handles sensitive information with discretion and maintains a consistent, service-focused demeanor.

• Process Adherence: Follows established workflows, templates, and filing protocols with consistency.

Minimum Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree; OR

• 0-5 years of business immigration experience; OR

• A combination of education and experience that together demonstrates readiness for the role.

Candidates may qualify through different pathways. A bachelor's degree with no prior experience is acceptable, as is relevant business immigration experience in lieu of a degree. An equivalent mix of education and experience is also appropriate, as long as the candidate can demonstrate the skills, competencies, and abilities needed for successful performance in the role.
In accordance with California's amended labor code as stated in Senate Bill 1162, the expected salary range for this California position is between $59,100 and $74,325.
Note: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required and are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities or qualifications associated with this job.
Berry Appleman & Leiden is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of BAL to ensure an equal employment opportunity without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, age, disability, alienage or citizenship status, marital status, creed, genetic predisposition or carrier status, sexual orientation or any other characteristic protected by law. BAL prohibits and will not tolerate any such discrimination or harassment.
BAL does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or employment agencies. BAL is under no obligation to pay any referral compensation or recruiter fee in the absence of a current executed Recruitment Services Agreement. In the event a recruiter or agency submits an unsolicited resume or candidate without an agreement, BAL reserves the right to pursue and hire said candidate(s) without any financial obligation to the recruiter or agency. Any unsolicited resumes, including those submitted to hiring managers, shall be deemed the property of BAL. If your agency would like to be considered as a potential recruiting partner, please forward your contact information to Recruitment@BAL.com.
Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.
For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.