Immigration Legal Researcher Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Position Overview:

The Community Educator supports Jewish Family Service of San Diego’s Immigration Legal Services team by expanding community outreach, immigrant education, and access to immigration legal resources throughout San Diego County and the surrounding region. Working under the supervision of the Assistant Director of Immigration Operations and Partner Coordination, this position helps connect immigrants, mixed-status families, schools, nonprofit partners, and community-based organizations with trusted legal information, social services, and community resources.

The Community Educator strengthens community partnerships, delivers Know Your Rights presentations, coordinates immigration legal services walk-in clinics at K-12 schools and community sites, participates in outreach events, and helps immigrants and mixed-status families navigate legal and social service referrals. This position may participate in intensive training to become a U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) partially accredited representative. Upon accreditation, and as program capacity allows, the Community Educator may assist with selecting immigration matters under appropriate supervision. The role also serves as a liaison between JFS, nonprofit partners receiving community education funding through the Regional Network Hub for Immigrant Families, and the communities JFS serves. Through community engagement, client navigation, legal services support, documentation, and administrative coordination, the Community Educator helps increase awareness of immigration and social services, promote equitable access to immigration legal assistance, and support the broader goals of the JFS Immigration Services team.

Responsibilities:

• Develop, implement, and evaluate outreach strategies for communities most impacted by immigration enforcement, including border communities, immigrant-dense neighborhoods, mixed-status families, newly arrived populations, and other priority communities identified by the program.
• Plan, coordinate, and deliver Know Your Rights presentations, community education workshops, informational sessions, and resource presentations for immigrant communities, service providers, schools, faith groups, community-based organizations, and partner agencies in both in-person and virtual formats.
• Coordinate and respond to Regional Network Hub (RNH) community education requests, including presentations, tabling events, workshops, and resource fairs.
• Provide accurate, accessible, and culturally responsive information about immigration processes, available legal services, community resources, and referral pathways through ILSC, ILSD, and partner organizations.
• Coordinate immigration legal services walk-in clinics at K-12 schools and community sites, including scheduling, partner communication, outreach, intake flow, interpretation coordination, volunteer support, materials preparation, and follow-up referrals.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with community-based organizations, schools, faith-based institutions, immigrant-serving agencies, local government partners, and other stakeholders to expand access to immigration legal education and services.
• Support recruitment, engagement, communication, and relationship-building efforts with community partners participating in Regional Network Hub activities and initiatives.
• Serve as a liaison between JFS, Regional Network Hub-funded nonprofit partners, and community partners to support alignment, communication, referrals, reporting, and community education goals.
• Review incoming community education requests and coordinate with Regional Network Hub partners to identify the most appropriate organization or educator to fulfill each request.
• Coordinate presentation and outreach logistics, including scheduling, materials preparation, partner communication, site coordination, interpretation needs, and follow-up activities.
• Represent the Immigration Legal Services team at community meetings, partner convenings, outreach events, school-based events, resource fairs, trainings, and other public-facing forums.
• Assist individuals and families in accessing legal consultations, screenings, referrals, and representation through ILSD and partner programs, with a focus on detained, recently released, enforcement-impacted, and at-risk populations.
• Conduct initial intake, issue spotting, eligibility screening, and client navigation, and connect potential clients with appropriate internal programs, external legal providers, social services, and emergency resources.
• As capacity allows, assist ILRP attorneys and DOJ-accredited representatives with immigration court filings, briefs, declarations, legal research, document collection, client communication, case preparation, and other case-related support.
• Support short-term representation efforts by identifying potential clients, preparing referral information, coordinating follow-up, and connecting individuals with legal staff supporting ILSC services and other appropriate resources.
• Upon DOJ partial accreditation, and under appropriate supervision, provide legal screenings, conduct preliminary legal analysis, assist with immigration forms and filings within the scope of accreditation, and support limited or short-term representation before DHS as program capacity permits.
• Support accompaniment to ICE check-ins, ISAP appointments, immigration appointments, court-related appearances, and other scheduled immigration-related appointments as capacity permits and in accordance with program protocols.
• Collaborate with legal, outreach, advocacy, and communications staff to develop, review, translate, update, and distribute Know Your Rights materials, handouts, flyers, resource guides, presentations, and community education tools.
• Track, document, and report outreach activities, clinic participation, presentations, referrals, client contacts, partner engagement, and other required program data accurately and in a timely in accordance with grant, program, and agency requirements.
• Submit and track community education activities, presentations, outreach events, and partner engagement data in the ILRC Data Portal and other required reporting systems.
• Maintain organized records, outreach calendars, contact lists, attendance records, referral logs, data entry, and other documentation needed for program monitoring, reporting, and evaluation.
• Attend ILSC monthly meetings, Regional Network Hub convenings, community meetings, trainings, internal team meetings, and other required meetings to stay informed on immigration policy changes, community needs, program priorities, and partner activities.
• Support the planning, coordination, outreach, registration, and follow-up activities related to Regional Network Hub convenings and partner meetings.
• Stay current on rapidly changing immigration laws, policies, enforcement trends, agency procedures, local resources, and community concerns, and help communicate relevant updates to staff, partners, and community members in an accessible manner.
• Support social media, outreach, and communications efforts related to community education, clinic promotion, legal updates, public education campaigns, and community resources as needed.
• As capacity allows, answer live calls, respond to callback requests, conduct basic triage, provide resource information, and route callers appropriately through the ILSC hotline or other designated program communication channels.
• Assist with scheduling, reminders, follow-up calls, interpretation coordination, document requests, appointment preparation, and other client communication needs.
• Support the recruitment, onboarding, coordination, training, and day-to-day guidance of volunteers, interns, interpreters, and community ambassadors assisting with outreach, clinics, hotline support, and community education activities.
• Participate in program planning, evaluation, quality improvement, and implementation of new outreach or service delivery models to better meet community needs.
• Comply with all agency policies, confidentiality requirements, data protection standards, grant requirements, legal ethics rules, and professional boundaries applicable to the position.
• Perform additional case management, community engagement, administrative, and program support duties as assigned to meet the evolving needs of the Immigration Legal Services team.

Skills/Experience/Abilities That Are a Must-Have:

• Eligible and willing to apply for U.S. Department of Justice partial accreditation.
• Valid California driver’s license, access to reliable vehicle for transportation, personal vehicle insurance, and ability to travel for work-related duties.
• High school diploma or equivalent required; associate or bachelor’s degree in social work, legal studies, ethnic studies, public policy, education, nonprofit management, or a related field preferred. Equivalent lived and professional experience may be considered.
• Commitment to social justice, immigrant rights, and serving vulnerable, marginalized, and enforcement-impacted communities.
• Passion for providing culturally competent, trauma-informed, accessible, and community-centered outreach and education to immigrant and newcomer populations.
• Experience conducting community outreach, public speaking, presentations, workshops, trainings, or community education, preferably with immigrant, refugee, or mixed-status communities.
• Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills, with the ability to engage diverse audiences, explain complex information clearly, and build trust with community members and partners.
• Bilingual proficiency in Spanish, Arabic, Farsi, Haitian Creole, Portuguese, or other languages commonly spoken by immigrant communities in the region strongly preferred.
• Knowledge of immigration rights, enforcement issues, removal defense, humanitarian relief, and border-region dynamics preferred; willingness and ability to learn is required.
• Ability to travel throughout San Diego and Imperial counties for outreach, clinics, meetings, appointments, and community events.
• Comfort working independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, community-focused, and mission-driven environment.
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, records, and reporting requirements.
• Flexibility to work evenings and weekends to meet community outreach, clinic, and partner needs.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, Outlook, and Teams, and familiarity with virtual meeting platforms such as Zoom and Teams.
• Experience working with marginalized populations, survivors of trauma, and individuals navigating complex legal, social service, or crisis situations.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality, exercise sound judgment, follow supervision, and communicate professionally with clients, partners, volunteers, and colleagues.
• Experience with data entry, case management systems, outreach tracking, grant reporting, or client records preferred.

Physical Requirements:

• Occasional evening and weekend work may be required.
• Regular local travel may be required for community events, school-based clinics, partner meetings, client appointments, trainings, court-related support, and other program activities.
• While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to sit, talk, listen, use a computer, operate office equipment, and communicate by phone, video, and in person.
• The employee frequently needs to stand, walk, reach, use hands and fingers to operate a keyboard, handle documents and outreach materials, and move between office, clinic, and community event settings.
• The work environment may include office settings, schools, community sites, public events, and other off-site locations. Noise levels may vary and may require the ability to concentrate and communicate effectively.
• The employee must be able to lift, push, or pull up to 50 pounds as needed for outreach materials, supplies, and event setup.

Other Duties:

Please note that this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice. 

Position Title: Community Educator

Organization: Jewish Family Service of San Diego

Department: Immigration Legal Services

Position Type: Full-Time (37.5+ hours/week), Non-Exempt

Work Setting: Fully Onsite

Reports To: Assistant Director of Immigration Operations and Partner Coordination

Pay Range: $24 to $30/hour

Total Compensation:  

In addition to standard pay, compensation for this position includes:

• Comprehensive, low-cost healthcare coverage for employees
• Generous employer 401(k) contributions
• Employer-covered life insurance

Time Away from Work:

Being able to take time away from work is critical in bringing your best self to work. Time off benefits for this position include:

• Paid vacation time and sick leave
• 15 paid holidays, including Federal and Jewish holidays (as long as the holiday lands on a normal scheduled work day), and floating holidays
• 2 Wellness Days to be taken any time during the year to support employees’ mental wellness

About Jewish Family Service of San Diego
Jewish Family Service of San Diego is a client-centered, impact-driven organization working to build a stronger, more resilient community.  For over 100 years, Jewish Family Service has been a trusted resource for the entire community, offering an array of services that are always life-changing, and often life-saving.  At Jewish Family Service, we believe our employees are the backbone of our Agency.  We strive to ensure that each employee is treated with dignity and respect.  Our goal is your success.  Come work at JFS and be our partner in Moving Forward Together.  To learn more about JFS, please visit jfssd.org. 

*Jewish Family Service is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment witho...