The Legal Services Navigator supports the long-term resettlement of immigrants and refugees in Minnesota. This position will establish a relationship with everyone on their caseload and help them navigate legal resources and services, including building their understanding of immigration legal systems, supporting their progress in legal processes, and supporting their integration into their community. This is an AmeriCorps service member position with the Minnesota Resettlement Corps.
Service Activities
Immigration Legal Process Navigation
• Serve as a liaison between organization attorneys and staff, pro-bono attorneys, partners, resettlement agencies, and clients.
• Keep relevant parties up to date on individual case progress, process changes, law changes, and data regarding clients served.
• Assist with the management of complex matching processes to ensure clients are connected to the legal assistance they need.
• Support clients with assigned activities to promote understanding of and progress with immigration processes.
Community Resources and Integration
• Develop and maintain knowledge of the Resettlement Network Services and refer clients to critical community supports that promote integration into the community.
• Serve as bridge to programs and resources, ensuring clients have supports in place to address household needs and barriers. Serve as a liaison between the participant and the systems they are accessing, as necessary.
• Ensure attorneys are aware of available resources for clients.
Volunteer, Community, and Partner Engagement
• Support pro-bono attorneys, including connecting them to immigration attorney mentors, training, and clerical support. Ensure case progression.
• Assist in the development of immigration legal training for pro-bono attorneys, clients, partners, and community members.
• Recruit and coordinate volunteers to support clients in their goals, as needed.
Data Management and Confidentiality
• Maintain documentation of services provided, participant activities, and progress toward goals.
• Provide complete, accurate, and timely documentation of data using required data systems.
• Maintain participant confidentiality at all times.
Communication and Professional Conduct
• Create a welcoming environment for clients, and work to establish a relationship with all in caseload.
• Respond to client, potential client, pro-bono attorney, community, and partner inquiries and appropriately refer questions higher in the agency as needed.
• Work collaboratively with other individuals who are helping clients with their goals (e.g., other programs at host site, Resettlement Network partners, community service providers).
• Promote an environment that eliminates discrimination, harassment or favoritism of any sort and adheres to site and Ampact policy. Resolve conflicts and recognize when a conflict must be referred to a higher level. Model appropriate behavior and treat all clients and colleagues with respect and dignity at all times
Community Need Addressed
Since 2021, Minnesota welcomed more than 1,200 Afghan families and is currently welcoming families from Ukraine and other countries around the world. As part of Resettlement Corps, AmeriCorps members support families who are new to the U.S. as they join their new communities and work to achieve housing, employment and education goals.
Position Outcomes
Families building new lives in Minnesota need support in a variety of ways, and Resettlement Corps is here to help.
Benefits
Childcare assistance if eligible, Education award upon successful completion of service, Health coverage, Stipend, Student loan forbearance, Training
Education Benefits
College Degree
Competencies You Will Develop
Communication
Demonstrate sensitivity and empathy, Listen to and consider others' viewpoints, Maintain open lines of communication with others, Turn taking, Write cleary and effectively
Creativity & Problem Solving
Able to identify and define the problem, Capable of generating possible solutions, Communicate the problem to appropriate personnel
Teamwork
Establish a high degree of trust and credibility with others, Interact professionally and respectfully with supervisors and co-workers, Stay positive and outcome oriented
Decisions
Anticipate the consequences of decisions, Identify and prioritize the key issues involved to facilitate the decision making process, Involve people appropriately in decisions that may impact them
Tools
Carefully consider which tools or technological solutions are appropriate for a given job
Planning
Able to prioritize various competing tasks, Create environment of contribution, Create plan of action, schedule tasks so that work is completed on time, Effectively delegate tasks, Set goals
Service
Be pleasant, courteous, professional and respectful when dealing with internal and external customers or clients, Provide personalized, prompt, and efficient service to meet the requirements, requests and needs of customers, Understand the importance of one's role in the functioning of the organization, Understand the significance of maintaining a healthful and safe environment