BILINGUAL SENIOR IMMIGRATION PARALEGAL
Part-Time | Chula Vista, California | $29–$35 Per Hour
Madrazo Villarreal A.P.C. is seeking an experienced, dependable, and highly organized Bilingual Senior Immigration Paralegal to join our Chula Vista office. The ideal candidate will have substantial experience handling family-based immigration matters and communicating professionally and compassionately with Spanish-speaking clients.
This is a W-2, nonexempt, primarily in-office position of approximately 20–25 hours per week. Additional hours may become available depending on caseload and demonstrated performance.
COMPENSATION
$29–$35 per hour, depending on directly relevant immigration experience, demonstrated skills, and qualifications.
RESPONSIBILITIES
• Manage assigned immigration matters under attorney direction and supervision from intake through filing and post-filing follow-up.
• Prepare, organize, and review family-based petitions, adjustment-of-status applications, naturalization matters, consular-processing cases, waivers, fiancé visa matters, humanitarian applications, and related filings.
• Prepare draft USCIS forms, declarations, cover letters, exhibit lists, requests for evidence responses, and supporting documentation for attorney review.
• Conduct detailed client interviews and obtain complete, accurate, and timely information and documentation.
• Maintain accurate case notes, deadlines, task lists, document files, and client communications.
• Monitor USCIS and Department of State notices, appointments, biometrics, interviews, filing deadlines, and case developments.
• Communicate with clients in English and Spanish regarding procedural requirements and case status without providing independent legal advice or making representations about outcomes.
• Identify potential legal issues, inconsistencies, missing evidence, deadlines, and risk factors and promptly bring them to the supervising attorney’s attention.
• Protect confidential and privileged information and comply with all firm cybersecurity, credential, document-retention, timekeeping, and client-communication policies.
• Personally and accurately record all working time and comply with the firm’s procedures for schedule changes, additional hours, and timekeeping corrections.
• Assist with other legal and administrative projects appropriate to the position.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
• At least seven years of substantial, recent experience in family-based immigration law. Candidates with ten or more years of directly relevant experience are strongly preferred.
• Full professional fluency in spoken and written English and Spanish.
• Qualification to work as a paralegal under California Business and Professions Code section 6450.
• Demonstrated experience preparing and managing USCIS and consular filings.
• Excellent legal-document preparation, organization, proofreading, calendaring, and client-communication skills.
• Ability to identify inconsistencies and missing information rather than merely transcribing client responses.
• Sound professional judgment and strict commitment to confidentiality, accuracy, security, and ethical boundaries.
• Ability to work collaboratively under attorney supervision and accept substantive review and correction.
• Reliable attendance and availability to work primarily from the Chula Vista office.
• Authorization to work in the United States.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
• Experience with Clio Manage, Google Workspace, USCIS online accounts, Microsoft Office, Adobe Acrobat, and electronic-signature platforms.
• Experience with waivers, consular processing, humanitarian matters, and complex immigration histories.
• Experience organizing high-volume client records, WhatsApp communications, civil documents, translations, and supporting evidence.
• Prior experience in a small or boutique law firm requiring initiative, accountability, and careful client service.
PROFESSIONAL AND CONFLICT REQUIREMENTS
The selected candidate must maintain strict confidentiality, safeguard all firm and client credentials and information, and disclose any actual or potential conflict of interest or outside activity that could interfere with the candidate’s duties to the firm. Firm systems, information, client records, and work time may be used only for authorized firm business.
This position does not authorize the employee to provide independent legal advice, establish legal fees, promise case outcomes, or provide legal services directly to the public outside attorney supervision.
HOW TO APPLY
Please send:
Résumé;
A brief cover letter describing your family-based immigration experience;
Confirmation that you satisfy California’s paralegal qualification requirements;
Your general availability; and
Two professional references.
Please use the subject line: “Senior Immigration Paralegal Application – [Applicant Name].”
Qualified candidates may be asked to complete a brief, compensated practical exercise involving issue identification, proofreading, case organization, and preparation of a sample client communication. The exercise will not involve active client work.
Madrazo Villarreal A.P.C. is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are made based on qualifications, experience, performance, and legitimate business requirements, without unlawful discrimination or retaliation.
