Immigration Legal Services


New ILS Roles - Catholic Charities Immigration Legal Services VISTA Volunteer 

Catholic Charities Immigration Legal Services VISTA Volunteer 

Catholic Charities Program Served: 

Since 1986, Catholic Charities’ Immigration Legal Services (ILS) program has been effectively addressing the Washington, DC area’s evolving immigration legal needs. ILS currently operates in two offices in DC and two offices in Maryland, and provides legal assistance through culturally and linguistically appropriate, reduced-cost, or pro bono legal services.  

 

Through ILS’ robust Pro Bono Program, we recruit, train, and mentor pro bono attorneys in immigration law and then match individuals with them for free legal assistance. We also provide community outreach and education and Know Your Rights presentations. This VISTA position is a part of Catholic Charities USA’s Family Strengthening Program, a national intermediary project. As a member, you will meet virtually with VISTA Leaders and other VISTAs serving throughout the country, all focused on alleviating poverty 

 

Impact of the volunteer: 

The CCDC Immigration Legal Services VISTA will strengthen the infrastructure to build and sustain robust engagement of pro bono attorneys and other volunteers. The VISTA will focus on developing, testing, and documenting process to onboard volunteers, provide subject-matter resources to the volunteers, recognizing and appreciating volunteers 

 

Duties & Responsibilities: 

  • Help support a hybrid work model by creating/organizing a virtual library of legal resources/templates for staff 
  • Assist the pro bono team in fully utilizing our current database to track and monitor pro bono case updates  
  • Expand our capacity to serve by setting up a more supportive onboarding process for interns/volunteers, including an onboarding process for interns/volunteers, including an onboarding manual and SharePoint site of resources 
  • Acknowledge the contributions of volunteers/pro bono attorneys by setting up an inaugural appreciation event and periodic ways to acknowledge the volunteers throughout the year 
  • Make connections with community partners to assess the needs for outreach and education, and help organize presentations/community events 
  • Support the financial sustainability of the program by assisting with the fundraising process, and creating a “how to” doc for future fundraising efforts 
  • Help build a sustainable team by organizing periodic team building activities. 

 

Qualifications: 

Competence using computers, the Office 365 suite of applications (Outlook, Word, Excel, PPT, SharePoint, Forms, etc.) and databases

Completed VISTA application and interview with the Director of ILS

 

Desired Skills, Experience & Characteristics: 

  • Teamwork 
  • Strong interpersonal communication skills 
  • Interest in the law 
  • Strong writing and editing skills 
  • Engaging public speaking presence 

 

Volunteer Benefits: 

The VISTA member will:  

  • Gain experience working with a high-functioning, productive team of legal professionals 
  • Develop volunteer administration knowledge and skills, consistent with those required to achieve Certification in Volunteer Administration  
  • Develop skills around program development and sustainability 
  • Have access to the benefits offered to eligible VISTA members: 

  • Childcare assistance 

  • Healthcare coverage 

  • Choice of post-service education award or service stipend 

  • Relocation allowance 

  • Training 

  • Living allowance    

 

 

Support: 

  • The ILS VISTA will receive support from the CC USA VISTA Leader, access to VISTA training programs 

  • On site, the VISTA will receive regularly scheduled supervision from their ILS placement  

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Time Commitment: 

  • Roughly 40 hours a week M-F and occasional, pre-planned, evening or weekend events in the community  

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Location: 

  • The VISTA will work a hybrid schedule of remote/virtual and in-person? 
  • In-person will be at Catholic Charities Center (12247 Georgia Ave, Wheaton MD) and occasionally at one of the other ILS locations or a community location. 
  • Parking is available at most locations
  • Locations are accessible by public transportation  

Management Plan: 

The VISTA will be supervised by  

  • Jackie Rishty, Director of  

  • Director, Immigration Legal Services 

  • Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington 

  • Jacqueline.Rishty@CC-DC.org