About KIND                                                                                                                

Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) is a global leader in the protection of unaccompanied refugee and migrant children. Launched in 2008, KIND champions a world in which every child’s rights and well-being are protected throughout their journey to safety. Since 2008, KIND has accepted over 23,000 referrals of children seeking legal representation in their immigration proceedings. KIND has welcomed more than 41,000 attendees to trainings since its founding, cultivating partnerships with over 670 law firms, corporate legal departments, law schools, and bar associations across the country.

KIND’s social services program ensures that migrant and refugee children – who have often endured trauma – receive counseling, educational support, medical care, and other comprehensive services.

To address the root causes of child migration from Central America and strengthen protection of unaccompanied children, KIND advocates for policy changes and educates lawmakers, the media, and the broader public on the conditions that drive these children to flee their home countries. KIND supports children returning to their home countries by connecting them to essential support services and sponsors gender-based violence prevention programs in Central America to protect children in countries of origin and transit.

KIND is also building upon its expertise in the protection of unaccompanied children to encourage the development of pro bono initiatives across Europe in partnership with European NGOs.

Position Summary:

KIND Mexico seeks a Paralegal to help carry out efforts to provide unaccompanied children with initial legal orientations, protection screenings, and options counseling in collaboration with civil society and government-run shelters for unaccompanied children in Mexico. Based in Tijuana, Mexico, this position will be housed in KIND’s Legal Strategy and Special Programs (SSP) team and will report to the Senior Attorney for KIND Mexico.

The Paralegal will work closely with the Staff and Senior Attorney, Social Services Coordinator, and government and NGO contacts to identify children in need of KIND’s services and conduct screenings and intakes and know-your-rights orientations to unaccompanied children in and around Tijuana. S/he will play a key role in carrying out the case support, client communication, and data management operations of the Mexico program in Tijuana and support attorneys in casework, research, and in coordinating meetings and trainings.

Essential Functions:

• Provides legal, administrative, operations, and program support to the Staff Attorney, Senior Attorney, Social Services Coordinator, and Managing Attorney for KIND’s Mexico legal programs team.
• Helps build relationships with civil society partners and government contacts, in order to identify and access children in need of KIND’s services in shelters and encampments, in collaboration with the team in Tijuana.
• Helps conduct know-your-rights presentations to children in shelters, together with, or under the guidance of the Senior Attorney and Staff Attorney.
• Helps create child-friendly guidance documents and presentations to inform children of their rights.
• Maintains streamlined systems and processes for tracking and managing data related to case referrals.
• Communicates with children and families referred for KIND’s services.
• Conducts intake meetings with children identified in need of services.
• Helps prepare documents, forms, and case files for children assisted through the program.
• Assists attorneys with case preparation, including drafting declarations or country conditions research, as needed.
• Coordinates logistics for and orients groups of KIND’s legal services staff and pro bono volunteers deployed on a temporary basis to Mexico to assist in carrying out the functions the project.
• Ensures timely and efficient referrals to other legal service providers or KIND field offices, and transmits relevant case files and documents.
• Uses KIND’s case management database to create, run and modify metrics reports and case audits to support the team.
• Assists with editing and/or translating Spanish language documents.
• Collaborates with the Social Services team and other social services networks to support children in need of non-legal services.
• Assists the Tijuana-based team with tracking and coding expenses and other administrative duties as assigned.

Qualifications and Requirements:

• Undergraduate degree.
• Advanced Spanish and English fluency (written and oral) required.
• At least one (1) year of experience working with children, preferably immigrant and refugee children, or experience working with migrant populations, survivors of abuse, human trafficking, or other trauma.
• Ability to work collaboratively, and preferably, prior experience working with attorneys, law firms, or other legal service providers.
• Demonstrated record of cultural competence and cross-cultural communication skills; professional experience in Latin America preferred.
• Experience or familiarity with immigration and/or family law and immigration authorities preferred.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Microsoft Excel (reporting features a plus), Outlook, Skype/Teams and Word.
• Experience and facility with numbers, data management and databases.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail; excellent written and oral communication skills, and experience with facilitating and conducting presentations.
• Ability to handle discreet, sensitive, and confidential information appropriately and exercise judgment in a fast-paced environment.

Salary Range: $41,616 - $52,020 depending on experience

KIND requires all staff be COVID vaccinated with the exception of those who have medical or religious beliefs exemptions.

Application Instructions:

Please be advised that an employment application will need to be submitted along with your resume and cover letter, in order to be considered for the desired role.

KIND has an organization-wide commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We strive to create a work environment where everyone has a sense of belonging. Individuals from historically underrepresented or underserved communities are strongly encouraged to apply.

Disclaimer: KIND is committed to an ethical recruitment and hiring process and maintains a firm “no fees” recruitment policy. We will never charge a fee or ask for money as part of the application process. KIND also conducts all interviews via telephone or video conference, and at no time will KIND engage in a text or mobile app-based application or interview process. For more information, please visit the following website: https://supportkind.org/join-the-team/kind-employment-practices/.

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