Open Positions at Florida Legal Services

Status: Exempt, full time staff member of Florida Legal Services, Inc. 

Location: Remote with optional office locations in Newberry, FL and Orlando, FL 

Supervisor: Director of Survivor Advocacy, VOCA Managing Attorneys, VOCA attorneys, Executive Director 

Education Requirements: Bachelor’s Degree 

JOB SUMMARY 

The survivor advocacy paralegal provides support to the Florida Legal Services Survivor Advocacy Project, which provides legal advice, assistance, and representation to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking throughout Florida. 

RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Assist with intakes for callers to the FLS Statewide Domestic Violence Hotline.

• Provide paralegal services for crime victims, under attorney supervision, including litigation support, legal drafting, client interviews, case preparation, legal research, maintaining  electronic case files 

• Provide crime victims with information, referrals, and advocacy.

• Occasional travel to client interviews, meetings, court, etc.

• Keep time records on a daily basis.

• Attend department and program-wide meetings.

QUALIFICATIONS: 

• Bilingual with Fluency in Haitian Creole and/or Spanish, both oral and written 

• Paralegal certification preferred 

• Valid Driver’s license 

• Ability to travel 

• Excellent and consistent attention to detail and the ability to prioritize and meet deadlines. 

• Strong written and verbal communication, organizational skills, and time management abilities. 

• Experience using LegalServer (or a similar web-based case management system) and Google Suite software platform is a plus 

• Commitment to work and learn in a technology-based, distributed office environment

• Commitment to social, racial, and economic justice is a plus 

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

• Salary: From $55,000.00 per year, depending on experience. Very competitive with public interest opportunities.

• FLS offers an excellent benefits package including 17 paid holidays a year, generous paid time off and family leave policies, and fully-paid medical, dental, life, and vision insurance for employees.

TO APPLY

If you are interested in working with us, please submit a cover letter, resume, and three professional references. Please include your salary requirements. Submissions should be in PDF format or Google Docs format (sent to us as a link) to work@floridalegal.org. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled, but to receive full consideration you are encouraged to submit your application no later than July 31, 2026.

Immigration Attorney 

Position: Full Time, Exempt Employee

Florida Legal Services is hiring an immigration attorney to join our team. The attorney will work on a broad range of individual cases and provide support and supervision to our paralegal team. This position will primarily involve direct work with unaccompanied immigrant children and immigrant children in the custody of the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR). At present, FLS anticipates this to be staffed with one or more remote work positions focusing on children in immigration detention in Pinellas and Sarasota Counties. Depending on the course of the current pandemic and other developments, FLS may open physical office space in or near Hillsborough and/or Sarasota Counties where some future office-based work may be required. The position will include extensive travel throughout the state with an emphasis on Hillsborough, Pinellas, Manatee, Sarasota, and Orange Counties.

Responsibilities:

• Legal representation in immigration proceedings before the Immigration Court; 

• appellate proceedings before the Board of Immigration Appeals; 

• proceedings before the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and proceedings in state family and juvenile courts within the Orlando Immigration Court jurisdiction. 

• The Attorney will represent clients seeking immigration benefits, including asylum, Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ) status, and/or T or U nonimmigrant status, and state court orders necessary to support SIJ applications. 

• The Attorney also will be required to conduct legal screenings of detained and non-detained unaccompanied minors to determine eligibility for legal relief and representation by FLS, provide advice and counsel to unaccompanied minors, and comply with other program reporting.

• Supervising paralegals 

• Assisting with know-your-rights and other informational workshops to educate immigrant communities about immigration issues affecting their lives

• Supporting FLS clients and client communities through strategic litigation, legislative advocacy, research, and action support

• Recruiting and acting as a resource to pro bono volunteers and nonprofit organizations 

• Developing pro bono projects to help the immigrant community  

• Participating in Project and organization-wide meetings, building and sustaining collaborations, and assisting in identifying funding sources and grant reporting.

• Any other duties as assigned by the Executive Director and/or the Project Director.

Qualifications:

• Juris Doctorate Degree:

• Admission to the Florida Bar or ability to sit for Florida Bar exam;

• Minimum of two years of practical, direct experience practicing immigration law, or similar cumulative experience. 

• Excellent and consistent attention to detail and the ability to prioritize and meet deadlines;

• Strong written and verbal communication, organizational skills, and time management abilities;

• Initiative to work independently and ability to collaborate as part of a team;

• Valid driver’s license;

• Ability to travel extensively, including overnight travel;

• Demonstrated commitment to social, racial, and economic justice;

• Spanish language competence or willingness to enroll in Spanish language instruction (at employer’s expense during working hours)

• Experience working with client populations that FLS serves, including documented and undocumented immigrants, immigrants in detention, individuals facing domestic violence, members of LGBTQ communities, and youth; 

• Experience and interest in work supporting community organizing, community-lawyering, policy and advocacy initiatives;

• Demonstrated a commitment to social justice issues, and in particular a commitment to assisting low-income immigrants navigate the complex immigration system

• Commitment to work and learn in a technology-based distributed office environment.

Benefits:

• Salary will be set depending on experience, very competitive with public interest opportunities. 

• Opportunities for seniority and leadership are commensurate with experience and more experienced applicants are encouraged to apply

• FLS offers an excellent benefits package including 17 paid holidays a year, generous paid time off and family leave policies, and fully-paid medical, dental, life, and vision insurance for employees.

How to apply:

If you are interested in working with us, please submit a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and three professional references. Please include your salary requirements. Submissions should be in PDF format or Google Docs format (sent to us as a link) to work@floridalegal.org.

Florida Legal Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Florida Legal Services provides a fair and equal employment opportunity for associates and job applicants regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), gender identity, gender expression, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, Veteran status, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. FLS does not condone or tolerate an atmosphere of intimidation or harassment of any form and requires the cooperation of all staff in maintaining a discrimination and harassment-free atmosphere. If accommodation is needed in order to participate in the application process, please email us at work@floridalegal.org.