FordHarrison provides first-class service to our clients, which means we are always seeking staff professionals who are high performers, entrepreneurial, and ready to thrive in our rewarding work environment. It takes communication and trust to function efficiently as a national firm, and a collaborative staff to make it all run seamlessly. We value cultural differences and we are committed to maintaining a diverse workforce and developing an inclusive environment. Our employees enjoy generous benefits, competitive pay, and a comfortable working environment.
Business Immigration Paralegal, Atlanta, Georgia
FordHarrison LLP, a national labor and employment law firm, headquartered in Atlanta, GA, is in search of a Business Immigration Paralegal. In this role, you will be part of our Business Immigration practice and will support client accounts by preparing and filing employment-based nonimmigrant and immigrant matters including H-1B petitions, L-1 individual petitions and visa applications under a blanket, TN petitions, visa applications, and border applications, E-2 visa applications, E-3, EADs, APs, PERMs, I-140 Preference Petitions, and Adjustment of Status Applications. The ideal applicant will have extensive PERM experience, with a preference for candidates with exposure to special handling recruitment for university professors and union-subject positions as well as experience preparing Schedule A I-140 petitions for nurses/physical therapists. The ideal candidate enjoys and is comfortable using technology and various systems to organize yourself and make your work and the work of the team more efficient. You are a professional who can confidently interact with our diverse clients, whose industries include healthcare, manufacturing, airlines, consulting, construction management, food production, and others. Our primary client contacts are HR representatives or in-house counsel.
We are looking for someone who is resourceful and constantly growing as a professional and who continuously seeks ways to improve the group’s processes and procedures. Our paralegals are vital to our team and highly valued.
The Day-to-Day
From a subject-matter perspective, you will handle:
- Case preparation: Independently prepare a broad array of nonimmigrant and immigrant case types (such as H-1B, TN, L-1, E-2, E-3, H-4, L-2, EAD, AP, I-140 and I-485 AOS applications) for review by attorneys.
- Labor certifications: Conduct intake process and develop comprehensive strategy for PERM labor certifications, drive PERM process from start to end; monitor all PERM milestones and deadlines.
- Practice Management: Enjoy and be very comfortable using technology to organize yourself and monitor case deadlines. Use various technologies and immigration database to monitor case deadlines and prepare expirations reporting (document expirations, max-out dates, PERM deadlines) for the immigration team on a monthly and ad hoc basis to inform group-wide case prioritization.
- Issue-spot potential “red flags” or case questions that must be resolved and present them to attorneys in a timely manner.
- Effectively manage client relationships with minimal attorney oversight.
- Explain sophisticated immigration concepts and present strategic solutions to clients.
- Manage complex projects under strict deadlines.
- Understand the interplay of immediate case deadlines and their impact on a foreign national’s short-term and long-term prospects.
From a teamwork perspective, you will:
- Lead peers and junior teammates in the support of a client accounts and in the completion of projects.
- Train and mentor junior team members.
- Collaborate with multiple attorneys both in the local office and in other firm offices.
You Will
On any given day, you will be working with our Business Immigration Group’s attorneys and other team members.
- Demonstrate strong time management and organizational skills.
- Multi-task in a deadline-driven environment.
- Navigate complex technology platforms.
- Communicate effectively in writing and verbally, as appropriate for the needs of the audience (clients, governmental agencies, and co-workers).
- Use logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, and approaches to problems.
- Record billable and non-billable time daily into the firm’s timekeeping system.
You Have
- A bachelor’s degree (or equivalent experience), with a solid 3-5 years of business immigration experience.
- A strong desire to work in a close-knit, collaborative, team-oriented environment to meet our clients’ objectives related to their foreign national employees.
- Strong writing skills.
- Keen attention to detail.
- Proficiency in client communication, teamwork, and office technology.
FordHarrison LLP is an Equal Opportunity Employer encouraging diversity in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, gender, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, marital status or any other characteristic protected by law.
Interested applicants should submit cover letter, resume, and salary requirements to staffcareers@fordharrison.com. No phone calls or search agencies.
Legal Assistant, Washington, D.C.
FordHarrison LLP, a national labor and employment law firm, is seeking an experienced litigation legal assistant (secretary) for its Washington, D.C. office. The legal assistant provides direct support to a team of attorneys involved in employment-related litigation (DEFENSE) before administrative agencies and state and federal courts. The assistant assists attorneys in the delivery of quality legal services to clients who perform complex and specialized legal tasks and work collaboratively and cooperatively with others in a team-oriented environment. This is an on-site position.
Responsibilities:
- Handles office correspondence and administrative tasks such as answering phone calls; communicating with clients, court clerks, and outside vendors; responding to emails, and routinely reviewing and following up on client deadlines and calendar appointments
- Assists attorneys in all phases of the litigation discovery process; helping attorneys prepare for hearings, arbitrations, and trials. Performs bates numbering and redacting, and e-files documents with various state and federal courts
- Processes monthly expense reports, and upon request, accurately enters, reviews, and revises timekeeper time entries
- Accurately formats and proofreads legal documents for grammatical, typographical, or spelling errors, and completeness prior to distribution or filing
- Maintains and organizes electronic files
- Exhibits good judgment and organizational skills to receive, record, and disseminate all information on behalf of clients and assigned attorneys
- Coordinates meeting arrangements (i.e., arbitrations, depositions, mediations, etc.)
- Works with assigned billing specialist to ensure bills are properly produced and released to clients
- Completes assigned tasks as expected. Able to juggle multiple assignments and/or deadlines while maintaining a professional demeanor and timely seeks assistance when needed
Qualifications:
- Applicants must be able to type at least 65 WPM
- A high school diploma or equivalent is required; an associate or bachelor’s degree is a plus
- Minimum four years of solid DEFENSE litigation experience including Federal Rules of Civil Procedure
- Intermediate to advance skills in the use of MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook), time entry and e-Filing, and knowledge of an electronic document management system is preferred
- Excellent interpersonal/communication skills, and strong writing/grammar skills
- Ability to work effectively under pressure and meet deadlines with quick turnaround times
- Maintains a positive, “can-do” attitude when dealing with clients, co-workers, and attorneys
- Proven organizational skills, high dependability, initiative, flexibility, resiliency, and a pleasant disposition are essential attributes for this position
FordHarrison LLP is an Equal Opportunity Employer encouraging diversity in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, gender, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
Interested applicants should submit cover letter, resume, and salary requirements to staffcareers@fordharrison.com. No phone calls or search agencies.