Current Career Opportunity

POSITION OVERVIEW: 

We are looking for a full-time (40hrs/week) immigration case manager (legal assistant) who is eager to work primarily from our boutique immigration and refugee law firm’s physical offices located at 220-4211 Kingsway, Burnaby, BC V5H 1Z6 during regular business hours, (8:30am – 4:30 pm).  

You will be working as the principal case manager for lawyers, who practice in the areas of Canadian immigration, refugee, citizenship, public, and administrative law. You will be primarily responsible for assisting the lawyers with all legal matters, including but not limited to processing highly confidential information and seeking additional information where necessary, preparing and drafting legal documents and correspondence for immigration applications, preparing materials for tribunals and courts, maintaining a high degree of professionalism and liaison with various individual, family, and corporate clients across Canada. 

You are self-motivated, proactive and will be the rock, the stabilizer to the lawyer’s busy day-to-day work. You will provide a second eye or a solid first draft to ensure accuracy and precision in our field, which is becoming increasingly dependent on our exceptional attention to detail. You will develop relationships with clients to keep them in the loop throughout the working process and ‘work ahead’ of lawyers. 

Sound like you? Well – our Heron nest is calling! 

ABOUT HERON LAW OFFICES: 

We are a busy, dynamic, young, racialized-led immigration, refugee, and administrative/public law firm headquartered in Burnaby, B.C. but with national and international reach that extends within and beyond Canada’s constructed borders. 

 Our advocacy work and services are frequently engaged and consulted with by Government decision-makers, judges, media, and community groups. We are not afraid to challenge the system status quo and aim our work towards serving migrant communities in the pursuit of fairness, justice, and transparency. We are also at the forefront of exploring issues of Artificial Intelligence in the Canadian administrative state and advising policymakers on how to engage on key immigration issues during this time of change and turbulence. 

 OUR TEAM CULTURE: 

 You are joining a team that works both independently with clients and cooperatively on client files. 

 We spend copious time laughing with (and at) each other on MS Teams, having pizza party lunch and learns, designing ridiculous T-shirts, and representing our Firm at events and conferences. 

 Our team of lawyers and support staff are very active in cultural communities. We volunteer our time to help others outside of our working hours. Above all, we emphasize ‘family first’ and focus on your well-being, safety, and security while practicing with us.  

As they say – birds of the same feather, flock together. 

 DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: 

The successful candidate will be expected to perform the following duties, including but not limited to: 

• Respond to all inquiries and client and legal correspondence in a timely and professional manner; 

• Work with lawyers to assist on the preparation and submission of applications for temporary residence, permanent residence, citizenship, and Judicial Review Process; 

• Meet with HLO clients to draft immigration forms, obtain documents/evidence, and prepare letters and affidavits, as required. 

• Write first drafts of letters and correspondence to government organizations and opposing counsel; 

• Help lawyers bring forward (BF) and keep track of their deadlines and priorities; 

• Effectively manage multiple client matters on a daily basis; 

• Serve and file tribunal and court documents; 

• Have a conscientious eye for detail in ensuring accuracy, clarity, and completeness in all tasks; 

• Manage, track, and prioritize their own tasks, keeping track of their own capacity and ensuring timely completion of assigned tasks; 

• Ability to multi-task and quickly adjust priorities to meet sometimes unexpected or competing deadlines; 

• Communicate case status with clients and the responsible lawyer and update them progress of the case/matter. Present case summaries/updates, and ensure that deadlines are met;  

• Tracking data and metrics and client intake;  

• Self-starting and proactive work ethic; 

• May be required to perform receptionist tasks by handling phone calls and email inquiries 

OUR IDEAL CANDIDATE: 

• Has a Bachelor’s Degree (required) or higher; 
• A minimum of one year experience in assisting Canadian immigration matters as a legal assistant or case manager 
• Is very organized and detail-oriented; 
• Is a great multi-tasker with customer service skills; 
• Required: The Applicant must be willing to work from our physical offices a minimum of four days a week. The office is accessible by Patterson Skytrain Station and several bus lines. The cost of a monthly transit pass can be reimbursed (if required). 
• Required: Has at least one year experience as a legal assistant, paralegal, or in immigration processing/courts. 
• Preferred: A pre-law student with a future interest of practicing as a Canadian immigration lawyer and articling at Heron Law Offices 
• Preferred: Has enrolled in or graduated from a recognized paralegal program. 
• Preferred: Knowledge of Mandarin and/or Cantonese is an asset. 

REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS: 

• We intend to offer a competitive salary with a range between CDN $48,000 – CDN $53,000.  

• We are in the process of developing a benefits plan. 
• Performance-based bonus pay is available.

Application Close Date: ONGOING

 We are committed to hiring in a manner that serves the communities we represent.  

 Preference will be provided to Indigenous applicants, people of color, all genders, LGBT2Q+, and persons with disabilities.  Please let us know if any accommodations are required, as they will be provided upon request during the selection process. 

TO APPLY: We ask prospective candidates to email lawyers@heronlaw.ca with their brief cover letter (12-point font, Times New Roman, max. 2 pages including a description of why you think you are a good fit for the position), current resume, two references, and a short writing sample by 9 October 2024. Interviews will take place on a rolling basis starting 23 September or when a candidate has been found.  

Important: Please title your email subject: “LAST NAME – Case Manager Position Job Application – HLO”