Paralegal - CM Program

Thank you for considering a career with the Research Foundation of The City University of New York (RFCUNY).

The team at RFCUNY is made up of dedicated, talented professionals committed to providing the services that allow CUNY researchers, faculty, and staff to focus on their intellectual curiosity and scientific discoveries.

We are pleased that you are interested in exploring opportunities to join RFCUNY.

Primary Location:

OFFICE OF SR VC FOR UNIVERSITY RELATIONS

Bargaining Unit:

No

Position Summary

Reporting to the Managing Attorney for the City Council Program and working under the direction of the Supervising Attorney, the Paralegal provides support to immigrants seeking assistance with citizenship and applications within the program’s Scope of Services. The Paralegal demonstrates strong research, investigative, counseling, interviewing, and organizational skills. The role requires knowledge of immigration laws, policies, practices, forms, and procedures.

The candidate must have the flexibility to commute in the NYC area and be able to perform in

different environments.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Prepare immigration applications/petitions for attorney review
• Work with participants to gather information and documentation
• Provide information and assistance to participants
• Follow office procedures and protocol
• Update case notes and completes intakes on case management system
• Submit all cases to attorneys for case review
• Organize and maintain participant paper and electronic files
• Maintain shared appointment calendar with staff attorney
• Attend weekly and monthly staff meetings
• Assist with community-based immigration outreach, including tabling and presentations
• Asist with other administrative tasks, as needed
• This hybrid position follows a 70/30 onsite-to-remote schedule, requiring 3 onsite days one week and 4 onsite days the next, on an alternating basis.
• Other duties as assigned

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Bachelor’s degree and 2 years relevant experience in immigration law
• Commitment to protecting the rights of low-income immigrants is strongly desired
• Flexibility to commute in the NYC area
• Ability to handle and resolve concerns in a courteous and professional manner
• Skilled to document and identify appropriate immigration laws to the supervising attorney and to understand legal terminology
• Second language requirement is preferred
• Excellent writing, verbal, and computer skills
• Able to establish priorities, work independently, and proceed with objectives
• The ideal candidate must be detail-oriented, highly flexible, and self-motivated
• Willingness to work one Saturday a month and occasional evenings

Please send your resume and cover letter to Fatima Vacacela at Fatima.Vacacela@cuny.edu by October 25th, 2026. Subject line should read: “CN Full Time Paralegal”

Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

Pay Range:

Minimum - Maximum: $45,500

RFCUNY Benefits
RFCUNY Employee Benefits and Accruals

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
The Research Foundation of the City University of New York is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Americans with Disabilities Act/E-Verify Employer. It is the policy of the Research Foundation of CUNY to provide equal employment opportunities free of discrimination based on race, color, age, religion, sex, pregnancy, childbirth, national origin, disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, domestic violence victim status, arrest record, criminal conviction history, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.

About Us

The Research Foundation of The City University of New York (RFCUNY) is a nonprofit educational corporation founded in 1963 to provide post-award fiscal and administrative support for CUNY’s research and sponsored programs. RFCUNY’s services allow CUNY researchers, faculty, and staff to focus on their intellectual curiosity and scientific discoveries, on projects and programs that serve our local and global communities, proposing concrete solutions to society’s most pressing challenges.

RFCUNY serves as a fiscal agent and works closely with all the CUNY campus Grants Offices to perform the core functions of post-award financial management for CUNY research projects and sponsored programs. These functions include legal assessment and signing of agreements where RFCUNY is named as a fiscal agent; setting up award accounts; preparing sub-awards and assisting PIs in monitoring the work of the recipients of sub-awards; supporting project directors with hiring and managing research project and sponsored program staff; supporting the purchasing and paying for goods and services with grant and program funds; managing financial aspects of projects including accounts receivable, financial reporting, invoicing, budget monitoring, and cost compliance with uniform guidance; ensuring that sponsor financial requirements are met; monitoring compliance with applicable project and financial management rules and laws; supporting the management of independent and external audits and financial reviews; and providing data, information, management expertise, and other supports to CUNY’s research and sponsored programs.