CIS Legal Service Counselor I

Chinese American Service League

CIS Legal Service Counselor I helping immigrant and refugee families navigate the path to citizenship in Chicago. Providing accurate information and essential application assistance for community members.

Posted 4/17/2026full-timeChicago • Illinois • 🇺🇸 United StatesMid-LevelSenior💰 $40,000 - $42,000 per yearWebsite

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Provide clients with accurate information about USCIS application procedures, ensuring compliance with legal standards without providing legal interpretation.
Assist clients in completing immigration forms based on their provided information, avoiding legal advice on form responses.
Collect and verify supporting documents for client applications, ensuring completeness and accuracy.
Monitor and follow up on clients' application statuses, providing timely updates and assistance as needed.
Refer clients to appropriate programs, both within and outside the agency, for specialized support.
Direct clients to the agency’s DOJ-accredited representatives for legal services when necessary.

Requirements

What you’ll need

Associate degree with at least 4 years of working experience, or
High School diploma or GED equivalent is required with at least 5 years of related working experience.
Strong interest in working with clients of all ages, demonstrating empathy and cultural sensitivity
Bilingual proficiency in spoken and written English and Chinese (Cantonese preferred, Mandarin and/or Toishanese a plus), Spanish a plus
Demonstrates flexibility and adaptability in a dynamic environment, with the ability to adjust to changing client needs and program requirements.
Strong problem-solving skills, with the ability to think critically and find creative solutions to client challenges and service delivery obstacles.
Basic computer proficiency, including Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel), data entry and web navigation
Basic end-user level understanding and experience with Salesforce is a plus.

Benefits

Comp & perks

Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage
Retirement Plan
Generous Paid Time Off (PTO)
11+ Paid Holidays, including Lunar New Year and Juneteenth
Flexible Spending Account (FSA) & Health Savings Account (HSA)
Life Insurance, AD&D, and Disability Coverage
Voluntary Worksite Benefits and Pet Insurance
Commuter Benefits
Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for you and your household

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills & Tools

immigration forms completiondocument verificationapplication monitoringclient assistanceproblem-solvingdata entryweb navigation

Soft Skills

empathycultural sensitivityflexibilityadaptabilitycritical thinkingcreativity