Immigration Legal Assistant

Are you a legal administrative professional who wants to step into a role where your organizational skills, creativity, and passion for helping others make a real impact? Are you energized by the possibility of joining a collaborative, people-focused team where no two days are the same and your contributions genuinely matter?

McInnes Cooper is looking for a motivated and proactive Immigration Legal Assistant to join our immigration team in a full-time, permanent role. This position offers flexibility to work in person, remote or in a hybrid model from any of our seven office locations - Halifax, Sydney, St. John's, Fredericton, Moncton, Saint John, or Charlottetown. As an integral part of our immigration team, you'll manage cases from start to finish, coordinate client communications, and keep our files and processes running smoothly - all while supporting a team that thrives on collaboration, innovation, and shared success.

As an Immigration Legal Assistant, you will be responsible for:

• Managing matters from start to finish, including opening and closing files, initiating conflict checks, and maintaining accurate client information in firm systems.
• Supporting billing and financial administration, including preparing trust deposits, processing invoices and payments, and liaising with clients regarding billing instructions.
• Communicating with clients and third parties, scheduling meetings, assisting with document signing, and setting up secure portals for information exchange.
• Handling immigration-specific documentation, including preparing and updating forms, compiling retainer letters, submitting case-specific inquiries, and managing government portal communications.
• Maintaining and organizing physical and electronic files, coordinating document flow, and ensuring compliance with firm and regulatory requirements.
• Working in a team environment to assist in the daily functions of an immigration practice group while being creative, sharing ideas, learning from others, and contributing your skills and knowledge.
• Challenging yourself and your team every day-and having fun while doing so!

The successful candidate will possess the following skill set:

• The ideal candidate will have a Legal Administration or Paralegal diploma; however, we recognize that historical and systemic barriers have shaped and limited access to traditional education, training, and employment pathways for many individuals, particularly those from marginalized communities. As such, we welcome applicants who bring a combination of skills, knowledge, and lived experience.
• Exceptional time management; excels in a demanding, fast-paced environment, highly detail-oriented, and flexible to changing priorities.
• Exceptional technology skills, with proficiency in all aspects of Microsoft Office.
• Exceptional communication skills, including empathy and a special focus on client service with the highest degree of professionalism; and,
• Working in a team environment, the successful candidate will be a strong team player with high personal integrity.

Our team members have access to:

• Defined-benefit pension plan.
• Firm-paid health and dental benefits.
• Health spending account.
• Personal spending account (wellness).
• Commuting allowance.
• Time for you:
  • Including vacation, personal and sick days.
• Balancing life:
  • Work from home / flex work options available for many team members.
• Our Team - we can't say enough about our people! You will be part of a collaborative, collegial, respectful and caring team; and,
• The opportunity to participate in a variety of teams, including AccessMC, Collective Social Responsibility, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Occupational Health & Safety, Pride@MC, Special Events, Wellness, and more!

McInnes Cooper is committed to building an environment that is diverse and inclusive, representative of the communities in which we serve. We welcome and encourage applications from persons who identify as racially visible, Indigenous, persons with disabilities, women in underrepresented roles and members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Applicants from these equity groups may self-identify through our on-line application process.

As part of the recruitment process, MC will provide accommodation(s) to candidates with disabilities. If you require an accommodation(s) to participate in the recruitment process with us, please contact Alana Burgess at [email protected] or 902.455.8260.