To see full posting, including more information on the Farmworker Project, please go to Legal Action of Wisconsin career page: https://legalaction.org/careers/
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
• Provide high quality, zealous representation of agricultural worker clients in structural advocacy and individual service cases. Areas of focus are employment law, particularly enforcement of rights under the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act, and other state and federal laws providing protections for agricultural workers;
• Represent agricultural workers in administrative law matters, in areas such as labor standards and equal rights complaints with the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, worker’s compensation cases, immigration applications for survivors of worker rights abuses, and unemployment insurance appeal hearings;
• Review farmworker intakes, make determinations on available remedies and provide follow-up services, including but not limited to referral, advice and counsel, brief services, and litigation;
• Stay current with the areas of law that pertain to the agricultural worker community as the law changes and develops;
• Share responsibility for the development and maintenance of good working relationships with community groups, as well as with state and local bar associations;
• Provide training and other assistance to members of Legal Action's Volunteer Lawyer Project, as called upon;
• Serve on at least one of Legal Action’s Priority Committees: Housing, Employment, Consumer, Public Benefits, and Family;
• Participate in the firm’s efforts to improve diversity, equity, and inclusiveness and to undertake racial justice legal work;
• Ability and willingness to travel to visit Farmworker Project clients, as needed, and on occasion, approximately 1 time per month during the summer months, travel to conduct outreach to clients and community partners. For attorneys without prior experience representing farmworkers, additional outreach may be required during the training period.
• Staff attorneys may be assigned additional duties occasionally, as the needs of agricultural worker clients vary.
Required – The following qualifications are required at hire:
• Juris Doctorate Degree;
• Be licensed to practice law in Wisconsin, be licensed in a state with which Wisconsin could grant reciprocal admission, or be willing to take the next available Wisconsin bar exam, in that order of preference;
• Strong Spanish language skills (oral and written). Candidates should expect a portion of the interview to be conducted in Spanish and a job offer will be contingent on passing a language proficiency test proctored by Language Line;
• Demonstrated engagement with social, economic, and racial justice, especially in the areas of worker and/or immigrant rights;
• Enthusiasm to combine direct client representation with a focus on law development and structural advocacy change;
• Ability to communicate both orally and in writing in a clear manner, as well as commitment to ongoing improvement of written and oral advocacy skills;
• Ability to manage and prioritize many pressing matters;
• Strong engagement and interest in developing creative and new ideas to solve problems, achieve goals, and collaborate;
• Willingness to work evening and weekend hours, as clients' needs dictate. Hours worked outside regular business day can be flexed within the same work week. Out of state or overnight travel for outreach or training is rare but may occur 1-2 times per year;
• Possess and maintain a valid driver’s license during employment (car not required).
Desired – The following qualifications are desired/preferred at hire:
• Minimum of 2 years of legal experience;
• Knowledge and appreciation of the complexity of farmworker experiences, the unique barriers to accessing justice, and the intricacies and multiple dimensions to providing legal aid and representation to farmworker communities;
• Experience in farmworker law and/or plaintiff-side employment law;
• Experience litigating in federal and/or state court, including complex cases with multiple clients.
• Experience litigating and making decisions as part of a team;
• Experience representing workers in administrative law matters;
• Experience giving and receiving feedback, as well as mentoring other attorneys, interns, volunteers or advocates, including on written work;
• Strong technology skills and/or willingness to further develop skills in technology such as: Westlaw and other electronic legal research, internet, email, web-based activities, Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, Adobe, Social Media Apps, Google Apps, texting applications, and phone data preservation;
• Affinity with farmworker communities.
HOW TO APPLY
Applicants must submit the following application materials via Legal Action of Wisconsin’s online applicant portal at https://legalaction.org/careers/
• Cover letter that summarizes interest, qualifications, skills, and experiences. Letter should specify which office
location(s) applicant would prefer;
• Resume;
• A legal writing sample;
• Provide the names and reliable contact information for three professional references.
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS
This position will be open until filled and review of applications will be conducted on a rolling basis. Interested applicants should submit materials as soon as possible to ensure consideration. Review of application materials will begin the week of September 9th, 2024.
Though we hope to fill the position as soon as possible, the start date may be flexible for qualified candidates who need to relocate and/or conclude current commitments. Interviews may be conducted virtually or in-person.
NLADA Mutual Insurance Co., RRG
