Staff Attorney – Migrant Farmworker Unit

About the role

The primary purpose of this position is to provide civil legal assistance to eligible low-income farmworkers and their families located throughout the state of Florida. The focus will be on legal issues involving employment, housing, public benefits, and individual rights.

Responsibilities

• Interviews, certifies eligibility, and identifies the legal problems of FRLS’s clients within a specific area of law and provides clients with appropriate legal assistance in the form of advice, referrals, or actual representation.
• This includes comprehensive legal services related to employment law, including unemployment, wage theft, discrimination, housing, labor-based U-visas, and labor trafficking.
• Participates in community outreach and education.
• Represents clients in court and before administrative agencies as accepted.
• Provides documentation, statistical information and other records as required by the Managing Attorney, Deputy Director, or Executive Director.
• Participates in case acceptance meetings.
• Participates in training to keep up CLE’s and required and legally relevant training as may be provided by the program and as mandated by Florida Bar rules.
• Adheres to office hours, exhibits a strong work ethic and excellent time management skills, communicates, and treats clients and staff with courtesy and respect, provides constructive feedback to other advocates (paralegals) on cases discussed.
• Serves as a role model to support staff by promoting the values of hard work, high quality advocacy and treating others with courtesy and respect.
• Attempts to ensure accessibility of the local office(s) when necessary, by serving clients, including rural clients, non-English speaking clients and client with disabilities.
• Promotes good relations with the public, including client groups, service providers, press, and private bars, attending/speaking at local meetings as appropriate and approved by the Managing Attorney, Deputy Director and/or Executive Director.
• Is familiar with FRLS policies, as well as requirements of LSC and other funders, and adheres to those policies and requirements.
• Maintains an accurate follow-up system to review cases when needed.
• Participates in training other staff members in identifying legal needs of farmworker clients.
• Develops and maintains relationships with other agencies serving farm workers and engages in joint referral and training opportunities.
• Maintains up-to-date knowledge of legal issues currently affecting farm workers.

Qualifications

• Paralegal certification or equivalent experience.
• Experience working with farmworkers and understanding the unique challenges they face.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.
• Knowledge of Florida Bar rules and regulations.

Skills

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to travel to various locations within Florida.

Benefits

FRLS offers a competitive salary, comprehensive benefits package, and professional development opportunities.

Pay

$45,000 - $50,000 annually.

Schedule

Full-time, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM.