Staff Attorney – Migrant Farmworker Unit

Mielegalaid; Immokalee (FL); On-site; USD 68,000 - 106,435; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance (medical, dental, vision)

403(b) with employer-paid contribution

Paid leave (up to 5 weeks of PTO, 2 personal days, and 13 holidays)

Law school loan repayment assistance

Job summary

Florida Rural Legal Services, Inc. is seeking a Staff Attorney for the Migrant Farmworker Unit to provide civil legal assistance to low-income farmworkers across Florida. The role requires a Juris Doctorate, knowledge of relevant legal practices, and compassion for clients. Responsibilities include client interviews, court representation, and community outreach. The position offers a salary range of $68,000-$106,435, excellent benefits including health insurance and 403(b) contributions, and operates in a hybrid work environment requiring in-office presence three days a week.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of state and federal court practices required.
• Some knowledge of the legal system and compassion for clients.
• Ability to work collaboratively and independently.

Responsibilities

• Provide civil legal assistance to farmworkers and their families.
• Interview and certify eligibility of clients for legal assistance.
• Represent clients in court and before administrative agencies.

Skills

Organizational skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Bilingual Spanish/Haitian Creole

Education

Juris Doctorate from an ABA accredited law school

Barred in Florida

Tools

Microsoft Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint)

CMS

Job description

Staff Attorney – Migrant Farmworker Unit

Florida Rural Legal Services, Inc. (FRLS) is a non-profit law firm that provides free civil legal aid to eligible individuals, families, and vulnerable communities across 13 Florida counties, as well as to farm workers statewide. Since 1966, FRLS has been dedicated to justice, offering legal services in housing law, family law, consumer protection, public benefits, elder law, disaster relief, education law, and more—at no cost to our clients. FRLS partners with community organizations and pro bono attorneys to provide quality advocacy, outreach, and education aimed at protecting the rights of those in need. For over 50 years, FRLS has been a steadfast advocate for justice. Learn more at www.FRLS.org.

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

Essential Functions

1. Interview, certify eligibility, and identify the legal problems of FRLS’s clients within a specific area of law and provide 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.
2. Participate in community outreach and education.
3. Represent clients in court and before administrative agencies as applicable.
4. Provide documentation, statistical information and other records as required by the Managing Attorney, Deputy Director, or Executive Director.
5. Participate in case acceptance meetings.
6. Participate in training to keep up with CLEs and other required and legally relevant training as may be provided by the program and as mandated by Florida Bar rules.
7. Adhere to office hours, exhibit a strong work ethic and excellent time management skills, communicate, and treat clients and staff with courtesy and respect, and provide constructive feedback to other advocates (paralegals) on cases discussed.
8. Serve as a role model to support staff by promoting the values of hard work, high‑quality advocacy, and treating others with courtesy and respect.
9. Attempt to ensure accessibility of the local office(s) when necessary, including serving rural clients, non‑English speaking clients and clients with disabilities.
10. Promote 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.
11. Be familiar with FRLS policies, as well as requirements of the LSC and other funders, and adhere to those policies and requirements.
12. Maintain an accurate follow‑up system to review cases when needed.
13. Participate in training other staff members in identifying legal needs of farmworker clients.
14. Develop and maintain relationships with other agencies serving farm workers and engage in joint referral and training opportunities.
15. Maintain up‑to‑date knowledge of legal issues currently affecting farm workers.
16. Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

1. Juris Doctorate from an ABA accredited law school.
2. Barred in Florida.
3. Knowledge of state and federal court practices required.
4. Some knowledge of the legal system, commitment to the mission of FRLS and compassion for the clients.
5. Ability to forge positive relationships with prospects and colleagues.
6. Good organizational, interpersonal and communication skills.
7. Ability to work collaboratively, yet independently.
8. Must be able to effectively and efficiently maximize existing resources.
9. Working knowledge of Microsoft Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint).
10. Knowledge of CMS a plus.
11. Must be able to effectively work in high‑pressure situations, which involve deadlines.
12. Bilingual Spanish/Haitian Creole preferred but not required.
13. Prior experience working with migrant and seasonal farm workers preferred.
14. Valid driver’s license and ability to drive throughout the state required.

Working Conditions

This position operates in a professional work environment.

Physical Requirements

1. This is a largely sedentary role, however, some lifting of office supplies up to 20 pounds may be required.
2. Must be able to travel throughout Florida, as needed.

Reports

1. No supervisory duties
2. Monthly progress reports

Salary and Benefits

The salary range for this position is $68,000-$106,435, which is based on a union scale and adjusted upward depending on experience. FRLS offers a very generous benefits package that includes 403(b) with employer‑paid contribution; health insurance (medical, dental, and vision) for employees and their dependents; malpractice insurance; paid leave (up to 5 weeks of PTO, 2 personal days, and 13 holidays); law school loan repayment assistance. FRLS Attorneys operate in a hybrid work environment, requiring advocates to work in their assigned office at least three days per week.