Spanish-Speaking Staff Attorney - Farmworker and Landscaper Advocacy Project (Chicago, IL)

SPANISH-SPEAKING STAFF ATTORNEY

Chicago, IL 

FARMWORKER AND LANDSCAPER ADVOCACY PROJECT

http://www.fwadvocacy.org

Date Posted: 01/09/2014
Job Type: ATTORNEY
Schedule Type: Full Time

Practice Areas: Employment/Labor, Farm Worker/Migrant Worker, Immigration, Litigation

Job Description

The Farmworker and Landscaper Advocacy Project (FLAP) is a small progressive plaintiff-side only, public interest law firm, -501(c)(3) non-profit organization-, committed to providing employment-related legal assistance to workers in agriculture, food production, nursery work, and landscaping in Illinois.
FLAP carries out this mission through outreach, litigation, community legal education, counsel and advice. FLAP together with experienced co-counsel have an active federal and state litigation docket involving a variety of employment issues (wage and hour). FLAP does not receive funding from the Federal Legal Services Corporation. For more information please check www.fwadvocacy.org and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xisFQ3DWrk

Position: FLAP is seeking to hire a Spanish-speaking staff attorney to assist with firm’s employment litigation docket working from its office in downtown Chicago, Illinois.

Responsibilities:

• 1) Maintain a caseload, 
• 2) Litigate and advocate in federal and state courts and agencies, 
• 3) Maintain regular contact with Spanish-speaking clients, 
• 4) Maintain relationships and coordinate effectively with co-counsel and other organizations, 
• 5) Supervise law student’s interns and externs and legal volunteers, 
• 6) Provide oral and written Spanish/English translation as needed, 
• 7) Assist with whatever additional tasks as directed by the Executive Director.

Qualifications

• 1) Juris Doctor is required; 
• 2) Fluency in both written and spoken English and Spanish is a must, 
• 3) Strong writing and oral communication and research skills are required, 
• 4) Demonstrated commitment to public interest law, social justice and immigrants’ rights, 
• 5) Litigation experience in the area of labor and employment is preferred, but not required, 
• 6) Ability to work with diverse audiences, including community advocates is required, 
• 7) previous experience working with farmworkers and/or landscapers beneficial for this position, along with other prior work that requires cultural sensitivity, 
• 8) Licensed to practice in Illinois, 
• 9) Admission or eligibility for admission to the Northern District Court of Illinois and willingness to complete the process as quickly as possible, 
• 10) Strong organizational skills, 
• 11) Ability to work independently, 
• 12) Outstanding communication skills, 
• 13) Individually motivated and able to keep momentum, 
• 14) Ability to multitask, 
• 15) Efficiency and prompt turn-around mandatory.

Salary

Pay and Benefits depend of experience and skills. FLAP offers health insurance and school loan reimbursement. Necessary equipment to perform job responsibilities will be provided.

Application Instructions:

Send your: 1) Resume, 2) Cover letter indicating your salary expectations and date when you could start working, 3) Writing samples (one in Spanish, one in English) and 4) Two references, via e-mail, to: Alexandra Sossa, Executive Director, 33 N. LaSalle, Suite 900, Chicago, IL 60602. asossa@fwadvocacy.org

Write: ‘Staff Attorney” in the subject line of the e-mail. The FLAP will not accept incomplete applications. No Phone calls please.
FAP is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Contact Information:

Alexandra Sossa, Executive Director
asossa@fwadvocacy.org
33 N. LaSalle, Suite 900
Chicago, IL 60602

This job posting was originally posted on PSJD.org