This Staff Attorney will provide poverty law services to clients who are migrant farm workers or other agricultural workers and eviction prevention services to low income clients. Poverty law services for agricultural/migrant workers will include, but not be limited to, wage claims, immigration, legal issues related to domestic violence, housing and public benefits. Our clients may include foreign migrant farm workers with federal H-2A visas and any other workers whose income derives from agricultural labor in Montana. Travel throughout Montana is required. The Attorney is responsible for building an outreach campaign, as well as providing advice and representation to eligible clients in Montana.
- Interview, advise, and represent eligible clients on civil matters.
- Develop and maintain specialized knowledge of the special legal issues faced by migrant farm workers.
- Develop and maintain specialized knowledge of housing law and general poverty law issues.
- Provide services ranging from brief counsel and advice, to more extended representation on core legal issues affecting MLSA clients, both in-person and by phone.
- Compose correspondence, pleadings and other documents.
- Research the law and prepare memoranda.
- Work with other MLSA staff to recruit, train and support pro bono attorneys when appropriate.
- Participate in MLSA’s statewide initiatives and impact work, and implement grant and contract requirements through casework.
- Conduct outreach to agricultural workers, including events at county fairs, harvests, and other similar events, and develop a statewide outreach plan.
- Support the development of legal resources in the area of housing law.
- Collaborate with community partners and communicate with local organizations and businesses regarding MLSA services who also work with migrant farm workers and eviction prevention.
- Other duties as assigned by the Director of Advocacy or Executive Director.
- Law Degree and current license to practice law in Montana or willingness to become licensed to practice in Montana.
- Ability to speak and write in Spanish, preferred
- Prior legal services experience, preferred.
- A willingness to assume a varied case load.
- An understanding of the civil legal needs of low-income people, including the unique needs of populations that experience particular barriers to access to justice systems.
- Knowledge of substantive legal areas affecting low-income people.
- Ability to work collaboratively with diverse groups of people with varying perspectives, experience and expertise.
- Ability and willingness to learn and integrate new technologies and methodologies to efficiently perform responsibilities.
- A willingness to establish and maintain effective relationships with clients, the public, judges, court personnel and the bar.
- Ability and willingness to work cooperatively and collegially within a decentralized statewide law firm.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to work independently in a deadline-oriented environment.
- A “can do” attitude and a willingness to pitch in where needed.
- Strong commitment to insuring equal access to justice.
- Proficient at the use of technology, including, but not limited to, word processing, spreadsheets, internet-based programs and computer-based legal research.
- Ability to travel within Montana and out of state, occasionally overnight.
$55,000/year and up DOE. MLSA offers an attractive benefits package, including health, dental, vision, and life insurance, retirement and educational loan repayment assistance.
Apply via https://montanalegalservices.bamboohr.com/jobs/view.php?id=25 or by emailing resume, cover letter, writing sample and references to [email protected].
Screening of applicants is ongoing. This position will remain open until filled.
MLSA is an equal opportunity employer and we consider the diversity of our staff to be vital to our organization's success. We strongly encourage and welcome people of all cultures, races, educational backgrounds, life experiences, socio-economic classes, sexual orientations, ages, genders, and physical abilities to apply.