Bilingual Attorney (Cannabis Worker Resilience Partnership)
The OLC Farmworker Program seeks an attorney for an innovative partnership to support cannabis industry workers in Oregon.
The Cannabis Worker Resilience Partnership is a holistic, multi-agency collaboration to support workers in the illegal cannabis industry facing wage theft, labor trafficking, dangerous work conditions and retaliation. The Partnership includes community-based organizations providing humanitarian assistance, legal services programs engaging in outreach, community education and legal representation and mental health organizations providing support and referrals. The positions are funded through the end of 2025.
OLC is a legal services program committed to achieving justice for the low-income communities of Oregon by providing a full range of the highest quality civil legal services. OLC operates eleven regional offices, a state support unit, legislative advocacy unit, and statewide farmworker program. OLC is committed to achieving justice for the low-income communities of Oregon. Our client communities include people of color, farmworkers, LGBTQIA+ people, immigrants, seniors, people with lived experiences of homelessness, veterans, people with disabilities, and people from other underrepresented groups. It is essential to our work to serve clients that we also work to create an inclusive and respectful workplace in which differences are acknowledged and valued. OLC is actively working to build an organizational culture that centers racial equity
OLC’s Gresham Farmworker office comprises three attorneys (including one managing attorney) and one community educator/outreach worker as part of a larger Farmworker Program. The Farmworker Program sets priorities according to client need; current priorities include employment, occupational safety and health, housing, and civil rights. Most of our clients speak Spanish or one of the indigenous languages native to Mexico and Central America, such as Mixteco, Triqui, Zapoteco, Mam, and Akateco. They experience a wide variety of legal problems, including unpaid wages, inadequate housing, unsafe work conditions including excessive heat, hazardous chemicals, violence, and sexual harassment. The most common form of discrimination they face is retaliation for asserting their legal protections.
Position Description:
This is a unique and exciting opportunity to work with partners to provide innovative legal assistance to immigrant workers in the cannabis industry. Together with the low-wage, contingent and immigrant workers we represent, we will work to dismantle structural racism and inequities and help eradicate extremely exploitative working conditions. The central activities of the position are client counseling and representation, outreach and education, support of worker-led advocacy, public education, and collaboration with legal and community partners. While primarily focused on workers’ rights law, the attorney will support some workers with immigration legal needs, including screening for possible referrals and supporting them with affirmative- relief based on their employment cases. We are looking for an attorney committed to strategically using their legal training to create long-term change for working people.
The position requires the ability to work well with colleagues and a variety of external partners including unions, civil and immigrants’ rights organizations, law enforcement agencies and community and advocacy groups.
- Demonstrated ability to take direction and guidance from low-income clients and their self-identified priorities;
- Experience working with diverse communities and demonstrated cultural competence in addressing the legal needs of immigrant workers;
- Commitment to developing litigation and other advocacy skills;
- A high degree of initiative and ability to manage a litigation caseload;
- Excellent communication, writing, organizational and research skills;
- Ability to work independently and as a team player;
- Ability to think creatively and a willingness to implement unconventional legal strategies to blaze new legal trails;
- Demonstrated commitment to social justice, as well as a desire to disrupt existing systems of oppression;
- Willingness to work irregular hours on occasion to meet the needs of clients;
- Proficiency in spoken and written Spanish; and
- Oregon bar accreditation, or ability and willingness to obtain it as soon as possible.
Preferred qualifications:
- Demonstrated litigation skills.
- Experience in employment law.
- Demonstrated commitment to workers’ rights
Review of applications and interviews will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.
Please send a cover letter, resume, writing sample and a list of three references to Julie Samples, Oregon Law Center at jsamples@oregonlawcenter.org.
OLC strives to be an affirming, positive, diverse work environment and are an equal opportunity employer. We strongly encourage applicants who will contribute to our diversity and/or who come from our client communities to apply.
Salary/Benefits:
Set salary scale ranges from $65,500 to $102,500 and placement on the scale is determined by years of relevant experience as an attorney. Additional compensation for bilingual ability. Competitive benefits package includes individual and family health, vision and dental insurance coverage, employer retirement contribution, generous paid holidays, vacation and sick leave, and paid moving expenses, among others.