Staff Attorney (Farmworker Rights)
For 40 years Nevada Legal Services (NLS) has strengthened communities across Nevada by ensuring fairness and providing equal access to justice. We are a non-profit legal aid organization providing free legal services to low income people in every county in Nevada. Our primary source of funding is through a grant from the federal Legal Services Corporation.
Nevada Legal Services currently has an opening for a Farmworker Rights Attorney (FRA) in our Reno office.
The FRA represents migrant and seasonal farmworkers in a variety of legal issues, including housing, employment and immigration. This position will also involve potential litigation in federal courts to secure our clients’ rights under the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Agricultural Worker Protection Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 1981 and 1983, the Federal H-2A Guest Worker Program, as well as state contract, wage-and-hour and tort claims. The FRA also represents clients in relation to housing, consumer law, and public benefits, and assists victims of trafficking and severe crimes with obtaining immigration relief. In addition to providing direct representation, the FRA conducts extensive outreach and community education presentations to farmworkers and service providers throughout Nevada.
Our farmworker project is relatively new and the FRA will have a lot of flexibility to create a robust and meaningful farmworker program in Nevada. Nevada Legal Services is the only legal services organization providing services to farmworkers in Nevada. While this project is expanded, the FRA will also be expected to assist with state eviction and housing related cases as well.
Compensation and Benefits:
DOE the Staff Attorneys’ starting salary is $50,000 - $68,000. Nevada Legal Services offers an excellent paid health insurance and paid leave package. This is a full-time position requiring 34 hours per week.
- We seek candidates with strong legal research, writing, and oral advocacy skills. Applicants should be passionate about workers’ rights, eager to work closely with clients and excited to maintain our standards of high-quality work product. Spanish language skills are preferred but not required.
- Applicants should be licensed to practice in Nevada or in another state and eligible for admission pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 72.1.
- J.D. from ABA accredited law school.
- Excellent communication skills and experience addressing a variety of audiences.
- Capability to work with low-income clients from diverse backgrounds and clients with limited English proficiency.
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until 2/26/21. Provide cover letter explaining interest, resume, references and writing sample. Email Roberta O'Hara, Human Resources, at rohara@nlslaw.net and reference “Reno FR Staff Attorney” in the subject line.
Nevada Legal Services (NLS) is committed to a policy of equal opportunity and fosters an environment free of barriers and discriminatory practices. NLS actively promotes mutual respect, acceptance, teamwork and productivity. NLS is committed to maintaining an organization whose staff, Board and clients are diverse in background, experience, race, color, national origin, gender, age, religious reference, marital status, sexual orientation, sensory, mental or physical abilities, veteran status, and other qualities that strengthen the program while reinforcing its commitment to basic fairness. People of color, people who identify as transgender, lesbian, gay, or bisexual, and those with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply. Individuals needing a reasonable accommodation for the application, interview process or for more information about the program may send a request to the email address provided.