Paralegal - Farmworker Rights Project

Iowa Legal Aid’s Farmworker Rights Project is seeking applicants for a full-time Paralegal. Our dynamic, collaborative team fights to protect agricultural workers who are uniquely vulnerable to unfair labor practices and conditions, substandard housing, sexual harassment and discrimination, and labor trafficking. We empower workers to understand their rights through outreach and education. The ideal applicant is passionate about working with low income and migrant farmworkers and is comfortable and competent using both English and Spanish.

BACKGROUND: The Farmworker Rights Project provides civil legal assistance to low-income agricultural workers throughout Iowa. Our clients include migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their families. Farmworkers face many legal problems related to their status as agricultural workers, including issues related to employment, wages, labor, health and safety, housing, and harassment. The Farmworker Rights Project has a robust outreach presence, particularly during the summer months, traveling around the state to reach workers where they live and work.

RESPONSIBILITIES: This paralegal will provide overall support to Farmworker Rights Project attorneys, including:

• Assistance with intake, including initial applications for legal help and related interviews and forms.
• Litigation support, including drafting correspondence, discovery and simple pleadings, and other tasks as directed and supervised by a licensed attorney.
• Document organization and related tasks.
• Assisting in the management of case management systems.
• Possible representation of clients in administrative hearings (such as unemployment).
• Developing outreach plans, preparing outreach materials in English and Spanish, and conducting in-person outreach with the Farmworker Rights team at the times and places most likely to reach farmworkers, which can include evening work and statewide travel.
• Other duties as assigned, depending on project and office needs.

LOCATION: Iowa Legal Aid serves clients in all 99 Iowa counties through offices in Cedar Rapids, Council Bluffs, Davenport, Des Moines, Dubuque, Iowa City, Mason City, Ottumwa, Sioux City and Waterloo. The Farmworkers Rights Project is statewide. We will consider applicants available to work from any of our offices.

QUALIFICATIONS: Candidates must have an associate or bachelor’s degree. Preference will be given to applicants with a paralegal degree, and/or equivalent experience working as a paralegal. Given the composition of Iowa’s agricultural workforce, fluency in Spanish and English is strongly preferred.

OPENING/CLOSING DATE: Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.

SALARY/BENEFITS: The salary range for this position is $41,873 – 66,092, depending on years of relevant experience. Excellent fringe benefits, including a generous leave, insurance, and retirement package. A language skills compensation differential ($1,500/year) may be available to qualified candidates.

Excellent fringe benefits, including a generous leave, insurance, and retirement package. A language skills compensation differential ($1,500/year) may be available to qualified candidates.

fluency in Spanish and English is strongly preferred.