Regional Outreach Paralegal, Pennsylvania Farmworker Project

BACKGROUND:

The Pennsylvania Farmworker Project (PFP) is a unit of Philadelphia Legal Assistance (PLA), a Legal Services Corporation (LSC) funded program. PFP provides legal representation to the agricultural worker population throughout Pennsylvania. The vast majority of farmworkers are monolingual Spanish speakers who migrate to Pennsylvania from other parts of the U.S., Mexico, and Central America.

Pennsylvania is home to “The Mushroom Capital of the World” –Kennett Square. The city and its surroundings in Chester County is the center of Pennsylvania’s mushroom industry, which accounts for approximately 60 percent of United States production. Farmworkers play a crucial role in picking and processing mushrooms. This position will focus on building connections in and around Kennett Square and conducting outreach around the employment rights of agricultural workers in the area.

The successful candidate will have a variety of responsibilities as part of a team of legal professionals, including:

• Planning and executing an outreach strategy focused on the mushroom industry in Chester County;
• Conducting outreach visits to farm labor camps in and around Chester County;
• Recruiting volunteers to assist with outreach trips to farm labor camps;
• Engaging in community education and “know your rights” presentations at farm labor camps and with local groups that serve the needs of farmworkers;
• Responding to phone calls from farmworkers and screening them for violations of their workplace rights;
• Creating and maintaining educational materials for dissemination to the migrant community;
• Building institutional relationships and maintaining existing relationships with community-based groups that serve the needs of the migrant community in and around Chester County;
• Maintaining relationships with governmental partners;
• Screening agricultural workers for potential immigration relief, including that available under the U- and T-visa programs;
• Coordinating and managing case referrals;
• Providing periodic litigation support.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Fluency in written and spoken Spanish;
• Residency in or proximity to Chester County;
• Ability to work nights and weekends;
• Strong organizational and task management skills;
• Ability to communicate effectively in writing and verbally in English and Spanish;
• Excellent interpersonal and leadership skills;
• Previous experience working with farmworkers or immigrant communities;
• Driver’s license and both a willingness and ability to engage in frequent travel;
• Exceptional attention to detail;
• A sincere and strong commitment to social justice; and
• Ability to work remotely.

Application Process:

Philadelphia Legal Assistance (PLA) is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applicants of all backgrounds to apply. PLA does not discriminate in the selection of employees on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, sexual identity, genetics, age, national origin, disability, or veteran status. In addition to federal law requirements, PLA complies with all applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall and transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

PLA offers a generous benefits package in addition to salary: health insurance premiums paid in full for employee and family; cash incentives for health insurance opt out; vacation, personal, and sick leave; thirteen (13) paid holidays; 403(b) retirement plan with employer contribution; life insurance; and short- and long-term disability benefits.

Fluency in written and spoken Spanish;