Staff Attorney - Immigrants & Workers’ Rights (Farmworker Project)

Legal Aid Chicago•Chicago, IL

6d•$69,433 - $77,090•Hybrid

About The Position

For over 50 years, Legal Aid Chicago has provided free civil legal assistance to people living in poverty in metropolitan Chicago. Each year our attorneys, volunteers, and staff help resolve civil legal problems, including domestic violence, consumer fraud, and unfair evictions. Legal Aid Chicago was founded on the philosophy that all individuals are entitled to quality civil legal representation, regardless of their income. We work to ensure that poverty is not an impediment to justice. Legal Aid Chicago offers a hybrid work environment. Our office, located in downtown Chicago at 200 N. LaSalle Street, is ADA accessible and has convenient access to public transportation and local expressways. This position may require travel to court or other outreach events. Position: Legal Aid Chicago’s Immigrants & Workers’ Rights Practice Group (“IWR”) seeks a full-time Staff Attorney to provide direct legal services and outreach to migrant and seasonal agricultural workers who work in Illinois. This position reports to either a Supervising Attorney or Director. The attorney will work with staff of Legal Aid Chicago’s IWR Practice Group, which provides legal services statewide. IWR consists of four projects: Farmworker Legal Assistance, Immigration, Employment, and Human Trafficking.

Requirements

Applicants must have a J.D. degree and be a member of the Illinois bar or have taken the Illinois bar by fall 2026.
The successful applicant will be collegial, well-organized, and demonstrate a commitment to and experience with our client communities and/or people living in poverty, especially in issues affecting migrant and seasonal farm workers, and applicants are encouraged to share that experience in their cover letter.
Applicants must have Spanish fluency, a driver’s license and good driving record, excellent communication skills, the ability to work well under pressure, and a commitment to working with a diverse team of advocates.

Responsibilities

Provide comprehensive legal services to agricultural worker clients with employment law related matters, including unemployment, wage theft, discrimination, unlawful working and housing conditions, human trafficking, and pesticide exposure, and immigration law matters including labor-based U visas and T visas for survivors of human trafficking
Represent agricultural workers in administrative complaints and state or federal litigation
Conduct community outreach throughout Illinois to migrant agricultural workers
Train stakeholders on identifying the legal needs of agricultural worker clients
Make appropriate referrals to outside agencies
Attend training and maintain up-to-date knowledge of current farmworker law issues
Assist with grant reporting requirements
Help supervise law student interns
Other duties as determined by the Supervising Attorney and Director.

Benefits

This position is part of the National Organization of Legal Services Workers, UAW Local 2320. The Collective Bargaining Agreement sets employment terms and compensation is determined by the CBA salary scale, based on paid experience.
The budgeted salary range for this position is $69,433-$77,090, which reflects 0-10 years of paid, credited experience.
Bilingual Staff Attorneys are eligible for an additional stipend
Medical, dental, and vision insurance, effective the first day of employment
Time Off: 15 vacation days and 18 sick days accrued within the first year of employment
19 paid holidays, including four (4) floating holidays
Twelve weeks of Paid Parental Leave at 100% of the salary after six months of employment
403(b) retirement plan with an employer contribution after one year of employment
$50,000 Basic Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment insurance, at no cost
Access to Employee Assistance Program resources, at no cost
Monthly internet reimbursement
Legal Aid Chicago is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and is an eligible employer for the federal public service loan forgiveness program