Supervising Attorney

Michigan Advocacy Program•Kalamazoo, MI

3d•$72,520•Hybrid

About The Position

Farmworker Legal Services (FLS) is seeking a Supervising Attorney to help lead its dynamic and committed team in providing high quality civil legal services to farmworkers and animal production workers throughout Michigan. The Supervising Attorney will have the opportunity to engage in high-impact litigation affecting farmworkers, direct work on cases, supervise attorneys and other staff, oversee grant reporting and contract delivery, train staff and partners, and engage in decision-making to further advance the intended impact and theory of change for the organization. Ideally, the Supervising Attorney will be based out of our Kalamazoo or Ypsilanti (Ann Arbor) office with a flexible remote work schedule option. DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAM: Farmworker Legal Services (FLS) is a growing and nationally recognized non-profit law office and the statewide division of the Michigan Advocacy Program (MAP) that fights for justice and dignity alongside the farmworker community through our systemic, multi-forum community engagement and direct legal representation of farmworkers in their civil legal matters. FLS currently has 12 full-time staff positions based out of our Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids, and Ypsilanti (Ann Arbor area) offices and hires around 8 seasonal advocates each summer. FLS attorneys litigate complex wage and hour, multi-party employment, discrimination, and human trafficking cases in Michigan state and federal courts and provide a full range of civil legal services to Michigan’s eligible population of farmworkers and their dependents in matters such as: housing, T or U-visa applications for victims of employment-based crimes, workers’ compensation, public benefits, workplace health and safety, and unemployment administrative proceedings. MAP works to advance the safety, independence, and economic stability of those most affected by poverty, racism, and other structurally oppressive systems by increasing access to justice and working for systemic solutions and has a staff of about 220 people in offices in Battle Creek, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Grand Rapids, Monroe, and Ypsilanti. Visit www.miadvocacy.org and www.farmworkerlaw.org for more information.

Requirements

Licensed to practice law in Michigan or qualify to be admitted by waiver
Demonstrate commitment to low-income individuals, farmworkers, immigrants, or victims of crime
Administrative and supervisory experience and five years of legal experience
Willingness to occasionally work a flexible schedule that may include travel and evening or weekend work
Demonstrate success working effectively in teams as well as independently to meet multiple deadlines
Excellent communication skills in English as well as analytical and problem-solving skills
Reside in Michigan during employment

Nice To Haves

Experience litigating at state or federal level
Working knowledge in employment and labor law, the U.S. immigration system, the agricultural industry, farmworker advocacy, or legal services
Ability to effectively communicate, orally and in writing, in Spanish and/or proficiency in Haitian Creole or indigenous languages native to Mexico or Central America

Responsibilities

Engage in high-impact litigation affecting farmworkers
Direct work on cases
Supervise attorneys and other staff
Oversee grant reporting and contract delivery
Train staff and partners
Engage in decision-making to further advance the intended impact and theory of change for the organization

Benefits

Salary starts at $72,520 and increases based on years of relevant experience.
MAP offers annual raises as well as a 401K retirement plan with an annual 2% contribution and 2% employer-match for eligible staff after 6 months of employment and subject to board approval.
MAP offers a generous benefits package, including life, short and long term disability, health, vision, dental, fully funded deductibles, and flexible spending accounts.
If an applicant does not require health benefits, they can take an annual $1,500 payout in addition to the base salary paid over the year.
MAP also has a generous leave policy allowing staff to accrue 4 weeks paid leave the first year in addition to 15 paid holidays.
MAP is a unionized program and a qualifying employer for Public Service Loan Forgiveness.

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