Find Summer Law Clerk - AWP Job in Saint Paul, Minnesota | Snaprecruit

Are you passionate about improving workers living and working conditions? Do want to use your skills to empower people? Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services, Inc. (SMRLS) is seeking one Summer Law Clerk to assist its Agricultural Worker Project. The position will be hybrid based out of SMRLS Central Office in Saint Paul, Minnesota or SMRLS Moorhead, Minnesota office with some remote work and will include significant travel throughout Minnesota.

Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services

SMRLS is a non-profit law firm which receives federal, state, local, public and private funding to provide free legal help to low income and elderly people who reside in 33 counties of southern Minnesota, as well as the areas served by its farmworker unit. SMRLS is a client-centered organization which is committed to its mission of providing a full range of high quality legal services, in a respectful manner which enable clients to enforce their legal rights; to maintain freedom from hunger, homelessness, sickness and abuse; and to empower persons and ensure equal opportunity, thus, helping persons to help themselves and to become economically self-reliant, to the extent their individual abilities and circumstances permit.

The Agricultural Worker Project

SMRLS Agricultural Worker Project (AWP) provides free and confidential civil legal aid to eligible agricultural workers in all counties of Minnesota and North Dakota. The AWP team focuses on improving clients working and living conditions through legal representation, outreach, and education. The AWP advises and represents clients with cases involving wage theft, workplace health and safety violations, inadequate employer-provided housing, labor trafficking, employment discrimination or retaliation, H-2A contract violations, and other legal matters that specifically impact agricultural workers. The AWP provides legal rights education to agricultural workers in Minnesota and North Dakota through extensive outreach programming.

Key Job Responsibilities

The Summer Law Clerk (law clerk) will assist AWP attorneys with client communication and legal research and will play a vital role in increasing the AWPs outreach and legal education capacity throughout Minnesota during its busiest season. The law clerk can expect to conduct outreach visits 1 evening per week with outreach duties ranging from a third to half of the hours worked in a week.

The law clerk will be given assignments supervised by attorneys and other permanent staff. Case work generally involves completing intakes, interviewing clients, analyzing client's legal problem(s), and providing legal advice under the supervision of an attorney. Other responsibilities include supporting attorneys through fact investigation, document preparation, legal research and writing, negotiations with adverse parties, and litigation preparation and support. Law clerks will communicate with clients in English and/or Spanish to explain the clients legal situation.

To a lesser degree, the law clerk will support the AWPs outreach efforts to reach agricultural workers throughout Minnesota. Visits to farmworker housing is the primary way that the AWP gets in contact with agricultural workers. Face-to-face visits to farmworker housing and other locations frequented by agricultural workers involve driving to worker housing, informing workers about their rights, distributing legal rights materials, listening to workers about their living and working situations and concerns, and completing intakes regarding any legal problem workers may be experiencing. Other outreach opportunities include community education presentations, social media, and events.

The applicants selected will have the opportunity to learn firsthand about, and contribute to the effective resolution of, the legal problems of agricultural workers under the supervision and guidance of the AWPs dedicated staff.

Conduct legal research, write memos, and draft letters and pleadings to help resolve legal disputes.

Perform in-person evening outreach to agricultural workers throughout Minnesota and/or North Dakota to provide information and materials regarding legal rights and the AWPs services, and to conduct intake interviews.

Participate in outreach meetings and case review meetings.

Answer/return phone calls, conduct intake interviews by phone, and provide referrals as necessary.

Other duties as based on interest, education, and skill set.

Job Qualifications

Current law student who has completed their first or second year of law school at an ABA-approved law school and is in good academic standing at an ABA-approved law school.

Ability to communicate (orally and in writing) easily and clearly.

Ability to work 1 evening per week. Staff will typically work between the hours of 2 10:30 p.m. during most evening outreach days, with some variation in start and end time.

Ability to work approximately 2 overnight work trips, which will each last between 1 2 nights.

Comfortable serving, and the ability to relate to, individuals from varying backgrounds.

Possession of a valid drivers license.

Attention to detail.

Positive and flexible attitude.

Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.

Ability to work remotely and in one of the SMRLS-AWP offices: either in the Downtown Saint Paul office or the Moorhead office. Advocates will work at the office 1-3 days per week.

Computer proficiency.

Demonstrated interest in addressing the needs of low-income communities, especially agricultural workers.

Demonstrate the ability to be resourceful, analyze problems, and propose problem-solving solutions.

Preferred: Ability to communicate (orally and in writing) in Spanish easily and clearly.

Preferred: Ability to attend in-person training in Toledo, OH week of May 20th with summer staff from other farmworker law programs. All expenses and working time will be paid for.

Preferred: Experience with media platforms (radio, print, Facebook; WhatsApp).

Office Location

The law clerk will be based at SMRLS Saint Paul Central Office (55 East 5th Street; Saint Paul, MN 55101) or at SMRLS Moorhead office (1015 7th Ave N, Moorhead, MN 56560). In-office work is required 1-3 days per week with the other workdays occurring on the road/during outreach and remotely.

Exposure and Training Opportunities

The law clerk will receive introductory training in the laws that protect the rights of agricultural workers, including Minnesotas Migrant Labor Law, North Dakota Wage Laws, the Fair Labor Standards Act, and the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act. The law clerk may be invited to attend regional training with farmworker advocates from around the Midwest. This includes attending the training for new advocates in Toledo, OH the week of May 20th. The law clerk will develop experience conducting interviews with potential clients in English and/or Spanish, screening for common worker rights abuses, and conducting legal rights presentations. Ongoing training will be provided by AWP staff. The law clerk will be supervised by the Lead Attorney and the Project Manager & Outreach Coordinator and will work closely with the AWP attorneys and the AWP outreach team.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

Office work involves sedentary work, including sitting at a desk on a computer for an extended period of time. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, sit, talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and/or laptop keyboard and use a telephone. Specific vision abilities required for this job include close vision requirements due to computer work. Regularly drives and/or rides in a motor vehicle while seated for extended periods of time.

Light walking and standing for extended periods of time during field visits when distributing information, interviewing workers, or giving presentations. Walking on uneven surfaces during fieldwork and ascending and descending stairs during field visits. Ability to lift as much as 20 pounds. The work environment can vary from a controlled office to an outdoors environment in an agricultural or farm setting.

Duration

The law clerk position is a full-time (30-40 hours per week) temporary position within SMRLS Agricultural Worker Project. The law clerk must be willing to work irregular hours including evening outreach (1x per week), limited overnight travel, and occasional weekend events in order to meet the needs of the AWPs client community.

For summer 2024, we expect the law clerk to start employment by May 16, 2024 and finish at the latest by August 23, 2024.

Compensation

Hourly rate: $18.00 per hour

Pro-rated holiday pay

Sick leave: Earn 3.50 Hours per pay day

Outreach-related travel expenses will be reimbursed. This includes mileage reimbursement when a personal vehicle is used for work-related travel.

How to Apply

Applicants must submit the following materials via SMRLS online application portal or via email to the hiring manager:

Cover letter which summarizes qualifications, skills, experience and note any bilingual proficiency in Spanish;

Resume;

Writing sample; and

Names and contact information for three professional references.

Application Deadline

Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled; however, applicants are strongly encouraged to apply by March 8, 2023. Application materials will be reviewed upon receipt and virtual interviews scheduled for applicants.

Hiring Manager

Elise Sporre, Project Manager and Outreach Coordinator

Agricultural Worker Project

Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services

55 E. 5th Street, Suite 400

Saint Paul, MN 55101

elise.sporre@smrls.org

SMRLS is committed to diversity in the workplace. Women, minorities, and persons with disabilities are especially encouraged to apply.

Job Types: Full-time, Seasonal

Pay: $18.00 per hour

Benefits:

• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Paid time off

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Saint Paul, MN 55101