Staff Attorney | Farmworker Team

Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, Inc. (TRLA) seeks a staff attorney to specialize in farmworker advocacy; the position is based in any of our Texas offices, but will involve a multi-state docket. TRLA is one of the nation’s largest legal aid organizations providing free civil legal services to eligible low-income persons. TRLA’s farmworker practice provides free employment-related legal services to low-wage migrant and seasonal agricultural workers in Texas, as well as in Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee.

TRLA has offices in Alpine, Austin, Beeville, Brownsville, Corpus Christi, Del Rio, Eagle Pass, Edinburg, El Paso, Harlingen, Mercedes, Nashville, Rio Grande City, San Antonio, Sinton, Uvalde, Victoria, and Weslaco. This position can be located a any of our Texas offices, but preference is given to our border and rural offices.

Most of TRLA’s farmworker work is employment litigation in federal court. TRLA’s prior litigation has included claims under the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act (AWPA), the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the federal H-2A program, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA), 42 U.S.C. § 1981, 42 U.S.C. § 1983, and state contract, wage-and-hour, tort, and worker’s compensation disputes. Attorneys also represent workers in federal and state administrative processes, including filing complaints with the U.S. Department of Labor, EEOC and OSHA, and filing immigration petitions (such as T and U visa applications) on behalf of victims of trafficking or other workplace crimes.  

Primary Duties and Responsibilities: 

Duties will include serving as lead counsel in all aspects of civil litigation, from conducting outreach and performing client intakes, investigating and evaluating new intakes, collaborating with regional partners and government agencies, and handling all matters of representation in administrative and court forums. Extensive overnight travel for outreach or cases is regularly required, although TRLA pays per diem and other travel-related expenses.  

TRLA gives new lawyers substantial litigation and outreach responsibilities from day-one, but new staff practices under the close guidance of seasoned TRLA farmworker attorneys, who typically second-chair litigation. TRLA staff collaborates closely with those in TRLA’s other 20+ offices, along with co-counseling with other legal aid programs, including participating in outreach and litigation in various parts of Texas and other states. 

Qualifications and Preferences:   

Applicants must be licensed to practice law in Texas, be licensed in a state with which Texas could grant reciprocal admission or be willing to take the next available Texas bar exam, in that order of preference.  

Preference will be given to applicants with a demonstrated commitment to public interest law on behalf of low-income persons, especially in workers’ or immigrants’ rights, and with Spanish-language fluency. 

The strongest candidates will also have superior writing, analytical, and organizational skills; litigation experience is also preferred but not required.  

Compensation and Benefits:  

Salary is commensurate with experience and includes an excellent fringe benefits package including law school loan repayment. (Spring graduates from law school typically start being paid the first week of July while studying for the bar, but report to work after the bar exam. TRLA provides reimbursement for the bar application fee and bar preparation course to new law graduates who have not yet taken the bar exam.) 

The consideration of candidates is ongoing and will continue until the position is filled. The position is available immediately, although the start date is somewhat negotiable. 

TRLA IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER 

At TRLA, we are committed to offering fair and equal employment opportunities to all job applicants and employees. We strictly prohibit any form of discrimination and harassment of any type based on race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.