Paralegal A | Southern Migrant Legal Services

Southern Migrant Legal Services, A Project of Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, Inc., seeks a full-time, year-round paralegal for its Nashville office.  

Organizational Background:  

Southern Migrant Legal Services (SMLS) is a project of Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, Inc. (TRLA), one of the nation’s largest nonprofit corporations that provides civil legal services to eligible, low-income persons. TRLA is one of the nation’s premier law firms in representing migrant and seasonal farmworkers, with over 30 years of experience in zealous, fearless, and effective advocacy. Opened in Nashville in 2001, SMLS provides free employment-related legal services to seasonal and migrant farms, poultry, catfish, nursery, and forestry workers in Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee.  

Most of SMLS’s work is employment litigation in federal court. SMLS’s litigation has included representation of farmworkers (including victims of labor trafficking) with claims under the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act (AWPA), the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPRA), 42 U.S.C. § 1981, 42 U.S.C. § 1983, the federal H-2A program, and state contract, wage-and-hour, and tort law. SMLS also assists victims of labor trafficking and severe workplace crimes to obtain immigration relief.  

Qualifications: 

The paralegal must be fluent in written and spoken English and Spanish. Preference will be given to applicants with a demonstrated commitment to social justice, especially in the areas of workers and immigrants’ rights. Duties include (but aren’t limited to): assisting attorneys with litigation preparation; conducting outreach in rural areas (especially during evenings and weekends); performing client intakes; preparing community legal education materials and conducting Know Your Rights presentations; investigating cases; communicating with community organizations, the media and other service providers; referring individuals to other agencies and private attorneys and any other duties as necessary.  

Applicants must have a valid driver’s license. Applicants must be willing and able to travel extensively, overnight, especially during the spring and summer months. Proficient word processing, internet, and office skills are also required.  

Pay and Benefits:  

Salary is commensurate with experience and based upon a 40-hour workweek (although occasional overtime (with overtime compensation) may be required.) TRLA is an equal opportunity employer that seeks a diverse workforce. TRLA offers a benefits package that includes various paid vacation and sick leave days (including 14 paid holidays); medical, dental, and disability coverage; life insurance; and a retirement plan. All necessary, work-related travel expenses are paid for by TRLA, based upon applicable federal reimbursement rates. TRLA has a unionized workforce (membership is optional). 

Application Deadline:  

Position open until filled, with preferred start date as soon as possible. 

You will need a cover letter, resume (listing all relevant experience with start and end dates of employment) and three professional references (from prior supervisors). 

Candidates should include in the application materials reference to all prior work experience relevant to the position that they are seeking to aid with the placement on TRLA’s salary scale. 

TRLA IS AN EQUAL OPPRTUNITY 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.