Farmworker Unit Litigation and Outreach Attorney - Office Location Flexible

Pine Tree Legal Assistance
Attorney – Farmworker Unit Litigation and Outreach Attorney
Location: Options – Any of our 6 offices, including Portland, Lewiston, Augusta, Bangor, Machias, or Presque Isle office; Hybrid remote

Pine Tree Legal Assistance has an immediate opening for a full-time attorney position in its Farmworker Unit serving migrant and other workers who perform agricultural work in Maine and other New England states. This Litigation and Outreach Attorney will conduct and support outreach efforts to migrant farmworkers in Maine and New England as well as develop and litigate clients’ claims to several legal rights. Outreach and litigation will focus on issues of importance to migrant agricultural workers, including violations of the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act (AWPA), the Fair Labor Standards Act, state wage statutes, workers’ compensation benefits, public benefits, discrimination, education rights, and immigration law (particularly U visas for victims of abuse and T visas for victims of labor or sex trafficking).

The Farmworker Unit Litigation and Outreach Attorney position will also contribute to the work done by the Regional Attorney working to enhance coordination among stakeholders and ensure effective legal services to farmworkers in the other New England states. This work will include participation in communications, training, and outreach in those states. This position will be responsible for working with the experienced Farmworker Unit paralegal and attorneys to develop and implement an annual outreach plan for the State of Maine. This will include development and/or updating of plain language client education materials that can be distributed via outreach for workers throughout Maine and New England and translated into Spanish or Haitian Creole. Regular travel throughout the State of Maine should be expected in order to conduct outreach to migrant farmworkers and meet with farmworker clients.

Specific decisions about how to prioritize between these time commitments are made in consultation with colleagues and the attorney supervisor based on program experience, the needs of current clients and potential clients, and the anticipated benefit to the community from Pine Tree involvement. Fluency in Spanish or Haitian Creole is strongly preferred.

The attorney must be admitted to the practice of law in Maine or be eligible to practice under MRCP 89 (c) while working at Pine Tree. Previous litigation experience is preferred. Applicant must reside in, or be willing to relocate to, the state of Maine. This is an exempt position under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Compensation and Benefits:
The salary range for PTLA attorneys and other exempt staff is currently $67,140 - $104,140, depending on experience.

In addition, PTLA is proud to offer the following:
Employer-paid health insurance with a generous HRA contribution, generous health insurance opt-out benefit, employer-paid dental insurance, employer-paid life and disability insurance, and an annual contribution to a 403(b) retirement plan. Other voluntary options include vision and expanded life insurance. Staff enjoy 12 paid holidays, paid parental leave, and generous vacation, floating holidays, and sick leave.

Pine Tree Legal Assistance is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to employing and supporting individuals who are passionate about social justice and have relevant work experience, regardless of their race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, physical or mental disability, religion, familial status or experience with poverty, receipt of public assistance, or homelessness.