Anti-Labor Trafficking Senior Paralegal

Description

The Farmworker Rights Division of Georgia Legal Services Program (FWRD-GLSP) is hiring a full-time, remote, Anti-Labor Trafficking Senior Paralegal to help lead our work on behalf of victims and survivors of labor trafficking in Georgia’s agriculture. This is a fully remote position within the State of Georgia.

About the Farmworker Rights Division

The FWRD provides free legal representation to eligible farmworkers with employment-related matters in Georgia. Typical cases involve employers failing to pay workers’ wages; discrimination based on sex, citizenship, or national origin; subjecting workers to human trafficking conditions; and breaking recruitment promises. Clients include guest workers from Latin America, in addition to local and migrant U.S. farmworkers.

About the Anti-Labor Trafficking Senior Paralegal Position

In Fall 2021, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Georgia, indicted 24 defendants on federal conspiracy charges, related to the forced labor of hundreds of farmworkers in Georgia and Florida. See Operation Blooming Onion. The operation, which was referred to by the U.S. Attorney’s Office as the biggest sting operation of labor trafficking in U.S. history, exposed to the public what our office already knew: the exploitation and abuse of guest farmworkers in Georgia is widespread.

Since Operation Blooming Onion, our work has received favorable attention from media, policy makers, and the general public. However, our work in this area precedes the Operation Blooming Onion hype as we have actively litigated these cases for years. At this time, we are hiring a senior paralegal to support our anti-trafficking work.

This position is funded through a grant administered by the Georgia Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, as part of the Georgia Agricultural Labor Trafficking Task Force. The senior paralegal hired under this subgrant will be supervised by GLSP attorneys and will collaborate with a multi-agency coalition, working together to fight agricultural labor trafficking in rural Georgia and provide comprehensive services to victims and survivors.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

· Support the delivery of direct legal services, focusing on T-Visa applications for victims of human trafficking, derivative T-Visa applications for eligible family members, and other matters directly related to helping victims obtain immigration benefits. Other related matters include but are not limited to supporting applications for adjustment of status, employment authorization documents, and advance parole.

· Head the consular processing efforts of eligible derivative family members wishing to reunite with their T-1 family members in the United States.

· Support the referral of victims to social services providers and other partner agencies, as needed. Monitor open cases for quality of service and efficiency.

· Actively participate in the Agricultural Labor Trafficking Task Force, hosted by the Georgia Criminal Justice Coordinating Council. Coordinate with Task Force partners. Serve as GLSP’s representative in this task force.

· Attend all necessary grant-related in-person trainings and meetings, as required by HGBF and CJCC.

· Work towards non-attorney accreditation under the U.S. Department of Justice for immigration law practice.

Requirements

· Minimum of three years of paralegal experience. Experience supporting immigration practice preferred.

· Commitment to social, economic, and racial justice, especially in the areas of worker and/or immigrant rights.

· Oral and written fluency in Spanish (advanced to native proficiency required).

· Possess and maintain a valid driver’s license during employment.

· Must maintain reliable high-speed internet for home office (remote work).

BENEFITS

· Non-bargaining, full-time/exempt, hybrid

· Salary range: $39,000 – $75,000, dependent upon experience and qualifications.

· Probationary period: 6 months

· Medical, dental, and vision coverage

· Option to enroll in a Flexible Spending Account

· Employer-paid life insurance and disability plan

· 15 accrued vacation days. Vacation days increase to 20 days after 3 years of employment

· 12 accrued sick days

· 13 paid holidays, including a birthday holiday

· 35-hour work week for all full-time employees. This is an exempt position, and exempt employees are expected to work the hours necessary to fulfill the responsibilities and requirements of their position.

· 403(b) retirement plan with 3% match

· Up to 10 weeks paid parental leave

· Organizational Wellness activities

· Professional development opportunities

· Additional compensation for employees who pass GLSP’s Spanish proficiency test

HOW TO APPLY: Apply online with your cover letter and resume: Join Our Team - Georgia Legal Services Program (glsp.org). Incomplete applications will not be considered. This position will be open until filled, with an anticipated start date ASAP. Interviews will be conducted virtually.

GLSP is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of Georgia Legal Services Program not to discriminate against any applicant for employment because of race, color, ancestry, religion, age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, medical condition, veteran status, political affiliation, national origin, disability, marital or other protected status.