Organization Description
The mission of Friends of Farmworkers (FOF) is to improve the living and working conditions of indigent farmworkers, mushroom workers, food processing workers, and other workers from immigrant and migrant communities. FOF provides direct legal services for claims arising out of employment to workers throughout PA and to organizations whose members are client-eligible workers and their families.
FOF’s areas of focus include: minimum wage and wage payment problems; unsafe or unhealthy work conditions; substandard housing for groups of workers; employment or housing discrimination based on race, sex, national origin, pregnancy, disability or familial status; protection of workers right to engage in protected concerted activity; retaliation for exercising legal rights; establishment of eligibility rights to public benefits; and limited representation related to immigration status.
FOF also conducts community education and outreach to farm labor camps, community groups, and to schools with students whose families do farm work, and participates in local and state-level advocacy.
Job Description
Two summer internships will be available for 2012. Interns will work directly with staff attorneys on client cases.
Internships may involve:
-Research and writing legal memoranda
-Drafting complaints, pleadings, or briefs for filing with administrative bodies (OSHA, NLRB, EEOC, and state equivalents) and state and federal courts
-Drafting demand letters to adverse parties
-Conducting fact investigations over the phone or in person
-Observing and participating in meetings with clients, advocacy organizations, governmental agencies
-Conducting client intake
-Participating in community outreach and education
-Observing hearings or trials, depending on availability.
Qualifications:
Applicants must currently be enrolled in law school. Rising 3Ls are generally preferred, although rising 2Ls with the necessary qualifications are encouraged to apply. Applicants must be able to commit to work for 10 weeks.
Candidates should have:
-Excellent legal research and writing skills
-The ability to handle multiple projects at once
-A commitment to social justice and to the client communities we serve
-Initiative, energy, and enthusiasm.
Spanish, Chin, Burmese, or Dzongkha fluency is strongly preferred but other candidates will be considered.
Salary:
FOF staff will work with candidates as necessary to help secure funding through their law schools or other sources.
Application instructions:
Please send a resume, transcript (if available), 2-3 references, and a cover letter discussing your interest and qualifications to Pennie Rodriguez at [email protected].
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Location:
42 South 15th St.
Suite 605
Philadelphia, PA 19102
United States of America
215-733-0878