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POSITION: Michigan Advocacy Program (MAP) is seeking applicants for the position of Summer Law Clerk in our Farmworker Legal Services office.
JOB DESCRIPTION: Law clerks work under the supervision of our staff attorneys on all aspects of our work. Depending on the office, a law clerk’s work may include conducting client interviews, drafting pleadings, legal research, appearing in court hearings under the Michigan student practice rule, assessing legal problems, conveying legal advice through oral and written communication, conducting educational seminars for clients, legal research and writing related to individual cases and broader policy issues, legislative tracking and analysis and other systemic advocacy projects in one or more poverty law areas (housing, public benefits, consumer, foreclosure, and family law).
DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAM: Farmworker Legal Services (FLS) is the statewide division of the Michigan Advocacy Program (MAP) that fights for justice and dignity alongside the farmworker community through our systemic, multi-forum legal advocacy, community engagement, and direct legal representation of farmworkers in their civil legal matters. FLS currently has 7 permanent staff and 6 summer seasonal advocates who provide a full range of civil legal services to Michigan’s eligible population of migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their dependents. Staff are based out of Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids, and Ypsilanti offices and prioritize cases including wage theft, trafficking, discrimination, sexual harassment, workplace health and safety, housing, civil rights, and labor-based immigration relief. MAP works to advance the safety, independence, and economic stability of those most affected by poverty, racism, and other structurally oppressive systems by increasing access to justice and working for systemic solutions. MAP has provided civil legal aid for those unable to afford an attorney for more than 50 years, serving 13 counties through five legal aid offices and managing 6 statewide programs that serve farmworkers (Farmworker Legal Services), immigrant communities (Michigan Immigrant Rights Center), vulnerable older adults (Michigan Elder Justice Initiative), victims of domestic violence and elder abuse (Crime Victims Legal Assistance Program), legal aid advocates through research and training support (Michigan Poverty Law Program), and self-represented litigants (Michigan Legal Help Program). MAP has a staff of about 220 people in offices in Battle Creek, Detroit, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Grand Rapids, Monroe, and Ypsilanti. Visit www.miadvocacy.org and www.farmworkerlaw.org for more information.
QUALIFICATIONS: Law students must have at least one year of law school completed by June 2025. It is helpful if applicants have experience working with low-income persons and a commitment to assisting underserved populations. Applicants must reside in the state of Michigan while working for MAP.
FUNDING: Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply for outside funding (e.g. law school fellowships, Equal Justice America), but these positions are paid if outside funding is not available.
TO APPLY: Please complete this application and submit your resume and cover letter. You can also access the application by copying and pasting the following web address into your browser: https://miadvocacy.bamboohr.com/hiring/jobs/171. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
