Volunteer Opportunities / Jobs / Internships

Thank you for your interest in advocating alongside farmworkers in Michigan.

Pro Bono / Volunteer

FLS welcomes volunteer attorneys, graphic designers, and students. If you are interested in volunteering, please send your resume and availability to jobs@farmworkerlaw.org with "Volunteer" in the subject line. If you have any questions about volunteering, please email jobs@farmworkerlaw.org.

Full-Time Staff Positions

Summer and Temporary Positions

Every summer, FLS hires law students, undergraduates, and outreach staff (generally mid-May through early August); however, FLS may also consider interns throughout the year on a rolling basis. As of 2021, an intern can also seek employment at FLS under the Guillermo Martinez Memorial Internship Program. Interns can expect a highly educational and rewarding summer experience as they work alongside Michigan's migrant, farmworker, and immigrant communities and FLS staff. General responsibilities consist of client communication, case support, and development and presentation of community legal education materials. Summer staff can expect to visit with farmworkers at the migrant labor camps one or two evenings per week during the summer outreach season. Staff are expected to communicate with clients in English and Spanish orally and in writing; and candidates with Spanish, Haitian Creole, and indigenous language skills are strongly preferred. Internships are paid positions with a minimum pro-rated monthly stipend of $2000 or hourly rate of $12 (with increases available based on experience). 

Tentative dates for the following internship programs are May 16 to August 11, but interested applicants can request internships outside these dates. Students are always welcome to inquire about possible positions by submitting a cover letter and resume to jobs@farmworkerlaw.org with "Intern" in the subject line. 

Legal Interns

Legal interns are considered members of the FLS legal team and perform work that FLS attorneys would normally handle. Legal interns will have the opportunity to complete legal research and writing, assist with discovery, interview clients, analyze cases, and present to community groups. Legal interns may also, under the supervision of an attorney, engage in negotiations, represent clients in administrative proceedings, file immigration applications, and attend hearings in federal or state cases. Legal interns also are expected to go on outreach to meet with clients and provide know-your-rights presentations to workers at migrant labor camps and community events. Legal interns are paid a minimum pro-rated monthly stipend of $2250 per month or $15 per hour. Law students have also often been able to find outside funding sources for their summer employment at FLS. Examples are:

Undergraduate Interns

Interns are integral members of the FLS team and will work alongside FLS attorneys and permanent staff. We hire exceptionally-qualified undergraduates as summer interns to design and distribute community legal educational materials; communicate with clients; collaborate with agencies that serve farmworker, migrant , and immigrant communities; develop cases alongside the attorneys; and conduct outreach and present to farmworker communities. Recently we have had interns from Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo College, University of Michigan, and Spring Arbor University. 

Guillermo Martinez Memorial Interns

The Guillermo Martinez Memorial Internship is an 8-to-10-week-long paid internship at Michigan Advocacy Program, likely within the farmworker advocacy unit of Farmworker Legal Services, to memorialize Guillermo’s lasting contributions to the cause of farmworker legal advocacy in Michigan. Bilingual college-bound, college, graduate, and law students or recent graduates who are bilingual in Spanish and English and have a farmworker background and strong interest in advocating alongside farmworkers in Michigan are encouraged to apply. This internship honors Guillermo Martinez, who was an invaluable member of the Michigan Advocacy Program governing board and the Farmworker Legal Services advisory board until his untimely death in July 2020. The dual objectives of this internship are: (1) to develop leadership potential from within farmworker communities by providing hands-on professional advocacy experience and tutelage to committed students; and (2) to enhance the ability of the farmworker advocacy programs to effectively serve Michigan farmworkers. For more information about the Guillermo Martinez Memorial Internship, click this link.

Application Process

To apply, complete the Application Form here and send an email with your resume and cover letter (indicating your proficiency in Spanish and/or other languages and your experience with farmwork or as a member of a farmworker household) attached to jobs@farmworkerlaw.org with the relevant internship program in the subject line of your email. Positions are filled on a rolling basis, but we encourage applications to be submitted by May 1, 2023. Selected candidates will be interviewed by video conferencing and will always consist of a few questions in Spanish.