Application Guide
How to Apply for Supervising Attorney - Workers' Rights
at UFW Foundation
🏢 About UFW Foundation
The UFW Foundation is a nearly 20-year-old organization dedicated to ensuring farm workers and immigrants can live and work with dignity, safety, and respect. They run one of the largest federally accredited immigration legal services programs in California and are now building a new Workers' Rights program to combat wage theft and other labor violations. This is a unique opportunity to be a founding member of a program that will have a lasting impact on one of the most vulnerable workforces in the U.S.
About This Role
As the Supervising Attorney, you will not just manage a caseload but build the entire Workers' Rights program from the ground up. You'll be responsible for creating the team, developing the playbook, and establishing the legal strategies that will protect farm workers for years to come. This role is for someone who is excited by the challenge of creating something new and making a systemic difference.
💡 A Day in the Life
A typical day might involve reviewing case files and providing legal guidance to your team of attorneys and advocates, while also developing training materials for outreach staff. You could spend the morning in court or at an administrative hearing, then return to your home office to strategize with your team via video call, and end the day by drafting a policy memo or meeting with community partners to expand the program's reach.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who UFW Foundation Is Looking For
- A seasoned attorney with at least 5 years of experience in labor and employment law, specifically in wage and hour cases, with a strong preference for experience in agricultural or migrant worker rights.
- A proven leader who has experience supervising or mentoring junior attorneys and legal staff, with the ability to inspire and guide a team in a high-pressure environment.
- Deep understanding of California labor laws, including the Agricultural Workers' Rights, heat illness prevention, and wage theft statutes, and a commitment to social justice.
- Bilingual in English and Spanish, as you'll be working directly with farm workers and their families, and comfortable with a hybrid work schedule (2-3 days onsite in Bakersfield, Fresno, Oxnard, or Salinas).
📝 Tips for Applying to UFW Foundation
Tailor your resume to highlight your experience in building or expanding legal programs, not just your casework. Emphasize any instances where you developed policies, trained staff, or created new processes.
In your cover letter, explicitly connect your passion for workers' rights to the UFW Foundation's mission. Mention the statistic about farm workers being 35 times more likely to die from heat-related illness to show you've read the job description thoroughly.
Quantify your impact in previous roles: e.g., 'Recovered $2M in unpaid wages for 500 farm workers' or 'Supervised a team of 3 attorneys and 2 paralegals.' This demonstrates your ability to deliver results.
Since the role is hybrid, mention your flexibility with travel and your experience working in remote teams. If you're based in one of the listed areas, highlight that; if not, explain your willingness to relocate.
Submit your application before the priority deadline of August 2, 2026, to ensure full consideration. Also, follow up with a polite email to the hiring manager after applying to express your continued interest.
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
["Your commitment to social justice and your specific interest in farm workers' rights, showing you understand the unique challenges they face.", "Your experience in program building or leadership, with concrete examples of how you've created or scaled a legal service initiative.", 'Your familiarity with California labor laws and any experience with litigation or administrative enforcement related to wage theft or heat illness.', 'Your ability to work in a hybrid environment and your connection to the local communities (if applicable), demonstrating you can build trust with farm workers.']
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Research the UFW Foundation's current programs, especially their immigration legal services, to understand their organizational culture and how the Workers' Rights program might integrate.
- → Look into recent news about farm worker labor issues in California, such as heat illness cases or wage theft settlements, to show you're informed about the current landscape.
- → Familiarize yourself with the specific regions mentioned (Bakersfield, Fresno, Oxnard, Salinas) and their agricultural industries to demonstrate local awareness.
- → Review the UFW Foundation's annual reports or donor materials to understand their impact metrics and strategic goals, so you can align your vision with theirs.
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Don't submit a generic cover letter that doesn't mention the UFW Foundation or the specific role. They want to see genuine interest in their mission.
- Avoid downplaying the program-building aspect of the role. If you're only interested in casework, this isn't the right fit, and it will show.
- Don't overlook the hybrid requirement. If you're not willing to be onsite 2-3 days a week in one of the specified locations, don't apply, or clearly state your flexibility.
📅 Application Timeline
This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.
Typical hiring timeline:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!
Ready to Apply?
Good luck with your application to UFW Foundation!