The Laurel Rubin Farm Worker Justice Project strives to empower farm workers in their efforts to enforce their human rights to fair, dignified, and safe working and living conditions.

Since 1999, the Project has funded internship opportunities with organizations that provide civil legal aid to farm workers in Washington State and sponsored college and law students to work alongside experienced attorneys on matters involving farm worker safety, housing, access to health care, immigration, employment discrimination, unemployment and workers’ compensation, and farm worker youth and education.

Farm Workers in Washington State

Many farm workers in our state live in substandard housing, are subject to hazardous and inhumane working conditions, and are routinely denied some of the most basic workplace protections. Farm workers are also one of the most economically disadvantaged groups in our state.

Each summer and fall, Laurel Rubin Fellows travel to farms across the state to meet with farm workers and discuss their rights under federal and state law. The Fellows also support litigation and policy solutions to problems facing farm-worker communities.

Northwest Justice Project

Karen Holland, Director of Human Resources: karenh@nwjustice.org

Remembering Laurel

The Project was established in memory of Laurel Rubin, a talented and dedicated young attorney who died tragically in 1998 while traveling to farm worker labor camps to conduct outreach.  Originally from Wappingers Falls, New York, Laurel moved to rural Central Washington as a new attorney and devoted her career to ensuring that agricultural workers are treated with dignity and respect in the workplace.  Laurel Rubin interns honor and continue Laurel’s legacy by conducting education and outreach and by using the law to promote justice and dignity for farm workers.