I am DOL: Rob Robinson pursues justice for workers

In our “I Am DOL” series, we’re highlighting employees who work in a wide range of roles at the Department of Labor but who all share a passion for public service.

Rob Robinson, a paralegal specialist in the Office of the Solicitor, helps protect workers’ rights — from making sure people are paid the wages they are owed to protecting whistleblowers to recovering retirement benefits. We asked Rob to tell us more about his office and his job.

The Office of the Solicitor functions as the department’s law firm, he explained. Many people don’t realize how many laws the U.S. Department of Labor enforces, but we’re responsible for more than 180 legal mandates and federal regulations covering about 150 million workers and 10 million workplaces.

When one of our agencies finds a violation of a law, they try to work it out with the employer. But if the employer won’t cooperate, the Office of the Solicitor will sue them and pursue justice for the workers involved through the legal system. 

That’s where Rob’s job as a paralegal specialist in San Francisco comes in: With an eye for detail, Rob does legal research, helps with preparations for trials and sorts through thousands of documents to support the attorneys so they can make the best case possible. In many situations, the workers they are fighting for would never be able to afford legal representation otherwise. “We can give the same amount of energy and preparation in a case for someone who’s making $8 an hour as someone who’s making $50 an hour” in the private sector, Rob said.

In one case, his office was able to help recover back wages for car wash workers in California who had been subjected to wage theft. Because Rob speaks Spanish, and many of the workers spoke Spanish, he went along to help distribute the back wage checks. The experience left a lasting impression on him; “We’ve done a number of cases in which I’ve walked out and said, I’ve done something important.”

Rob came to the government as an older worker with several decades of experience in the private sector. He finds fulfillment both in the Labor Department’s mission of protecting workers’ rights as well as the work environment; “I know the attorneys here trust me to get things done, and to get things done quickly and correctly. I feel very well respected, professionally, here.” 

Outside of work, Rob is passionate about volunteering in his community and says pro bono work is encouraged. Having a flexible schedule helps him serve others, including directing a church Gospel choir and volunteering with a local middle school choir.

For anyone considering a career in the Office of the Solicitor or other office at the U.S. Department of Labor, Rob encouraged them to think about the mission. “My office is full of people who believe that what they’re doing is making a difference, that what they’re doing every day is contributing to the better good,” he shared. “We are making a difference in the lives of people who are being exploited, and to do this work for anyone who needs it is very fulfilling.”

Editor’s note: Interested in a career at the Labor Department? Learn more about what it means to be part of our team at dol.gov/careers, and then view current openings and apply via USAJOBS. 

Please note that you must meet the minimum qualifications outlined in the position description. We encourage you to describe any life experiences in your application that are relevant to the position and the mission of the Labor Department.