Attorney

Lasco; Athens (OH); On-site; USD 55,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

HRA benefit

Dental and vision insurance

Language differential

Paid time off

Training and development opportunities

Job summary

LASCO seeks a Staff or Senior Attorney in Athens, Ohio to provide civil legal services and advocacy to low-income residents. The attorney will balance direct representation with systemic impact work, joining a team dedicated to affordable housing, benefits, and family stability.

Responsibilities include intake, court representation, outreach, and collaboration with statewide partners. A JD and Ohio Bar admission (or eligibility within 12 months) are required, with a strong commitment to

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor from an accredited law school.
• Bar admission to the Ohio Bar or anticipated admission within 12 months.
• Strong advocacy, analytical, and communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment.
• Commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Responsibilities

• Handle intake and representation before local, state, appellate, and federal courts and relevant agencies.
• Maintain a caseload including direct service and impact work.
• Join a substantive team focused on learning an area of law and addressing systemic issues.
• Participate in outreach activities, clinics and community events.
• Collaborate with LASCO attorneys on statewide advocacy and community relations.
• Engage in ongoing professional development including CLE trainings.
• Be part of a collaborative, mission-driven professional community.

Skills

Strong legal advocacy

Analytical skills

Time management

Judgment and discretion

Collaborative relationships

Excellent communication

Diversity & inclusion

Work ethic

English proficiency

Education

Juris Doctor

Bar admission within 12 months

Tools

Microsoft Office

Legal research tools

Job description

Overview

Description

Legal Aid of Southeast and Central Ohio (LASCO)’s mission is to provide civil legal aid and advocacy to overcome unfairness and injustice, reduce poverty, and increase opportunity. LASCO has a long-standing history of being committed to searching out the patterns, causes of, and solutions to the repetitive and fundamental legal problems facing low-income Ohioans and pursuing the legal recourse needed to address those problems. Since 1966, our organizations have helped thousands of Ohio’s poor obtain and keep housing, secure public benefits, worked with families to gain and maintain economic stability, and helped domestic violence survivors to live free of fear and abuse and to obtain the resources needed to sustain themselves and their children.

LASCO is actively seeking dedicated, professional Staff or Senior Attorney in our Athens, Ohio office to provide comprehensive legal services for civil issues in pursuit of LASCO mission and priorities. The Athens office is one of the eight offices in the service area, allowing the person in this role to be a part of a community consisting of collaborative and mission-driven attorneys doing impact work in their respective communities. Attorneys balance systemic advocacy with practical day-to-day legal representation. Athens is proud of its rich history, diverse campuses, international communities, and beautiful Appalachian settings. As part of our ongoing efforts to provide and support a transformative legal experience, we affirm our commitment to fostering a welcoming, respectful, diverse, and inclusive workforce and community.

Responsibilities

• Handle all functions related to legal advocacy ranging from intake to the representation of clients before local, state, appellate and federal courts, and all relevant agencies
• Maintain a caseload that includes both direct service and impact work
• Participate in one of our substantive teams focused on learning one area of the law more in depth and on addressing systemic issues
• Participate in outreach activities, clinics and other community events
• Collaborate with other legal services attorneys on statewide advocacy
• Promote community relations and build community relationships by engaging with the public and partner service providers
• Have the opportunity to participate in excellent on-going professional development including CLE-approved trainings on substantive poverty law and advocacy skills among others
• Be a part of a community of collaborative and mission driven professionals

Qualifications

• Strong legal advocacy skills
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment
• High ability to exercise sound judgment and discretion
• High ability to facilitate collaboration as well as build and sustain productive relationships with diverse individuals, groups and organizations
• Excellent communication skills, both orally and written, with diverse audiences
• A commitment to diversity and inclusion both internally and externally
• Strong work ethic
• Proficiency in Microsoft applications, knowledge of current technologies and commitment to remain up to date with industry best practices
• English language proficiency is essential and Spanish/English bilingual skills are a plus. Additional languages – even better
• Juris Doctor from an accredited law school and admitted to the Bar of the State of Ohio (or if not currently admitted, expected to obtain admission within 12 months from date of hire) preferred
• Prior Legal Aid or related work experience a plus, but not required

Other Details

• It is the policy of LASCO not to discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, national origin, disability, age, ancestry, and military status or any other characteristic protected by law.
• This position reports to the Managing Attorney and is based in Athens, Ohio. This role will require some travel throughout the following service areas: Noble, Morgan, Washington, Athens, Meigs, Gallia, and Vinton counties.
• LASCO offers an excellent comprehensive benefits package, currently including an employer funded HRA (up to $12,000), employer-paid employee dental and vision insurance, a language skills differential ($2,500-$3,500 annually), paid vacation, sick and holiday time, LRAP (up to $6,000), and ongoing training and development opportunities.