Executive Director

Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services; Nashville (TN); On-site; USD 110,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services (TALS) seeks an experienced Executive Director to provide visionary leadership and expand access to civil legal services for low-income Tennesseans. The role leads strategic planning, fundraising, and stakeholder collaboration with a dedicated board and staff.

The candidate will drive innovative programs, ensure fiscal stability, and advocate for justice on a statewide scale, while managing talent and operations from the Nashville office.

Qualifications

• Doctorate degree required; admission to the Tennessee bar or willingness to seek admission through comity or sit for the next Tennessee bar exam required
• State, regional and national relationship-building skills and experience
• Successful track record in fundraising, grant writing, and resource development
• Progressive management experience including staff supervision and financial oversight
• Federal, state and local contracting experience preferred
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Commitment to cultural competency and collaborative leadership
• Legal aid or public interest leadership experience preferred

Responsibilities

• Provide visionary leadership and strategic direction for TALS and its programs
• Oversee fundraising and resource development to strengthen financial stability
• Foster collaboration among civil legal services providers and funders
• Guide planning with the board and staff to advance access to justice across Tennessee
• Represent TALS at state, regional, and national levels and build partnerships

Skills

Relationship building

Communication skills

Leadership

Fundraising

Strategic planning

Education

Doctorate degree

Job description

TENNESSEE ALLIANCE FOR LEGAL SERVICES SEEKS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Position Closes November 6, 2026

Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services (TALS) seeks an experienced and visionary Executive Director who possesses a demonstrated passion for expanding access to justice and advocating for low-income and other vulnerable Tennessee populations.

TALS is a statewide non‑profit organization committed to:

Empowering its constituencies, especially those in need;

Providing visionary and effective leadership;

Serving the public interest by improving access to civil legal assistance;

Advocating for justice for those in need; and

Advancing collaboration and building consensus among providers of legal services for the common good.

TALS was created in 1977 with a two‑fold mission: To support and coordinate the activities of

civil legal service providers in Tennessee and to spearhead statewide efforts to further access to

justice for low‑income Tennesseans. The successful candidate will work closely with TALS’

dedicated board and staff to continue the organization’s mission, strengthening the delivery of

civil legal help to vulnerable Tennesseans.

TALS seeks an Executive Director with a vision and

commitment to developing and expanding innovative programs and tools, addressing future funding challenges and advancing the program’s role as a center for innovation, training and expertise in our state.

Key Priorities:

• Ensure that high-quality legal advice and information continue to be accessible statewide through TALS’ civil legal helpline, 1 844 HELP4TN, and Tennessee Free Legal Answers and that statewide legal help resources are available through TALS’ web portal WWW.HELP4TN.org;
• Continue high-quality programing for the legal aid provider community through TALS’ task forces and executing Equal Justice University;
• Demonstrate a commitment and outlook for innovative solutions to future challenges; Network at the state, regional and national levels to create and strengthen relationships with collaborative partners and funders;
• Guide strategic planning with the board and staff which builds on program strengths with a vision for the future;
• Strengthen TALS’ fiscal stability by seeking traditional and non-traditional funding sources to increase capacity towards TALS’ core mission;
• Creatively util za technology to improve service to low‑income Tennesseans and to allow staff to work more effectively and efficiently;
• Work collaboratively with the board of directors to ensure that the mission of TALS is implemented; and
• Recruit, supervise, develop, support, and evaluate TALS staff and foster a collaborative, inclusive, and high‑performing workplace.

Qualifications:

Juis

• Doctorate degree required. Admission to the Tennessee bar or the willingness to seek admission through comity or sit for the next Tennessee bar exam required
• State, regional and national relationship building skills and experience
• Successful track record in resource development, fundraising and grant writing
• Progressive management experience involving staff supervision, financial oversight and
• Federal, State and local government contracting experience preferred
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Skill set and demonstrated commitment to advancing cultural competency
• Collaborative leadership style, professionalism, integrity, energy, compassion and sense of humor
• Legal aid or public interest leadership experience preferred
• Demonstrated commitment to and passion for advancing civil access to justice

Physical presence in the Nashville office preferred. Candidates not living in the Middle Tennessee area will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Salary Range: $110,000-$135,000 depending on experience

About TALS

Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services (TALS) is a statewide non‑profit organization that builds

partnerships to support the delivery of effective civil legal services for low‑income and elderly

Tennesseans. TALS manages a web portal providing legal information-www.HELP4TN.org, and staffs 1-

888-HELP4TN, a toll-free civil legal services referral and information phone line. Learn more at