Juvenile Justice Attorney - Policy & Advocacy

National Legal Aid & Defender Association; Columbus (OH); Remote; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

403(b) retirement plan

Paid time off

Job summary

Children’s Law Center, Inc. is seeking a strategic attorney to lead statewide youth justice policy efforts in Ohio and to grow local work in Columbus and/or Cleveland.

The role involves prioritizing projects, expanding existing initiatives, and coordinating with partners across the state. The position is remote with in-person requirements such as Statehouse meetings in Columbus, community outreach, and occasional travel within Ohio.

Qualifications

• Experience leading youth justice policy initiatives at a statewide level.
• Strong skills in legal analysis, policy research, and public education.

Responsibilities

• Lead youth justice policy advocacy focused on preventing youth transfer to adult court.
• Advance recommendations from state working groups into law and policy.
• Conduct legal analysis and policy research on state and local legislation and practices.
• Plan and facilitate stakeholder meetings with youth, families, and legislators.
• Draft testimony, policy briefs, and public education materials.
• Supervise interns and fellows and collaborate with community partners.

Skills

Youth justice policy

Legal advocacy

Stakeholder engagement

Job description

Position Description Children's Law Center, Inc. (CLC) is a nonprofit legal service center that protects the rights of children and youth - so they can grow up in safe, healthy ways. We achieve our mission through direct legal assistance, policy reform, community education, and information & referral.

Position Description Children's Law Center, Inc. (CLC) is a nonprofit legal service center that protects the rights of children and youth - so they can grow up in safe, healthy ways. We achieve our mission through direct legal assistance, policy reform, community education, and information & referral.

Overview

Children’s Law Center is seeking a strategic, experienced attorney to help lead statewide youth justice policy efforts in Ohio while growing our local work in Greater Columbus and/or Greater Cleveland. CLC currently has projects in both communities, and this role will support them - helping to prioritize projects, deepen certain existing projects, and expand into new ones.

Location & Travel:

The position is remote, but we seek candidates based in (or able to relocate to) Ohio- particularly Greater Columbus or Greater Cleveland, with a preference for Columbus. Some in-person work is required, including Statehouse and stakeholder meetings in Columbus, client and community work in the attorney’s home region, and occasional travel to and around Columbus/Cleveland and other parts of Ohio. Must have access to a reliable vehicle, high-speed internet, and a mobile phone. A Columbus-based attorney would support CLC's growing focus on Columbus.

Team & Supervision

CLC’s headquarters is in Covington, KY, from which team members work in Cincinnati, OH, and Northern Kentucky, and travel throughout both states. This position is supervised by the CLC Executive Director and Deputy Director, who are both based in Covington/Cincinnati. CLC also has team members in Lexington and a team member based in Columbus (an Equal Justice Works Fellow, 2026 law graduate, leading a 2-year project). This position would supervise the Fellow’s Columbus-based work. CLC does not currently have other staff in Cleveland.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead Youth Justice Policy Advocacy Efforts Focused On Preventing Youth Transfer To Adult Court, Improving Detention Conditions, Promoting Community-based Alternatives, And Ending Deep-end Punishments. This Includes Efforts To
• Advance CLC’s work to reduce bindover (transfer of youth to adult court) through legal and policy research, legislative and administrative advocacy, coalition-building, and public education- including helping advance CLC’s bindover storytelling project, an artistic multimedia exhibit that shares the experiences of young people tried as adults.
• Advance the Recommendations of the Governor’s Juvenile Justice Working Group, working with state leaders, agencies, and partners to move aligned recommendations into law, policy, and practice across Ohio.
• Conduct legal analysis and policy research on state and local legislation, case law, and systemic practices.
• Plan and facilitate stakeholder meetings, including statewide policy network meetings and targeted advocacy/lobbying meetings; engage impacted youth and families, community partners, legislators, and system actors to co-create solutions that are just, youth-centered, and racially equitable.
• Track and influence legislation, including drafting testimony, providing expert analysis, and representing the organization in policy coalitions and workgroups.
• Create and disseminate policy content such as reports, fact sheets, legislative briefs, and public education materials.
• Serve as a public voice, including speaking to the media, authoring opinion pieces, and educating communities about youth justice reform.
• Build and expand direct services in Columbus or Cleveland (depending on where the candidate is based), which could include education advocacy, record sealing and expungement, and victims’ rights representation-carried a modest caseload that also informs CLC’s policy priorities.
• Strengthen CLC’s Columbus and Cleveland projects, helping to prioritize and deepen current work and identify new opportunities that respond to community needs.
• Supervise/mentor interns, law students, and CLC’s Columbus-based Equal Justice Works Fellow.
• Collaborate with youth and families impacted by the justice system, including visits to youth and adult facilities.

Current Priorities

• Ending transfer of youth to adult court (bindover) and reducing extreme sentencing for children.
• Promoting restorative and community-based responses to youth behavior.
• Improving conditions in juvenile and adult facilities housing youth.
• Combating the adultification of youth and harmful public narratives around youth justice.
• Advancing recommendations of the Governor’s Juvenile Justice Working Group, especially to reduce the number of youth entering DYS.
• Expanding direct legal services for youth in Columbus (potentially also Cleveland, depending on applicant location).

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience.
• Employer-supported health, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance.
• 403(b) retirement plan with employer contribution.
• 20 days paid time off annually, plus holidays.

This is more than a job—it’s a chance to transform systems that impact Ohio’s most vulnerable youth. If you’ve advocated for kids in the courtroom and are ready to shape the policies that define their futures - while continuing to stand beside young people as their lawyer we want to hear from you.

CLC is an equal-opportunity employer. People who have experienced systemic exclusion- including based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender, or sexual orientation, and those who are formerly incarcerated or justice-system-impacted - are encouraged to apply. CLC considers applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.