Senior Attorney- Agricultural Worker and Immigrant Rights Practice Group

Advocates for Basic Legal Equality, Inc; Toledo (OH); Hybrid; USD 81,000 - 108,202; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Annual leave

Sick leave

Language compensation

Loan repayment assistance

Paid parental leave

Job summary

Advocates for Basic Legal Equality, Inc. (ABLE) seeks a Senior Attorney in Toledo, OH to lead the Agricultural Worker and Immigrant Rights practice. The attorney will serve as lead or co-counsel in systemic impact cases and may guide projects within AIR, including grants.

The role requires senior-level advocacy, strong leadership, and a commitment to racial justice. Hybrid work after onboarding with in-office presence in Toledo.

Qualifications

• Licensed to practice law in Ohio or eligible for admission by motion or temporary certification.
• At least 5 years of major advocacy experience, including litigation, policy advocacy, or major projects.
• Strong litigation, trial, and/or community advocacy skills.
• Ability to mentor and co-counsel with less experienced staff.
• Strong interpersonal and leadership skills.
• Commitment to ABLE’s mission and to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Demonstrated understanding of and engagement with issues of racial justice and structural racism.

Responsibilities

• Provide high-quality legal representation to clients in state and federal courts, including class and mass actions.
• Develop goals and priorities for AIR’s impact litigation throughout Ohio.
• Lead and implement litigation plans, including pleadings, motions, discovery, and hearings.
• Mentor junior attorneys and staff involved in cases.
• Build relationships with pro-bono firms and community partners; supervise staff in outreach.
• Grow expertise in immigration matters (bond, habeas, removal) as capacity allows.
• Publish, present at trainings, and participate in advocacy coalitions.
• Use data tools to manage cases, track outcomes, and report progress.
• Travel statewide for casework, court appearances, and community engagement.

Skills

Ohio Bar admission

Litigation

Team leadership

Mentoring staff

Job description

SENIOR ATTORNEY (Litigation)

Agricultural Worker and Immigrant Rights Practice Group

Advocates for Basic Legal Equality, Inc. (ABLE) is a regional non‑profit law firm dedicated to pursuing justice and equity, facilitating access to opportunities for people with low incomes through passionate legal representation, and providing steadfast advocacy for systemic reform. ABLE is affiliated with Legal Aid of Western Ohio (LAWO), also a regional non‑profit law firm that provides legal assistance.

Job Summary

The Senior Attorney position is a leadership role within the Agricultural Worker and Immigrant Rights (AIR) practice group. AIR empowers low‑income immigrants and agricultural workers through high‑quality legal representation, community education, and organizing. The attorney will serve as lead or co‑counsel in systemic impact cases—class and mass actions challenging discriminatory immigration policies, civil rights, and constitutional violations—and will lead individual employment actions on behalf of agricultural workers. The role may also involve leading grants or specific projects within AIR as opportunities arise.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities

• Provide high‑quality legal representation to clients and client classes in individual, class action, and mass action civil rights and agricultural‑worker employment cases in state and federal courts.
• Work with the managing attorney and other staff to develop goals and priorities for AIR’s impact litigation throughout Ohio.
• Lead, develop, and implement litigation plans and cases, including identification of potential cases and causes of action, complaint drafting, motion practice, discovery, oral arguments, and hearings. Mentor attorneys and legal staff involved in those cases.
• Build and strengthen relationships with existing and new pro‑bono firms and other community partners; supervise junior staff’s relationship building with litigation partners.
• Build and grow expertise in immigration matters, including but not limited to bond, habeas, and removal defense representation (when capacity allows).
• Ensure all legal work meets ABLE’s high‑quality standards and achieves measurable outcomes.
• Author publications, present at state/regional/national trainings, and engage in advocacy coalitions.
• Employ community lawyering to empower client communities and identify systemic issues.
• Use technology to manage cases, track outcomes, and report data.
• Occasional statewide travel for casework, court appearances, and community engagement.

Scope & Impact

This position provides leadership in major advocacy initiatives, significantly impacting ABLE’s service to low‑income and marginalized communities. The Senior Attorney is responsible for case outcomes, strategic advocacy development, and strengthening ABLE’s community relationships.

Minimum Requirements

• Licensed to practice law in Ohio or eligible for admission by motion or temporary certification.
• At least 5 years of major advocacy experience, including litigation, policy advocacy, or major projects.
• Strong litigation, trial, and/or community advocacy skills.
• Ability to mentor and co‑counsel with less experienced staff.
• Strong interpersonal and leadership skills.
• Commitment to ABLE’s mission and to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Demonstrated understanding of and engagement with issues of racial justice and structural racism.

Preferred Requirements

• Experience working with low‑income individuals or marginalized communities.
• Fluency or advanced proficiency in Spanish.
• Additional language proficiency is a plus.

Physical Demands / Work Environment

• Work is performed in a normal office environment.
• Requires frequent sitting, keyboarding, and face‑to‑face or phone communication.
• Must possess a valid driver's license and be insurable.
• May require walking several blocks or overnight travel.
• New staff are required to work in the office full‑time during their first 90 days of employment. Following this onboarding period, a hybrid work schedule is available with a minimum of two in‑office days per week.

Compensation, Benefits and Work Location

ABLE offers an annual salary range of $81,000 to $108,202, depending on relevant experience. Comprehensive fringe benefits include health insurance, annual leave, sick leave, supplemental language compensation, loan repayment assistance for attorneys through the Ohio Access to Justice Foundation, and paid parental leave. This position will be based out of the Toledo, Ohio office.

Other Duties

PLEASE NOTE: This job posting is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive list of activities, duties, or responsibilities required of the incumbent. ABLE may revise or eliminate the requirements and responsibilities of this position at any time to reflect its needs and objectives. ABLE will notify affected employees of any changes and the effective date of such changes.

Apply

Visit https://www.ablelaw.org/careers-with-able to submit your application. The position will remain open until it is filled.

Equal Opportunity Employment Statement

ABLE is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We strive to create an environment welcoming to all individuals. Applicants requiring accommodation for the interview/application process should contact the recruitment coordinator at [e-mail].