Senior Attorney- Agricultural Worker and Immigrant Rights Practice Group

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

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Annual leave

Sick leave

Parental leave

Loan repayment assistance

Job summary

Advocates for Basic Legal Equality, Inc (ABLE) seeks a Senior Attorney (Litigation) to lead the Agricultural Worker and Immigrant Rights practice in Ohio. The role provides high-quality civil rights representation, supports impact litigation, and mentors junior staff.

The Senior Attorney will travel statewide and collaborate with pro bono partners. Requirements include Ohio licensure, 5+ years of advocacy experience, strong leadership and communication skills, and a commitment to racial justice.

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.

Responsibilities

• Provide high-quality legal representation in civil rights and agricultural-worker employment cases in state and federal courts.
• Develop goals and priorities for AIR’s impact litigation across Ohio.
• Lead litigation plans, draft complaints, manage discovery, and argue motions/hearings; mentor staff.

Skills

Leadership

Litigation

Mentoring

Advocacy

Diversity & Inclusion

Communication

Education

Licensed to practice law in Ohio

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. Our mission is to pursue justice and equity, facilitate access to opportunities for people with low incomes through passionate legal representation, and provide 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 position within the Agricultural Worker and Immigrant Rights (AIR) practice group at ABLE. AIR advocates empower low-income immigrants and agricultural workers through high-quality legal representation, community education, and community organizing. We work for a future where systems are just, and our clients have equal opportunities to thrive in society regardless of where they come from or what type of work they do. AIR provides direct representation to clients applying for humanitarian relief before USCIS, EOIR, and in federal court, and host pro se clinics to advise and provide limited representation for clients in a number of immigration matters. We also litigate individual, class action, and mass action cases in federal and state court to enjoin discriminatory state and federal policies and actions. As an unrestricted legal services organization, ABLE also advocates for changes in local, state, and federal policies and laws to achieve justice for immigrants and refugees. ABLE engages client communities and stakeholders to amplify our advocacy efforts and center impacted voices.

Job Description

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES (other duties as assigned)

• 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.
• Work with AIR leadership to build and strengthen relationships with existing and new pro bono firms and other community partners; participate in existing coalitions; supervise junior staff’s relationship building with litigation partners.
• If capacity allows, build and grow expertise in immigration matters, including but not limited to bond, habeas, and removal defense representation.
• 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.
• Effectively 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.

The successful candidate must have the following skills and experience:

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 is committed to providing an equitable work environment, including a commitment to pay equity. The annual salary range for this position is $81,000 to $108,202, depending on relevant experience.

• health insurance
• annual leave
• sick leave
• supplemental language compensation
• loan repayment assistance for attorneys through the Ohio Access to Justice Foundation
• 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 that are required of the incumbent for this job. ABLE can 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.

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].