Senior Attorney- Agricultural Worker and Immigrant Rights Practice Group

ABLE • Toledo, OH

8d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Attorney position is a leadership role within the Agricultural Worker and Immigrant Rights (AIR) practice group at Advocates for Basic Legal Equality, Inc. (ABLE). ABLE is a regional non-profit law firm dedicated to pursuing justice and equity for low-income individuals through legal representation and systemic reform. The AIR group specifically empowers low-income immigrants and agricultural workers through legal representation, community education, and organizing. The role involves direct representation in immigration matters, litigation of individual, class action, and mass action cases in federal and state courts, and advocacy for policy changes. The Senior Attorney will work under the leadership of the supervising and managing attorneys, serving as lead or co-counsel in systemic impact cases and individual employment actions. This position requires significant litigation experience and offers the opportunity to lead grant-funded projects.

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.
• Must possess a valid driver's license and be insurable.

Nice To Haves

• Litigation experience, including litigation planning, legal research, pleadings drafting, motion practice, discovery, and trial experience.
• Expertise in immigration, employment, civil rights, or Constitutional litigation is preferred.
• Experience working with low-income individuals or marginalized communities.
• Fluency or advanced proficiency in Spanish.
• Additional language proficiency is a plus.

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.
• 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.

Benefits

• health insurance
• annual leave
• sick leave
• supplemental language compensation
• loan repayment assistance for attorneys through the Ohio Access to Justice Foundation
• paid parental leave

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior