Senior Attorney- Agricultural Worker and Immigrant Rights Practice Group

ABLE • Toledo, OH

4d • Hybrid

About The Position

Advocates for Basic Legal Equality (ABLE) is a nonprofit law firm established over 50 years ago to ensure that the most vulnerable people in our communities have the same access to justice as people and companies that can afford to retain an attorney. ABLE and its partner law firm, Legal Aid of Western Ohio (LAWO), are the only law firms available for comprehensive legal representation in non-criminal matters for more than 425,000 people living, working, and raising their families in poverty in Northwest and West Central Ohio. ABLE advocates for and with financially disadvantaged individuals and communities to effectuate just and equitable policy changes that address the structural causes of poverty and to protect their right to fairness and justice in the legal system. 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. ABLE seeks a Senior Attorney to join the leadership team in AIR. The senior attorney will work under the leadership of the supervising attorney and the managing attorney to serve as lead and co-counsel in systemic impact cases, such as class and mass actions challenging discriminatory immigration policies, civil rights, and Constitutional violations. The attorney will also lead individual employment actions on behalf of agricultural workers. The senior attorney may also serve as lead on a grant or specific project within AIR as opportunities arise. This position requires 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. A successful applicant will also have a demonstrated ability to mentor junior staff, and an ability to assist with reporting service outcomes to funders or other stakeholders.

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.

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.
• 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
• Education Level: No Education Listed