Position Available
Managing Attorney
Meaningful and Appropriate Education Practice Group
Advocates for Basic Legal Equality, Inc. (ABLE), a non-profit regional law firm that provides high-quality legal assistance to persons living in poverty in western Ohio, seeks an attorney with excellent leadership, advocacy, writing, and organizational skills to lead its Meaningful and Appropriate Education Practice Group.
The Managing Attorney provides leadership for effective and strategic legal services to meet critical client needs. The Managing Attorney will coordinate and manage attorneys and paralegals in ABLE's Education Practice Group. The group provides legal representation to low-income children and parents in special education cases seeking to obtain appropriate and inclusive services, advocates for appropriate educational opportunities for children in poverty, including a focus on discipline cases and disrupting the school to prison pipeline, particularly for African American and Latino young people and children with disabilities who are disproportionately impacted by these policies.
The Managing Attorney will:
• Provide leadership, creativity, passion, and inspiration in guiding the practice group to implement the overall mission of the firm.
• Work with practice group members and the Director of Advocacy to develop a practice group work plan designed to have a lasting impact on educational practices and to create equity and justice in education.
• Effectively supervise legal work within the practice group and mentor new attorneys to ensure all legal work meets ABLE’s high quality standards and meets measurable outcomes established in the practice group and individual work plans, and be accountable for progress on cases and projects.
• Think strategically and view issues from a systemic and impact perspective while managing the practice group’s high-volume caseload.
• Utilize diverse skills, talents and backgrounds of staff to develop a strong team.
• Manage certain aspects of grant writing and grant reporting to funders supporting the work of the practice group.
ABLE is an Equal Opportunity Employer and places a high value on diversity in our workplace, including diversity in race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, and physical ability. We strive to create an environment welcoming to all individuals and we encourage applications from individuals traditionally underrepresented in the legal profession. Equal access to ABLE’s office is available. Applicants requiring accommodation to the interview/ application process should contact the recruitment coordinator at the address listed above.
The Managing Attorney must demonstrate excellent legal, communication, and advocacy skills, administrative leadership, supervisory and mentoring experience, initiative and sound judgment, and the ability to handle and supervise major advocacy projects. The ideal applicant has practical knowledge and experience in special education law, and an understanding of the socio-cultural issues experienced by people living in poverty. The Managing Attorney must have excellent interpersonal skills and be experienced in working in collaborative and group environments.
Regular travel required. Membership in Ohio Bar or ability to be admitted by motion or temporary certification is required; experience with case management software and Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.); familiarity with database and GIS mapping software preferred. Ability to relate well with clients living in poverty and a demonstrated commitment to public interest law required. Minimum of five years legal experience required. Federal litigation experience preferred. Ability to communicate fluently in Spanish is valued at ABLE.
To Apply: Applications will only be accepted by email. Send resume and cover letter electronically by Friday, June 8, 2018, in Microsoft Word format, to:
Email: [email protected]
Subject: Managing Attorney – Meaningful and Appropriate Education Practice Group