Staff Attorney – Agricultural Worker and Immigrant Rights

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.

Job Summary:
The staff attorney will lead the Agricultural Worker and Immigrant Rights (AIR) work to advance the rights of low-income immigrants and their families in Columbus and Lima, Ohio. The attorney will represent individuals in removal proceedings in Franklin County in humanitarian or family-based immigration applications before USCIS, Cleveland EOIR, the BIA, and federal circuit courts. Such applications include U Visas, T Visas, VAWA self-petitions, adjustment of status, and affirmative and defensive asylum applications.
The staff attorney will also lead ABLE’s asylum clinics in Lima and assume a small caseload there for humanitarian-based applications and, if capacity allows limited representation in removal proceedings. The attorney will work with ABLE’s community organizer to build relationships with Lima’s immigrant client communities, stakeholders, and community partners in the area. The attorney is expected to travel to Lima for a minimum of two days each month. The staff attorney will conduct educational and Know Your Rights presentations for immigrants, their family members, and service providers working with immigrant communities. The attorney will empower immigrant communities using a client and community-centered lawyering approach.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES (other duties as assigned):
• Represent clients in Franklin County in removal proceedings before the Executive Office of Immigration Review and in affirmative applications before U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, including applications for asylum, temporary protected status, VAWA self-petitions, U and T nonimmigrant statuses, adjustment of status, and naturalization. Represent clients in Lima and throughout the service area as capacity allows.
• Lead monthly or semi-monthly legal clinics in Lima, Ohio, under the guidance of a supervising or managing attorney and with the support of paralegal and administrative staff. Work collaboratively with ABLE’s community organizer to build and maintain relationships with Lima-based social service and community-based organizations. Build and maintain relationships with pro bono attorneys who volunteer at legal clinics and provide training and supervision as appropriate.
• Conduct Know Your Rights presentations to client community groups. Conduct occasional substantive immigration training courses for service providers working in ABLE’s client communities.
• Synthesize clinic and individual case outcomes and metrics for funder and community reporting. Provide client stories and assist the managing attorney with other grant reporting requirements for the Lima and Columbus-based projects.
• Collaborate and advocate with impacted community members to further issues identified by community leaders, using community lawyering approach. Maintain a good working knowledge of procedures for federal, state, and local courts and administrative agencies.
• Develop a strong understanding of immigration law and monitor legal developments.
• Establish and maintain a good working relationship with other legal services programs, community-based organizations, social service agencies, public officials, and other individuals or groups that may be involved in the provision of legal services to people impacted by poverty.
• Handle a reasonable volume of cases and advocacy projects commensurate with skill and experience.
• Actively participate in practice group initiatives to implement Strategic Advocacy Initiatives.
• Establish and maintain collaborative relationships with courts, bar associations, community partners, and other stakeholders.
• Assist in resolving complaints and grievances from applicants and clients.
• Complete required administrative tasks, including time records and case reports.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

SCOPE & IMPACT:
The Staff Attorney plays a critical role in advancing ABLE's mission by providing legal representation to vulnerable communities, advocating for systemic change, and promoting equal justice and opportunity.
The successful candidate must have the following skills and experience:

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school.
• Licensed to practice law in Ohio or eligible for admission by motion, temporary certification, or passage of the next bar examination.
• Strong commitment to ABLE’s mission, Strategic Advocacy Initiatives, and poverty law.
• Excellent legal, writing, analytical, and oral advocacy skills.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment, initiative, and professionalism.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively with diverse populations.

PREFERRED REQUIREMENTS:
• Minimum of two years of legal experience in immigration law.
• Experience in interagency cooperation, collaboration, and community engagement.
• Experience managing projects, directing legal clinics, or grant reporting desired, but not required.
• Fluency in Spanish preferred, but not required

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
• May supervise paralegals or legal assistants as assigned.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS/WORK ENVIRONMENT:
• Work is performed in a normal office environment. Experienced candidates may be eligible for remote work based out of the Columbus or Lima areas.
• Must hold a valid driver's license and be insurable
• Ability to lift and/or move up to 15 pounds

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 starts is $68,000.00 to $90,780.00 depending on experience. ABLE offers comprehensive fringe benefits, including 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 can be based remote out of Lima, Columbus or in our Dayton 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.

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

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. Applicants requiring accommodation for the interview/application process should contact the recruitment coordinator at [email protected].