Supervising Attorney - Housing & Community Economic Development

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 Supervising Attorney for the Housing & Community Economic Development (HCED) Practice Group is a leadership position responsible for supervising legal staff while advancing litigation, policy advocacy, and community-based legal strategies. This role leads a multidisciplinary team including attorneys, paralegals, community organizers, and social workers in delivering high-quality legal services to low-income individuals and communities across ABLE’s 32-county service area, with a focus on northern Ohio.

The HCED Practice Group utilizes a community lawyering model to support neighborhood residents in building healthy, economically vibrant communities. The Supervising Attorney will guide advocacy efforts that uplift client voices and partner with tenants and tenant organizations to enforce and strengthen housing laws. This position combines direct legal advocacy with program leadership, strategic planning, and staff supervision to drive meaningful, community-centered impact.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES (other duties as assigned):
Supervise and mentor attorneys, paralegals, and support staff, including oversight of casework, advocacy strategies, and professional development
Lead and coordinate litigation, policy and systemic advocacy, and community lawyering initiatives within the HCED Practice Group
Provide high-quality legal representation, including litigation, negotiation, and administrative advocacy
Support and advance community-based advocacy efforts, including collaboration with tenant organizations and neighborhood groups
Ensure integration of ABLE’s community lawyering model into all aspects of practice group work
Maintain a manageable caseload consistent with supervisory responsibilities
Build and maintain relationships with community partners, public officials, courts, and advocacy organizations
Participate in strategic planning and contribute to organizational leadership discussions
Ensure compliance with ABLE policies, funding requirements, and reporting obligations

SCOPE & IMPACT:
This position plays a critical leadership role in shaping ABLE’s housing and community economic development advocacy across western Ohio. The Supervising Attorney directly impacts service delivery, staff development, and the effectiveness of systemic advocacy efforts. Through leadership of the HCED Practice Group, this role helps drive lasting improvements in housing stability and community conditions for low-income residents.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school
Licensed attorney admitted to the Ohio Bar or eligible for admission by motion or passage of the next bar examination
Demonstrated litigation and advocacy experience
Strong leadership, supervision, and organizational skills
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Commitment to serving low-income individuals and communities

PREFERRED REQUIREMENTS:
Minimum of three (3) years of legal experience
Experience in housing law, community economic development, or related practice areas
Demonstrated leadership, supervisory, and administrative abilities
Prior experience supervising attorneys, paralegals, or other professional staff
Experience with community lawyering, policy advocacy, or movement-based legal work
Fluency in Spanish or another language relevant to client communities

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
This position directly supervises attorneys, paralegals, and/or law clerks and is responsible for personnel management, mentoring, performance evaluation, and workload oversight.

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 starting salary for this position is $81,000.00 and increases 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 is based out of our Toledo or 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. We strive to create an environment welcoming to all individuals. Applicants requiring accommodation for the interview/application process should contact the recruitment coordinator at [email protected].