Attorney- Housing and Community Economic Development

Advocates for Basic Legal Equality, Inc. (ABLE), a non-profit law firm with a long history of representing low-income clients in Ohio in achieving equal justice and opportunity, seeks a resourceful, culturally competent attorney for its Dayton office.

The Attorney will work with ABLE’s Housing and Community Economic Development Practice Group. Using a community and movement lawyering approach, the Attorney will provide legal support to community-driven advocacy in West Dayton, including representation to assist tenant and community groups in building power, advocacy capacity, and promoting racial justice.

The Attorney will work closely with a community organizer to support tenant groups in West Dayton in campaigns and other advocacy work to address resident-identified issues. For example, the attorney may work with a group of public housing tenants to challenge poor housing conditions, help another group of tenants form a legally recognizable resident council, develop a tenant advocacy coalition in West Dayton, or assist with policy advocacy to promote community participation in policing policies. Depending on the Attorney’s experience and the client community’s needs, the Attorney may offer transactional legal services, policy or legislative advocacy, and/or conduct litigation. The Attorney will spend time working with client groups in their neighborhoods to build trusting relationships. ABLE engages in community lawyering to ensure that our legal work not only aligns with community needs, but that it supports initiatives from and is led by the impacted community.

The Attorney must be committed to working closely with community members and groups, including work outside of the office in the neighborhoods, community centers, and other locations where clients feel comfortable. The Attorney must have excellent interpersonal skills and be experienced in working in collaborative environments. Membership in Ohio Bar or ability to be admitted by motion or temporary certification is required. The ideal candidate will have 0-4 years of legal experience. Familiarity with the community and movement lawyering models is preferred. A commitment to working with disenfranchised communities—particularly those impacted by systemic racism—is required. Ability to relate well with, respect, connect and develop rapport with BIPOC clients and community groups is also required. Legal experience in landlord/tenant, civil rights, or poverty law in general is helpful.

Salary depends on relevant legal experience. Excellent fringe benefits, including health insurance and student loan repayment assistance up to $6000 per year through the Ohio Access to Justice Foundation. Remote work is likely, but court hearings, meetings with community partners, and client-based work in person is required.

To Apply: If you are interested in applying for this position, please visit https://www.ablelaw.org/careers-with-able/ to apply. Position will remain open until 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].