Position Overview
Equality Ohio’s Staff Attorney provides direct representation to LGBTQ+ Ohioans with incomes at or below 300% of the federal poverty level. This role is responsible for providing civil legal assistance in the Central Ohio region and community support in accordance with the Legal Clinic’s community lawyering model and trauma-informed services.
Position Details
SUPERVISOR | Legal Clinic Director
SALARY RANGE | $72,000 - $80,000
CLASSIFICATION | Part-Time Exempt
LOCATION | The person in this position must reside in Columbus, Ohio or be willing to relocate. This position is a hybrid in-person and virtual position. The role includes travel within the state of Ohio for court appearances, filing, and other presentations or events statewide. The role includes regular travel within the Central Ohio region and occasionally to other parts of Ohio.
Bargaining Unit
This position is part of a bargaining unit represented by the Chicago & Midwest Regional Joint Board of Workers United. Specific terms and conditions of employment are subject to negotiations for a Collective Bargaining Agreement.
Duties
Detailed listing of position-specific responsibilities
Legal Representation and Advocacy
- Provide direct legal representation to LGBTQ+ clients in civil matters, including but not limited to: family law, protection orders, discrimination mediation, Social Security/insurance appeals, unemployment claims, and legal name and gender marker corrections.
- Support legal advocacy and, when appropriate, direct representation for individuals who are incarcerated in facilities across the state.
- Conduct comprehensive legal intake via email, phone, and in-person consultations to assess client needs and determine appropriate levels of service.
Administrative and Programmatic Support
- Participate in all required internal meetings, including one-on-one supervision sessions, weekly legal team meetings, Wednesday all-staff huddles, and monthly all-staff meetings.
- Accurately complete and submit monthly grant reporting, ensuring timely documentation of client services and outcomes.
- Contribute to the development and distribution of community education resources, such as LGBTQ+ “Know Your Rights” brochures, training materials, and video content.
- Assist with legal training and presentations to external agencies, community organizations, and professional partners upon request.
- Provide logistical and staffing support at Equality Ohio events, including community outreach and engagement activities such as Pride festivals, Allies & Advocates, and fundraising events.
Other Responsibilities
- Perform other duties and special projects as assigned to support the success of the legal program and the broader organizational mission.
- Shared Organization Responsibilities
- Upholding and advancing Equality Ohio’s vision, mission, and values.
- Participation in internal staff meetings, including weekly Touch Points, monthly staff meetings, equity trainings, and period retreats and strategic planning sessions
- Adapting to and utilizing internal communications and document retention protocols and platforms
- Providing content and expertise to inform grant proposals and reports and funder communications as needed
Qualifications, Skills, Profile, & Work EnvironmentQUALIFICATIONS | What backgrounds, skills, and experiences are we looking for?
Candidates are required to be/have:
- Juris Doctorate (Barred attorney in the state of Ohio, in good standing)
- Minimum 2 years experience practicing law preferred
- Unwavering commitment to addressing the needs of LGBTQ+ Ohioans
- Awareness of the issue priorities, policy battles, and experiences of LGBTQ+ Ohioans
- Demonstrated familiarity and comfort working with the LGBTQ+ community - Demonstrated passion for public interest and social justice work
- Excellent oral, written and listening communication skills
- Ability to work with diverse groups in an intersectional manner and across all levels of organizations with a commitment to teamwork
- Effective public speaking and presentation skills
- Demonstrated reliability, creativity, versatility, and initiative
- Proficiency with Office (Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Outlook), Google Drive, and LexisNexis/Westlaw or other legal research software
- Have a valid driver’s license, regular access to a vehicle with insurance, and ability to travel across the state
PROFILE | What are the characteristics of a successful candidate for this position?
Successful candidates should be/have:
- Commitment to Equality Ohio’s vision, mission, and values, with a particular focus on racial justice.
- Passionate about LGBTQ+ equality
- Collaborative team player with an appreciation for diverse approaches to the work.
- The flexibility and humility to thrive in a fast-paced hybrid remote and in-person environment.
- Client-Centered Advocate: Committed to providing affirming, trauma-informed legal services that prioritize the dignity, safety, and agency of LGBTQ+ individuals and families, particularly those impacted by systemic injustice.
- Legal Proficiency: Demonstrates a strong understanding of and experience in relevant areas of civil law, including family law, name and gender marker changes, protection orders, discrimination, and public benefits appeals.
- Regional Insight: Possesses familiarity with the unique legal, cultural, and social landscape of Central Ohio, including rural and underserved communities, and is responsive to localized needs and challenges.
- Equity and Justice Focused: Applies an intersectional lens to all aspects of legal work, with a demonstrated commitment to racial, gender, economic, and disability justice.
- Strong Communicator: Capable of explaining complex legal concepts clearly to diverse audiences; adept at collaborating with clients, colleagues, and community stakeholders.
- Organized and Detail-Oriented: Skilled in managing a dynamic caseload, meeting deadlines, maintaining accurate documentation, and contributing to grant reporting requirements.
- Collaborative Team Member: Works well in a team-oriented, mission-driven environment; contributes actively to meetings, program planning, and organizational events.
- Community Engagement Oriented: Values public legal education and is willing to participate in outreach, training, and the development of informational materials to empower and inform the community.
- Adaptable and Mission-Aligned: Comfortable navigating a growing organization; able to adjust to shifting priorities while remaining grounded in Equality Ohio’s mission and values.
Work EnvironmentSchedule
Equality Ohio’s regular business hours are 9:00am to 5:00pm Eastern Time, Monday through Friday. Non-exempt employees shall be permitted a 30-minute paid lunch each day. All employees shall be entitled to a fifteen (15) minute break for each four (4) hour period worked. The default regular work week shall consist of forty (40) hours per week.
Due to the nature of the work of Equality Ohio - and this position in particular - employees may have to work weeknights and weekends. Employees may be permitted to balance time to equalize their workload and account for the flexibility needed to accomplish the above-mentioned work. To provide opportunities for internal meetings, employees are generally expected to establish a schedule such that they are typically available for work meetings during the hours between 9:00am and 4:00pm Eastern Time, Monday through Friday, recognizing that circumstances may at times require a meeting to take place outside of this timeframe. As an organization, we expressly strive to limit the number of meetings on Fridays after 12:30 noon.
Travel
This position is a hybrid in-person and virtual position. The role will include travel within the state of Ohio for court appearances, filing, and other presentations or events statewide. The role will include regular travel within the Central Ohio region and occasionally to other parts of Ohio.
Candidates should be able to travel independently across the state, sometimes overnight. In-state travel outside of the office is estimated at approximately two (2) times per month. Out-of-state travel may occur up to three (3) times per year.
Travel will be reimbursed or paid for directly per EO’s internal policies. Mileage is reimbursed at the standard IRS rate. Per diem’s are provided and vary based on in-state or out-of-state travel.
Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to effectively perform the essential functions of the Central Ohio (CWO) Staff Attorney position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions.
- Stationary Work: Frequently required to remain in a seated or stationary position for extended periods while conducting legal research, drafting documents, or meeting with clients.
- Mobility: Regularly moves about the office and off-site locations including courtrooms, community centers, and partner organizations.
- Travel: Frequently travels throughout the Central Ohio region for court appearances, client meetings, outreach events, and community engagement. Must be able to travel independently by car or public transportation.
- Communication: Frequently communicates with clients, courts, colleagues, and community partners. Must be able to clearly and effectively exchange information in person, by phone, video, and in writing.
- Technology Use: Frequently operates a computer, telephone, and other standard office equipment; uses legal software and online systems for research, case management, and documentation.
- Visual Acuity: Must be able to review detailed legal documents, digital files, and case records with precision and accuracy.
- Manual Dexterity: Requires use of hands and fingers to type, write, file, and manage case materials.
- Lifting/Carrying: Occasionally lifts or carries materials such as case files, outreach materials, and equipment weighing up to 15–20 pounds.
- Emotional Resilience: This position involves interaction with individuals experiencing trauma, discrimination, or crisis situations and requires strong emotional intelligence and the ability to maintain professional boundaries.
- The work environment will include both office and field settings, with occasional high-stress situations typical in legal advocacy and client-centered roles.
Salary & Benefits
- Salary Range
- $72,000 - $80,000, with medical (including Flexible Spending Account), vision, life, and dental insurance options, paid time off and non-matching investment account access
- Benefit Package
- Generous time off package, including paid vacation after six months of employment, 10 paid holidays, 15 days of paid organizational shutdown breaks, 2 weeks of paid sick leave per year, paid family and medical leave, and more.
- Health and vision insurance with minimal employee contribution ($110 per month + $110 per month for optional family coverage)
- Employee-paid dental insurance
- Paid Family Leave and sabbatical opportunities based on length of service
- FSA with employer $25 per month contribution
- Employer-paid life insurance
- Access to optional employee-paid insurance coverage, including long-term disability coverage.
- 403-B plan with employer matching
- Digital security services.
- Multiple stipend opportunities, including Bring Your Own Device, cell phone, internet, and professional development stipends.
- Access to a Bodily Autonomy Assistance Fund
Equity Commitment
Equality Ohio does not discriminate on any basis, including sex, age, class, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, ancestry, military status, genetic information, marital status, physical or mental ability or disability, race, religion, sexual orientation; access to public benefits and/or housing voucher assistance; other sources of income that do not conflict with the fundamental values or needs of the organization; veteran status; criminal record provided the past convictions do not impact funding, the organization’s values and mission, the employee’s ability to perform their core job duties, and licensing requirements; or any other characteristic protected by law.
