Career Opportunity: Legal Director & Senior Attorney - Second Chance Project with The Ohio Justice & Policy Center in Cincinnati, Ohio

Join the Fight for Justice---Lead, Litigate, and Inspire the Next Generation. Lead our Second Chance Project as both a hands-on advocate and strategic manager, representing clients in state and federal proceedings while building community partnerships and managing a dynamic team of attorneys, paralegals, and volunteers. This role combines direct legal services---from expungement clinics to impact litigation---with policy advocacy, community education, and organizational leadership to create lasting change in criminal justice reform.

As the Legal Director & Senior Attorney - Second Chance Project, you will lead OJPC's efforts to serve people with criminal records in the community, removing barriers to employment, education, housing, civic engagement, and full community integration. You will manage online and multi-site outreach legal clinics, conduct community education, and supervise a dedicated team.

In addition, as the Legal Director & Senior Attorney you will:

Manage a team of Second Chance staff, including attorneys, paralegals, interns/externs, and volunteers; recruit and evaluate interns/externs and volunteers.

Manage the organization's assigned cases through the Governor's Expedited Pardon Project.

Develop and maintain the sealing and expungement clinic schedule, including online in-house legal clinics and in-person pop-up legal clinics; cultivate relationships with clinic partners (e.g., Cincinnati Works, City of Cincinnati).

Create legal services delivery mechanisms and case tracking processes, both on paper and electronically; conduct regular audits and suggest improvements.

Represent individuals in state, federal, and administrative proceedings; provide in-depth legal assistance for pro se clients; offer other advocacy and legal advice.

Design and conduct community education sessions on legal topics; develop or update educational materials.

Collaborate with the Development team on funding efforts for the Second Chance Project, including grant writing and reporting.

Support the Executive Director and Litigation Director on impact litigation for Second Chance clients.

Research and prepare reports on Second Chance Project goals, results, and management.

Collaborate with the Policy Director on "second chance" policy reform, including criminal-legal-system reform through research and direct policy advocacy.

Represent OJPC throughout the community and spread our message.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Law degree and licensed to practice law in Ohio, or willing and able to immediately waive in.

5 plus years' experience:

Litigating cases in state or federal court

Handling a large docket of cases

Recruiting, supervising, and training attorneys, paralegals, law students, interns, and volunteers

Grant writing or other fundraising

Non-profit legal experience preferred

Experience with criminal justice systems (personal, family, professional, etc.) preferred

Experience in criminal justice reform advocacy preferred

Excellent communication, public speaking, and project management skills

Experience and enthusiasm for working well with diverse clients (racially, ethnically, geographically, and economically), communities, and colleagues, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment

Ability to travel throughout the state of Ohio occasionally

OJPC is a nonprofit law firm with offices in Cincinnati and Columbus, Ohio. We fight for equal justice and fair treatment in all stages of i

Ohio Justice Policy Center

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Legal Director & Senior Attorney - Second Chance Project