Employment Opportunities

Oregon Law Center (OLC) seeks a full-time state Legislative and Policy Advocate.  This position provides an exciting opportunity for an experienced advocate to work as part of a team dedicated to improving the lives of low-income Oregonians. Legislative and administrative advocacy at OLC focuses on issues related to poverty, including family law, employment, farmworker justice, civil rights, human services and public benefits, consumer law, landlord-tenant, affordable housing and homelessness, healthcare, and domestic and sexual violence survivor advocacy.

About the Oregon Law Center

OLC is a statewide non-profit legal services program committed to achieving justice for the low-income communities of Oregon by providing a full range of the highest quality civil legal services.  OLC does not receive funding from the federal Legal Services Corporation.  OLC operates eleven regional client service offices, a litigation support unit, legislative advocacy unit, and statewide farmworker program.  OLC works closely with Legal Aid Services of Oregon and other partners in Oregon’s coordinated civil legal services delivery system.

About this Position

The position is a full-time, exempt position that reports to and is supervised by the Director of Public Affairs and Legislative Advocacy.  The position will join the director and two legislative advocates, to make a team of four.  The position requires working in Salem on a daily basis during legislative sessions and at other times as necessary. OLC operates a hybrid work model, blending in-office and remote work.

Responsibilities 

• Provide high quality legislative and administrative advocacy for OLC’s client communities.
• Help policy makers understand the needs of low-income people in Oregon and the impact various proposals could have on low-income people.
• Craft strategic legislative, administrative, and budget priorities designed to be effective in both the short and long term.
• Conduct policy research to assist with the development of policy priorities.
• Work effectively with legislative counsel, legislators, OLC lawyers, community partners and other stakeholders to draft priority legislation and amendments.
• Develop and maintain trusted relationships with the Governor’s office, legislators, and legislative staff, as well as community partners, agencies, coalitions, and the civil legal community.
• Prepare high-quality expert testimony and information for legislative committees and staff, analyze measures, negotiate solutions, and track priority bills.
• Help legal services advocates and community partners understand the legislative process, and legislative changes that impact client communities.

Requirements

• Demonstrated commitment to OLC’s mission: justice for low-income communities.
• Demonstrated commitment to antiracism and racial justice.
• Exceptional prior relevant work experience.
• A high degree of initiative and demonstrated ability to work in coalition.
• Good judgment and ability to think strategically re: short-term and long-term policy agendas.
• Excellent written and verbal advocacy skills.
• Strong interpersonal communication skills, a sense of humor, and a positive attitude.
• Creative thinker and problem-solver.
• Ability to work longer hours during the legislative session.

Preferences

• Oregon-based legislative advocacy experience or legal services experience.
• Experience with legislative, rulemaking, and agency budget negotiations.
• Experience working on anti-poverty policy issues including immigration, farmworker, employment, civil rights, justice reform, gender-based violence, homelessness, or others.
• Legal training, OSB membership, or demonstrated ability to manage relationships with and technical input from lawyers and other legal community stakeholders.
• Five to ten years of experience.
• Additional language skills are a plus.

OLC is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating an inclusive work environment. OLC encourages applications from a broad range of backgrounds and experiences, including members of historically underrepresented groups, such as Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) individuals, individuals with disabilities, LGBTQ+ individuals, and others. Even if you are unsure whether you meet every qualification described, we welcome your application.

Salary/Benefits: Salary/Benefits:  The salary is determined via an established scale,

and placement on the scale is determined by years of relevant experience. The salary scale for this position ranges from $84,000 to $127,000 for zero to twenty years of experience. Placement on the salary scale is based on prior legislative and policy work experience, legal aid or poverty law experience or other work determined to be both equivalent and relevant.  Additional compensation for bilingual ability.  Competitive benefits package includes individual and family health, vision and dental insurance coverage, employer retirement contribution, generous paid holidays, vacation, and sick leave, and paid moving expenses, among others.

Application: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis starting May 8^th, 2026 with first round of interviews to be scheduled in late May.  The position will remain open until filled. Please submit your resume, cover letter, and list of three references to Heather Kemper at hekemper@oregonlawcenter.org.  In order to ensure a confirmation of receipt of application, please include “Legislative Advocate Position” in the subject line.

As part of your cover letter, please address the following:

OLC is committed to achieving justice for the low-income communities of Oregon. Our client communities include people of color, farmworkers, LGBTQ+ people, immigrants, seniors, people with lived experiences of homelessness, veterans, people with disabilities, and people from other underrepresented groups. It is essential to our work to serve clients that we also work to create an inclusive and respectful workplace in which differences are acknowledged and valued. How do you think your personal background or experiences, professional or otherwise, have prepared you to assist OLC in achieving these commitments?

If you require reasonable accommodation for a disability during the application/hiring process, please contact Heather Kemper, Deputy Director, at hekemper@oregonlawcenter.org.

Position: Oregon Law Center (OLC) seeks an experienced attorney to manage the State Support Unit (SSU) and lead the program’s litigation efforts, focusing on increasing full representation for the low-income communities that the legal aid programs in Oregon serve. A significant part of the assignment is to ensure that less experienced advocates have an appropriate professional mentor and trainer to advise or co-counsel in their litigation. The Director of Litigation is responsible for generating enthusiasm and excitement for the program’s advocacy, helping advocates see themselves as leaders, and helping people gain confidence and excel in their work. The position can be based in any OLC office in the state.

About Us: OLC is a legal services program committed to achieving justice for the low-income communities of Oregon by providing a full range of the highest quality civil legal services.  OLC does not receive funding from the federal Legal Services Corporation.  OLC operates eleven regional offices, a state support unit, a legislative advocacy unit, a statewide farmworker program, and a statewide eviction defense program.  OLC works closely with Legal Aid Services of Oregon (LASO) and the Center for Non-Profit Legal Services as part of Oregon’s coordinated civil legal services delivery system. 

The Director of Litigation will lead and manage a team of six attorneys and a paralegal– the State Support Unit (SSU)—that coordinates statewide advocacy by subject matter specialization. The members of SSU provide leadership on complex litigation, administrative, family, housing, and employment law. The SSU provides services to all OLC and LASO offices and programs throughout Oregon.  The legal aid offices have a strong focus on systemic advocacy and serve diverse low-income communities with a high percentage of Spanish-speaking clients.

Responsibilities: The Director of Litigation will lead and guide statewide impact litigation efforts in State and Federal Courts.  The Director will hire, train, and supervise the members of the SSU to ensure that the unit provides quality training, co-counseling, and mentorship to advocates throughout the state.   

Requirements:

• Demonstrated litigation experience of at least ten years in both state and federal courts.
• Demonstrated commitment to serving low-income communities.
• Extensive experience handling complex litigation at the trial and appellate levels in state and federal courts, including jury trials.
• Experience as a manager and leader in a law firm or legal aid office.
• A high degree of initiative and ability to manage a caseload while also supervising staff.
• Ability to work successfully as part of a team.
• Excellent written and verbal advocacy skills.
• Strong interpersonal communication skills, and a positive attitude.
• Experience in supporting and mentoring attorneys in litigation.
• Admission to the Oregon Bar or reciprocal eligibility for admission
• Demonstrated ability to take direction and guidance from low-income clients and their self-identified priorities and work for solutions within the legal process.

OLC is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating an inclusive work environment. OLC encourages applications from a broad range of backgrounds and experiences, including members of historically underrepresented groups, such as Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) individuals, individuals with disabilities, LGBTQ+ individuals, and others. Even if you are unsure whether you meet every qualification described, we welcome your application.

Salary/Benefits: $98,450 to $122,375 depending on experience level.  Additional compensation for bilingual ability.  Competitive benefits package includes individual and family health, vision and dental insurance coverage, employer retirement contribution, generous paid holidays, vacation and sick leave, and paid moving expenses, among others.  

Application: Position open until filled.  To apply, please submit your resume, cover letter, and list of three references to Erika Hente, Executive Director at ehente@oregonlawcenter.org.

As part of your cover letter, please address the following:

OLC is committed to achieving justice for the low-income communities of Oregon.  Our client communities include people of color, farmworkers, LGBTQ+ people, immigrants, seniors, people with lived experiences of homelessness, veterans, people with disabilities, and people from other underrepresented groups.  It is essential to our work to serve clients that we also work to create an inclusive and respectful workplace in which differences are acknowledged and valued. How do you think your personal background or experiences, professional or otherwise, have prepared you to assist OLC in achieving these commitments?

If you require reasonable accommodation for a disability during the application/hiring process, please contact Heather Kemper, Deputy Director, at hekemper@oregonlawcenter.org.