Executive Director

Legal Aid Services of Oregon (LASO) seeks an Executive Director to lead this civil legal aid organization as it begins its next chapter. The organization has a staff of 101 (including 56 attorneys), eight regional offices, four statewide programs and an annual budget of approximately $13 million. This is an exciting opportunity for a strong leader with vision and creativity to build on LASO’s proud 52-year history and to expand and strengthen access to justice, empower communities, and facilitate systemic change in Oregon.

Background

LASO is a not-for-profit organization that represents low-income clients in civil cases. LASO’s eight regional offices serve the general low-income population throughout Oregon and four specialized statewide programs provide services to farmworkers, taxpayers with tax controversies, the Native American community, and those needing pro bono referrals to the private bar. LASO is an effective, high-quality legal services program committed to advocacy strategies with the broadest possible impact on client community problems. LASO is actively working to build an inclusive organizational culture that recognizes the value of racial equity. LASO is committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a welcoming and culturally responsive environment for staff and clients.

LASO, an LSC funded program, works cooperatively with its sister organization, the Oregon Law Center (OLC). Together, they have a long history of providing critical legal services and act as a community resource to resolve some of the most pressing challenges facing low-income Oregon residents.

LASO’s central administrative offices are based in Portland, Oregon, and its executive team engages with all its offices across the state. LASO provides legal services that are vitally important to its clients. LASO’s legal work encompasses, among other things, family law, housing, public benefits, elder law, and employment law. In addition to providing individual legal representation and counseling for clients, LASO does broad impact work that benefits low-income individuals through advocacy, legal self-help materials, community outreach and education, and working with coalitions to pursue common goals. LASO, working with OLC, has been a leader in the state in recognizing and addressing systemic problems affecting low-income residents.

Why Legal Aid Services of Oregon?

LASO has an excellent reputation and strong network of partnerships and connections throughout the region with a track record of innovation and responsiveness to community needs.

The Executive Director will work with experienced LASO staff and management, a committed Board of Directors, and supportive community advocates, private lawyers, government agencies and donors.

LASO provides a diverse range of vital services to more than 4,500 clients annually. An estimated 615,230 people are eligible for legal services in LASO’s footprint.

Why Portland?

Portland is home to Powell’s Books City of Books, the largest independent bookstore in the world that takes up a city block and has over a million titles. Portland’s city limits are also home to the 5200-acre Forest Park, which has 80 miles of hiking trails and Washington Park a 410-acre park that boasts a Japanese Garden universally considered the finest example of a Japanese Garden outside of Japan. Downtown Portland’s Saturday market is the largest continually operated outdoor market in the US. Portland is considered one of the highest-ranking restaurant towns in the United States with restaurants regularly rated among the best in North America. The restaurant scene in Portland also includes over 500 food carts that are part of a vibrant neighborhood culture. Portland’s unofficial motto is “Keep Portland Weird.”

High-Priority Roles and Responsibilities for the Next Executive Director

• Serve as an effective ambassador for the organization, nurturing collaborative relationships with client communities, community partners, funders and grantors, elected officials, private bar and judicial leaders, private donors, and business and civic organizations throughout the state;
• Working to expand LASO’s corporate and foundation support and, working with Oregon’s Campaign for Equal Justice, expand the financial support necessary to carry out the organization’s activities, including from Oregon’s legal community and individual donors;
• Support and foster a culture that builds a sense of a statewide program with a shared mission and consistent policies, promotes mutual respect and teamwork and an environment in which staff are valued, supported and committed to the mission and work;
• Work with the Oregon Law Center to coordinate services in order to maximize the impact on the client communities the organizations serve;
• Maintain a collaborative relationship with other legal aid organizations and other antipoverty organizations in Oregon;
• Provide leadership and nurture the values of LASO, including access to justice, a holistic view of client services, ease of access for new clients, prioritization of strategies that address the causes of legal problems and management of staff relations;
• Provide regular communications to staff and Board, facilitate Board operations and provide fiscal oversight to the organization; and
• Implement the strategic plan for LASO.

Desired Qualifications and Experience of the Successful Candidate

• Exhibit excellent communication skills and the ability to build relationships with and to inspire the trust and confidence of LASO staff, Board members, client communities, community partners, donors, funders, and other stakeholders and allies, including the will and ability to engage in difficult conversations as circumstances may dictate;
• Have fundraising and/or grant writing knowledge and/or experience;
• Have the ability to think strategically and creatively;
• Possess demonstrated and exceptional leadership in managing and supervising a successful legal services organization, law firm, corporate law department, branch of a court system, relevant government agency or not-for-profit organization;
• Demonstrate knowledge of the laws and issues affecting low-income people and a passion for social, economic, and racial justice;
• Have experience in building a team environment, including working with a labor union and collective bargaining agreement, to encourage professional development of staff, and supporting staff in the program’s work;
• Have experience working with organizations and individuals with a variety of perspectives, including clients, staff, Board members, the public, and elected and appointed officials;
• Possess personal attributes including professionalism, integrity, the ability to engender confidence and trust, honesty, a strong work ethic, a sense of humor, empathy, courage, a collaborative spirit, and an openness to diverse voices;
• Understand financial matters, including development of budgets, compliance with grant and contract requirements, Union negotiations, and financial oversight;
• Be skilled at managing and allocating limited resources appropriately;
• Be a licensed attorney, in good standing, with the expectation that the successful candidate will be admitted, or able to be admitted, to the Oregon Bar in a reasonable period of time;
• Have at least ten years of legal experience as a lawyer or as a manager in the not-for-profit sector, preferably in the public interest sector, and/or with previous legal aid experience.

Location

This is primarily an on-site position at the Portland office. Periodic travel throughout the state is required.

Salary

Projected Range of $140,000 to $160,000 D.O.E. Excellent Fringe Benefits.

Application Process

Legal Aid Services of Oregon is assisted in its search by: Dennis Groenenboom, Consultant.

Materials should be submitted electronically to dgroenenboom4@gmail.com in Microsoft Word or PDF format. Candidates with questions about the position or process are encouraged to contact Dennis at the email address above or at 515-537-4242.

Screening of applicants begins immediately and will continue until the time of selection. To receive full consideration, you should submit your application materials by October 1, 2026. To apply, submit a letter expressing your interest in the position, your qualifications for the job, bar status, and what you believe you will be able to contribute to enhance the ability of LASO to provide high-quality, client focused services into the future. Please also include a description of your personal efforts, personal or otherwise, to promote Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and the results of those efforts. Please include a resume/CV and the names and contact information for three professional references.

If you require reasonable accommodation for a disability during the application/hiring process, please contact dgroenenboom4@gmail.com.

LASO celebrates diversity. LASO is committed to being an organization that reflects the communities served and is diverse in race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, ancestry, national origin, or sensory, mental and physical abilities, work background, experience and education. LASO believes that the outcome of such diversity is the organization’s greatest strength and a matter of basic human fairness. It is to this end that LASO strongly encourages applications from people of color and people from any other underrepresented and historically marginalized group to apply for this position.