ABLE-Advocates For Basic Legal Equality - Dayton, OH
Advocates for Basic Legal Equality, Inc. (ABLE) is a renowned non-profit regional law firm founded in 1969, providing free, high-quality civil legal representation to low-income individuals, agricultural workers, and immigrants across western Ohio. From its Dayton office at 130 West Second Street, ABLE champions systemic equity, housing justice, domestic violence protection, farmworker rights, and immigration legal services.
Championing Civil Rights and Equal Justice in Dayton, Ohio
For more than half a century, Advocates for Basic Legal Equality, Inc. (ABLE) has provided crucial legal representation to individuals and families who would otherwise be denied access to the justice system. Situated at 130 West Second Street, Suite 700 East, in downtown Dayton, Ohio, this non-profit public interest law firm serves 32 counties in western Ohio, while extending its agricultural and immigrant advocacy across all 88 Ohio counties. Established in 1969, ABLE works in close partnership with Legal Aid of Western Ohio to dismantle systemic poverty and protect basic human rights. Even when legal protections exist in statute, low-income residents frequently face catastrophic outcomes simply because they cannot afford private representation. When vulnerable workers, domestic abuse survivors, and immigrant families need to hire an attorney to protect their homes, safety, and livelihoods, ABLE delivers compassionate and fearless advocacy at no cost to eligible clients.
Core Civil Legal Practice Areas and Community Programs
The firm concentrates on high-impact civil legal matters that directly affect community health, economic self-reliance, and family security.
Immigration Advocacy, Asylum, and Citizenship
Navigating federal immigration procedures is exceptionally complex and high stakes. Practicing as dedicated immigration lawyers, family immigration lawyers, deportation defense lawyers, and citizenship lawyers, the firm represents clients before United States Citizenship and Immigration Services and the immigration courts. Attorneys assist with humanitarian asylum claims, Temporary Protected Status, naturalization petitions, and defend immigrant communities against unlawful racial profiling and detention.
Agricultural Worker Protection and Fair Wages
Migrant farmworkers are among the most economically vulnerable workers in the nation. Acting as dedicated employment and labor lawyers, wage and hour lawyers, workplace discrimination lawyers, and harassment lawyers, ABLE conducts extensive outreach to farmworker camps throughout Ohio. The firm files federal lawsuits under the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act to combat wage theft, toxic pesticide exposure, substandard labor camp housing, and workplace abuse.
Housing Justice and Eviction Defense
Housing stability is fundamental to child education and family wellbeing. Serving as steadfast residential real estate lawyers, the team represents low-income tenants facing predatory evictions, defends families against uninhabitable conditions, enforces fair housing protections, and leads innovative Access to Counsel initiatives in Dayton.
Domestic Violence Survivor Safety
Escaping interpersonal violence requires immediate and coordinated legal intervention. Working as compassionate domestic violence lawyers, the firm secures civil protection orders, resolves emergency custody issues, and helps survivors secure safe housing and public benefits to rebuild their lives.
Why Ohioans Depend on ABLE
Clients and community partners across the Miami Valley value ABLE for vital strengths:
- Over 55 years of continuous public interest litigation and systemic policy advocacy
- Statewide authority in agricultural worker rights and immigrant due process protection
- Comprehensive multilingual services with fluency in English, Spanish, Haitian Creole, French, and Arabic
- Zero legal fees for qualifying low-income individuals and families
If you are facing an unjust eviction, wage exploitation, or immigration crisis and need a lawyer urgently, help is available. Contact the Dayton office or the legal aid intake line to find a lawyer who will defend your rights and schedule a consultation.
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Location & Access
Primary Address
Conveniently located in the bustling business and legal core of Downtown Dayton, within walking distance of the courts.
Building Location
The firm's offices are located inside The 130 Building, a newly renovated 21-story commercial office tower situated directly across the street from the Benjamin & Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center.
Parking Details
Ample paid parking is available across the street at the Arts Garage, which can be accessed via West 2nd Street, Ludlow Street, or Wilkinson Street. Metered street parking is also available.
Public Transit
Served by Greater Dayton RTA Route 7 (Northbound); nearest stop is at Ludlow @ 2nd.
Accessibility / Suite Access
Enter the building's newly renovated lobby from West 2nd Street. Use the high-speed passenger elevators to travel to the seventh floor, where you will find the offices in Suite 700 East.