Janet Hales '91
Advocating for Justice and Change
Nov. 1, 2020
Janet E. Hales '91 is executive director of Advocates for Basic Legal Equality, Inc. (ABLE), a nonprofit law firm that provides high-quality legal assistance to help low-income individuals and groups achieve independence, equal justice, and economic opportunity. The firm serves 32 counties in western Ohio from its offices in Dayton, Defiance, and Toledo. At ABLE, attorneys and advocates focus on legal issues that impact large groups of low-income individuals to bring about permanent changes in services, systems, and institutions that ultimately benefit hundreds or even thousands of individuals and families. ABLE programs support agricultural worker and immigrant rights, community economic development, children's rights, and access to healthcare, housing, and education.
In Janet's role as executive director, she provides leadership, vision, and strategic direction for the nonprofit organization — overseeing all operations and programs. She works closely with the board of trustees to further ABLE's mission. Other key duties include fundraising, marketing, and community outreach.
Janet received her B.A. in elementary education with a minor in special education from Bowling Green State University. She holds a J.D. from The University of Toledo College of Law.
Q&A with Janet Hales
How has your work changed from 2019 to 2020, given the current health concerns?
The health concerns have resulted in most of our employees working from home, virtual
meetings, and fundraising events. It also involved encouraging advocates to embrace
different ways to serve clients and get information to people about fast-paced changes
in laws, rules, and practices, e.g., unemployment compensation, utility shutoffs,
access to special education, and many other areas affecting our client population
in 32 counties. Everyone stepped up to meet this challenge. We needed to quickly write
new policies and office procedures to respond to COVID-19. My level of anxiety and
concern is higher because we have attorneys who still must go to court and outreach
workers still conducting outreach to agricultural camps, as well as a dramatic loss
of funding. While we are following all federal and state guidelines, there is constant
watchfulness and concern. The number and pace of decisions have increased exponentially.
We are submitting many more grant applications to bridge the huge funding cuts ABLE
is experiencing.
How did you find your way to Toledo Law for your legal education?
Toledo Law invited me to a meet and greet for potential scholarship students. At that
time, Phil Closius led the law school. Dean Closius was very welcoming. When I expressed
concern about whether I could handle law school with a toddler and an infant, he said,
"I have no doubt — you can do it." That changed everything.
Do you have a favorite memory from attending Toledo Law?
I have several, but will only share two. After our first semester exams, a kind professor
called me at home to tell me I got an A in her class. She knew how nervous I was about
those first exams. Another favorite memory involved a candid observation by a professor.
After an appellate argument competition, the professor said that I needed to find
a way to control my nervousness because it was painful to watch. He suggested that
I try some relaxation tapes. When I replied that I already listened to relaxation
tapes, he told me I should listen more often or try a new one because it clearly wasn't
working! He said this all with humor and with my best interest at heart. I realized
that no matter how well I prepared, my presentation mattered just as much. While few
enjoy speaking in public, I learned to calm myself before speaking and other high-stress
situations.
How did Toledo Law prepare you for your career?
Professors were excellent and accessible, and they expected our best. They encouraged
intellectual curiosity. Toledo Law offered opportunities to explore and excel for
people with a variety of interests and aptitudes.
What were the turning points in your education or career opportunities that led you
to where you are now?
There were five turning points: 1) Taking a pre-law course as my last class at BGSU
and having the professor encourage me to pursue law; 2) Applying for law clerk jobs
at ABLE and Cooper & Walinski at the same time and getting a job offer at Cooper before
interviewing at ABLE. At Cooper & Walinski, I had an opportunity to learn from attorneys
who taught me to think on my feet, analyze critically, and write well. They insisted
that I get federal clerkship experience if I wanted to work there long-term, which
I did. At Cooper & Walinski, I had the privilege of following my passion, civil rights,
while also learning other areas of the law and representing corporate clients; 3)
The economic downturn resulting in the bankruptcy of a major client combined with
a fair housing case that went on appeal twice and lasted for years without fees, which
resulted in a challenging financial situation; 4) Beginning a new career in public
interest law at Legal Aid of Western Ohio (LAWO), where I realized the deep fulfillment
and challenges of poverty law practice; and 5) The opportunity to move to Columbus
to work at the Ohio Poverty Law Center, where I took on policy advocacy and the administrative
side of managing a legal aid organization, as well as grant writing and fundraising.
You worked at a law firm and now run a public interest organization. Why such a big
change?
It's not as much of a stretch as one might think. A nonprofit law firm is a business
organization with a different reason for existence. Many of the management principles
are the same, and our responsibilities to clients are the same as they are to paying
clients. The change fulfills a lifelong dream of working in public interest law.
What is the most challenging aspect of the work you do, and how does your legal education
and training help you?
Huge cuts in revenue related to economic and political forces beyond my control are
highly challenging because people in poverty need us now more than ever. My legal
education and training taught me how to analyze possible solutions strategically and
humanely and to trust my ability to make decisions.
What have you found most satisfying about your career so far?
The opportunity to contribute to the community and continued professional and personal
growth.
Do you have any suggestions for current law students or new lawyers who might be interested
in pursuing a career path similar to yours?
Make sure that you do direct service before policy work or management. As Bryan Stevenson
says, we must experience proximity to the people we aim to serve. We may not be able
to walk in our client's shoes, but we must be close enough to see them, to feel and
respect their strength and dignity - and their anguish - and to work with them as
partners in their success. Without that, we can do more harm than good, and our work
will not result in sustainable change.
What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
Walking, gardening, spending time with and cooking for family and friends, yoga.
What are you passionate about?
I was brought up to be passionate about civil rights and our country's potential,
and those values run deep. At work, I am passionate about managing so that people
are doing the best work of their lives, creating more equitable opportunities and
communities, and community economic development using community-led economic models
that build wealth and power in neighborhoods and organizations. There is a lot of
exciting legal work that can support these efforts.
Is there anything else you would like alumni to know about you?
Let's talk if you are interested in supporting an organization providing a vital service
to people and communities in western Ohio!