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Legal Services Alabama seeks an Executive Director

Legal Services Alabama’s Executive Director, Guy Lescault, has announced his retirement at the end of 2026. LSA now seeks an experienced and passionate leader to serve as our next Executive Director.

About LSA

LSA is the sole federally funded statewide civil legal aid organization in the State of Alabama. It is private, non-profit law firm serving low-income families and individuals in all 67 counties of the state. It was created in 2004 with the merger of three civil legal aid entities, Legal Services North-Central Alabama, Metro Birmingham Legal Services and Legal Services Corporation of Alabama.

With a 2026 budget of $12 million and approximately 120 staff, including 65 attorneys, LSA operates eight program offices and a statewide call center which receives over 120,000 calls each year. LSA receives 75% of its funding from the federal Legal Services Corporation and 25% from a diverse mix of local, state and federal sources as well as foundations and individual giving.

In 2025, LSA closed over 13,000 cases. LSA advocates specialize in areas of the law that disproportionately impact the poor, with practice groups in Housing, Consumer, Public Benefits, Elder and Education.

Service Area and Office Locations

LSA serves all 67 counties in Alabama with offices in Anniston, Birmingham, Dothan, Huntsville, Mobile, Montgomery, Tuscaloosa and Selma, and the statewide Call Center located in the Montgomery Central Office.

Executive Director Role

The Executive Director is the organization’s chief executive and public leader, responsible for strategic leadership, program excellence, financial sustainability, fundraising, compliance, and community and political relations. The Executive Director leads a seasoned senior management team and works closely with the 27-member Board of Directors, whose members include local attorneys, community representatives eligible for representation and individuals supportive of access to justice.

The responsibilities of the Executive Director include:

• Providing strategic, mission-driven leadership to advance access to justice throughout the State of Alabama.
• Ensuring delivery of high-quality legal services across throughout the State with diverse programs and service models.
• Serving as the primary public representative of LSA at the local, state, and national levels, including with courts, government agencies, funders, and community partners.
• Leading fundraising efforts for operations, innovation, and capital improvements; engaging directly in major donor cultivation and stewardship.
• Recruiting, developing, and supporting senior leadership and staff; fostering an inclusive, high-performing organizational culture.
• Overseeing fiscal management, long-term financial planning, audits, and risk management.
• Partnering with the Board of Directors to support governance, strategic planning, and fiduciary oversight.

Desired Qualifications and Experience of the Executive Director

• Deep commitment to LSA’s mission and dedication to equitable, client-centered high quality legal services delivery which focuses on serving low-income and marginalized communities and ensuring access to justice.
• Significant senior nonprofit leadership experience; experience in a legal aid organization preferred.
• Significant experience managing large budgets and diverse funding streams, including federal and state grants.
• Significant experience managing personnel across multi-site operations.
• Strong fundraising, communications, external relations, and organizational leadership skills.
• Ability to maintain organizational compliance and strong relationships with government and private funders without being risk-averse in a manner that supports strong client service delivery. Knowledge of and experience leading compliance with the requirements of the Legal Services Corporation is strongly preferred.
• Residence in Montgomery or willingness to relocate.
• JD is required. Membership in the Alabama State Bar or willingness to become licensed and join the State Bar within a reasonable period is preferred.

Compensation

The salary range is $125,000 to $150,000, commensurate with experience. LSA provides a generous and comprehensive benefits package; additional details are available upon request.

How To Apply

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. To receive full consideration, candidates are urged to submit their applications by August 14. Applications must include a current resume; and a letter expressing in detail your interest in the position, your qualifications and what you hope to contribute to the organization’s future. Professional references will be required later in the process.

Materials should be emailed to pattipap@gmail.com in Microsoft Word or PDF format.

LSA is assisted in its search for an Executive Director by Patricia Pap, Consultant, Management Information Exchange, 508-737-4010, pattipap@gmail.com. Candidates with questions about the position, listed qualifications, or the search process are encouraged to contact her.

An initial round of interviews for selected applicants will be held virtually on September 2 and 3.

Equal Employment Opportunity Policy

LSA is committed to providing a work environment that respects the dignity and worth of everyone and is free from all forms of employment discrimination based on every characteristic protected under the law and beyond.

Decisions related to hiring, compensating, training, evaluating performance, promoting, or terminating are made fairly, and are based on job-related qualities and abilities. LSA provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified candidates and employees. We examine our unconscious biases and take responsibility for always striving to create an inclusive environment that makes every employee and candidate feel welcome.