Assistant Public Defender - Prison Legal Services

About Us:

The Office of the Ohio Public Defender ("OPD") is the state agency responsible for providing legal representation and other services to people accused or convicted of a crime who cannot afford to hire an attorney.
Our Mission: Advocating. Fighting. Helping.
Our Vision: A Fair Justice System.
Our Values: Compassion. Dignity. Equity. Integrity. Service. Community.

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: Our commitment to inclusion is inseparable from our commitment to a fair justice system. We strive to ensure inclusive spaces and services for our staff, our clients, and Ohio’s diverse communities. We are committed to building a work environment where all our team members have a voice and can embrace our differences to innovate service to the public. We can best meet our public defense mission through a diverse workforce and an inclusive workplace, where employees thrive, our mission is accomplished, and Ohioans are served. #TeamOPD is grounded in diversity, equity, inclusion as we work together to pursue fairness and justice for all people.

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About the Position and What You'll Do:

You will serve as an Assistant Public Defender (APD) in the Prison Legal Services (“PLS”) Section of our Legal Department. Advocacy is at the core of a PLS attorney’s job: attorneys in the group represent incarcerated people before the Ohio Parole Board and people who are facing reimprisonment in parole and post-release control revocation hearings. PLS attorneys are flexible: they vigorously defend clients in revocation hearings and make compelling cases for release when before the Ohio Parole Board. PLS attorneys also provide legal orientations to all individuals sentenced to the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction and answer questions pertaining to criminal sentences, jail-time credit, release mechanisms, and other common inquiries.

The position is currently headquartered in Columbus, Ohio with anticipated significant time spent at the Correction Reception Center (“CRC”) in Orient, Ohio and/or the Ohio Reformatory for Women (“ORW”) in Marysville, Ohio*. You will focus on representation of clients in parole and post-release control hearings. You will also present a legal orientation to newly incarcerated individuals and answer questions – orally and in writing – pertaining to criminal sentences, jail time credit, judicial and other release mechanisms. *Please note: Although the OPD currently does not hold any in-person office hours at CRC or ORW, this APD position has historically been headquartered at CRC or ORW.

You will work closely with five fellow PLS attorneys, two supervising attorneys, and an administrative professional, and will collaborate with colleagues on client advocacy across the Legal Department. A successful candidate will have strong advocacy skills and a client-centered ethos. The position currently offers you the opportunity to work from home for a portion of time, so a successful candidate will be self-motivated and comfortable communicating via Teams or other conferencing software during those times.

Your essential duties will include but are not limited to:

• Represent indigent individuals at parole and post-release control violation hearings around the State of Ohio. This requires adequate preparation and investigation to engage in an adversarial administrative hearing process.
• Represent indigent individuals in hearings before the Ohio Parole Board. This requires preparation involving close contacts with client’s family and community-support systems. It also requires written and oral advocacy.
• Provide legal services to incarcerated individuals at the Correction Reception Center in Orient, Ohio, and at various Ohio Prisons throughout the state.
• Conduct legal research, prepares motions and other pleadings, reviews drafts of pleadings, briefs, motions, and memoranda.
• Collaborate with other attorneys in the Legal Department on strategic litigation and advocacy.
• Work with Legal Department Manager and PLS Supervisors regarding administrative tasks related to operation of the prison legal services section.

The Assistant Public Defender position is assigned to the State of Ohio’s E1 Pay Schedule, Pay Range 13. Unless required by legislation or union contract, starting salary will be the minimum salary of that pay range (step 1, currently $31.56 per hour) associated with this position. These ranges provide a standardized pathway for pay increases: with continued employment, new hires move to the next step in the range after 6 months and annually thereafter. The State of Ohio typically has Cost of Living Adjustments that increase wages in these ranges each fiscal year. Note: In the event a candidate demonstrates exceptional qualifications above minimum, they may qualify for a starting salary above step 1.

PLEASE NOTE: A WRITING SAMPLE AND COVER LETTER MUST BE SUBMITTED WITH THIS APPLICATION. Your application will not be considered without a writing sample and cover letter.

The Office of the Ohio Public Defender complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact Tamra Meister, ADA Coordinator, at 614-466-5394 or HCM@opd.ohio.gov.

What’s in it for you:

At the State of Ohio, we take care of the team that cares for Ohioans. We provide a variety of quality, competitive benefits to eligible full-time and part-time employees. For a list of all the State of Ohio Benefits, visit our Total Rewards website! Our benefits package includes:

Medical Coverage

• Quality, affordable, and competitive medical benefits are offered beginning first day of the month following your start date. You have three options to choose from.

Dental, Vision and Basic Life Insurance

• Dental, vision and basic life insurance premiums are free and coverage is offered beginning first day of the month following your start date.

Time Away From Work and Work/Life Balance

• Paid time off, including vacation, personal, and sick leave
• 11 paid holidays per year
• Childbirth/Adoption leave

Ohio Public Employees Retirement System

• OPERS is the retirement system for State of Ohio employees. The employee contributes 10% of their salary towards their retirement. The employer contributes an amount equal to 14% of the employee’s salary. Visit the OPERS website for more information.

Deferred Compensation

• The Ohio Deferred Compensation program is a 457(b) voluntary retirement savings plan. Visit the Ohio Deferred Compensation website for more information.

Ohio is a Disability Inclusion State and strives to be a Model Employer of Individuals with disabilities. The State of Ohio is committed to providing access and inclusion and reasonable accommodation in its services, activities, programs and employment opportunities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable laws.

Admission to Ohio bar pursuant to section 4705.01.

Note: Prior to representing a client in federal court or U.S. Supreme court, attorney shall obtain admission to practice law in that court; prior to appointment as appellate counsel for an indigent defendant in a capital case pursuant to Appt.Coun.R. 5.02 & 5.03, an attorney shall obtain certification from the Commission on Appointment of Counsel in Capital Cases.

Note: Eligibility to practice under a Certificate to Practice Law Pending Admission in Ohio, under Rule I, Section 19 of the Supreme Court Rules for the Government of the Bar of Ohio, or eligibility to practice under a Temporary Certification for Practice in Legal services, Public Defender, and Law School Programs under Rule IX of the Supreme Court Rules for the Government of the Bar of Ohio, may be accepted in lieu of admission to the Ohio Bar pursuant to R.C. Section 4705.02.

Knowledge of criminal law, judicial system & process in Ohio, human relations, policies & procedures of Office of the Ohio Public Defender* (e.g., standards promulgated*); legal counseling; interviewing; public relations. Skill in: Word processing (e.g., Microsoft Office), computer software applications (e.g., OPD Online*, Legal Research Software*), keyboarding, equipment operations (e.g., computer, scanner, copier). Ability to deal with many variables & determine specific action; calculate fractions, decimals & percentages; prepare & review pleadings, briefs, motions & memoranda; gather, collate & classify information about data, people or things; complex legal issues, some without clear legal precedent, involving significant risks & mental strain; ability to maintain attention to detail & professional composure under intense pressure & volatile circumstances; establish good rapport with clients & their families &/or work cooperatively with county public defenders & members of private bar; handle contacts with federal, state & local officials or group representatives to resolve problems concerning specific clients or criminal law in general.
(*) Developed after employment.

Tip about State of Ohio Application Procedures: When completing this application, be sure to clearly describe how you meet the minimum qualifications outlined in this job posting. We cannot give you credit for your qualifications, experience, education and training if you do not provide it in your on-line application – information in attached resumes must be in the application to be considered.

This position serves at the pleasure and discretion of the State Public Defender. This position serves in a fiduciary relationship to the State Public Defender and will have an unclassified status per Ohio Revised Code 124.11 (A) (9).

Intentional omission of relevant information, falsification, or misrepresentation of information on the application will disqualify the applicant. In addition, such intentional acts are grounds for immediate termination of an employee.

The final candidate selected for the position will be required to undergo a criminal background check. Criminal convictions do not necessarily preclude an applicant from consideration for a position. An individual assessment of an applicant's prior criminal convictions will be made before excluding an applicant from consideration.

All final applicants tentatively selected for this position will be required to submit to urinalysis to test for illegal drug use prior to appointment. An applicant with a positive test shall not be offered employment.