Assistant Public Defender Positions and TLAS Fellowship Program

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Job location
555 North Erie Street, Suite 248
Toledo, OH 43604
United States
Organization information
Organization name: 
Toledo Legal Aid Society
Street address: 
555 North Erie Street, Suite 248
City: 
Toledo
State: 
Ohio
ZIP: 
43604
Job type: 
Legal - Defender
Position Description: 

Position Title: Assistant Public Defender
Division: Toledo Municipal Court
Description: This Assistant Public Defender will represent indigent defendants on misdemeanor charges in the Toledo Municipal Court. This attorney will be assigned to a judge and will have a trial docket on three mornings per week. This attorney will follow the TMC rotation and will have additional responsibilities when the judge is assigned to an arraignment docket or during Duties Week. Additional time may be required for trials or hearings if they are scheduled outside of the regularly scheduled criminal docket.
(Assistant Public Defenders may maintain a private practice but may not accept court appointed cases in criminal and traffic matters in the Lucas County Court of Common Pleas or a municipal court located in Lucas County, Ohio)
Salary: $24,000.00, plus health insurance and other benefits.

Position Title: Assistant Public Defender
Division: Operator’s License Specialist
Description: This Assistant Public Defender will review operator’s license cases that are scheduled in the Toledo Municipal Court afternoon arraignment dockets (Monday through Friday). This attorney will be provided with information and support that will enable the attorney to assist our clients in obtaining, or making significant progress toward obtaining, their operator’s licenses. Case resolution will occur, when appropriate.
(Assistant Public Defenders may maintain a private practice but may not accept court appointed cases in criminal and traffic matters in the Lucas County Court of Common Pleas or a municipal court located in Lucas County, Ohio)
Salary: $24,000.00, plus health insurance and other benefits.

Position Title: Assistant Public Defender
Division: Housing Court/Criminal Defense
Description: This Assistant Public Defender position will represent indigent clients on with housing violations and misdemeanor charges in the Toledo Municipal Court. This attorney will be assigned to the docket of the housing court judge and will have a trial docket on Tuesday and Friday morning. This attorney will follow the TMC rotation and will have additional responsibilities when the judge is assigned to an arraignment docket or during Duties Week. This attorney will also represent clients with criminal and traffic charges in the Maumee Municipal Court on Thursday morning. Additional flexibility may be required for trials or hearings if they are scheduled outside of the regularly scheduled criminal or housing docket.
(Assistant Public Defenders may maintain a private practice but may not accept court appointed cases in criminal and traffic matters in the Lucas County Court of Common Pleas or a municipal court located in Lucas County, Ohio)
Salary: $24,000.00, plus health insurance and other benefits.

Position Title: TLAS Fellowship Program (Two to four fellowships available)
Division: Felony and Misdemeanor (Combination)
Description: The Toledo Legal Aid Society Fellowship Program is a newly created program that is intended to provide meaningful training and experience for entry-level attorneys. Each Fellow will be paired with an attorney from the felony division and the misdemeanor division. This pairing will establish a mentoring relationship with an experienced attorney and provide a strong foundation for a career in criminal defense. Fellows will engage in client interviews; conduct arraignments and bond modification hearings; negotiate with prosecutors; research legal issues; participate in trials and suppression hearings; draft sentencing memorandum; and participate in sentencing hearings. To provide the most meaningful experience, each Fellow must be licensed to practice law in Ohio prior to beginning their fellowship. Notably, Fellows will gain valuable experience in representing clients in both felony and misdemeanor courts. Fellows must commit to a one-year term and must work 20 hours each week, on average, in this capacity. Fellows are eligible to apply for permanent positions with Toledo Legal Aid Society and, ideally, it is hoped that successful participants will continue their careers with the office. (Fellowship program participants may maintain a private practice and may accept court appointments)
Compensation: $20,000.00

Requirements: 

Toledo Legal Aid Society provides high quality legal representation to indigent persons that are charged with the commission of criminal or traffic offenses for which the penalty includes the potential for loss of liberty.

Summary of Duties:
A successful candidate will interview clients and prospective witnesses; prepare or oversee the drafting and filing of legal briefs and motions; conduct legal research; represent misdemeanor or felony defendants in court arraignments, pretrial hearings, trials, sentencing hearings, and other proceedings.

Qualifications:
Candidates for the Assistant Public Defender positions must be licensed and in good standing with the Ohio Supreme Court. Graduates from an accredited college of law who are awaiting Ohio bar results will be considered for the fellowship program.

A successful candidate will devote the time necessary to provide quality representation to indigent clients and comply with performance standards. Assistant Public Defenders must have the experience required and listed in Ohio Administrative Code 120-1-10 and must adhere to the workload standards referenced in 120-1-07. The services shall be provided in a professional, skilled manner consistent with Chapter 120 of the Ohio Revised Code; Chapter 120 of the Ohio Administrative Code; the Canons of Ethics for attorneys in Ohio, and case law and applicable court rules defining the duties of counsel and the rights of defendants in criminal cases.

A successful candidate must have the ability to make regularly scheduled court appearances; conduct case evaluation, investigation, and preparation including, but not limited to, witness interviews, legal research, and motion preparation. Additionally, the candidate must have the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with prosecutors, judges, other professionals, clients, and the general public. Further, the candidate must have the ability to manage a high volume caseload while maintaining adequate levels of communication and attention to individual clients and must possess excellent knowledge of criminal law, criminal procedure, and the Rules of Evidence.

To apply: 

Send resume and cover letter electronically, by May 11, 2018, to:

Email: [email protected]
Subject: Attorney Positions

Please indicate the position(s) for which you are applying.

Notes: 
We strive to create an environment that is welcoming to all individuals and we encourage applications from a diverse range of applicants, including diversity in race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, and physical ability.
Submission deadline: 
Friday, May 11, 2018