About the Position and What You'll Do:
You will serve as a Supervising Assistant Public Defender in the Prison Legal Services Section (PLS) of our Intake/PLS Department. The PLS Section provides a legal orientation to all individuals sentenced to the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (DRC), answers questions pertaining to criminal sentences, jail-time credit, judicial and other release mechanisms, and other common inquiries, and represents release violation (RV) and open full board (OFB) hearings.
You will report to the Managing Attorney of the Intake/PLS Department, and will be part of the PLS supervising team that is jointly responsible for directing the operations of OPD’s work in DRC's three reception-center locations (Lorain Correctional, Correctional Reception Center at Orient, and Ohio Reformatory for Women at Marysville) and for managing the direct representation of clients at RV and OFB hearings. We are looking for candidates who possess and exercise leadership skills in order to effectively supervise Assistant Public Defenders and Administrative Professionals and who can ensure that the agency’s mission and values are communicated to staff, integrated into their goals, and reflected in their work on behalf of clients. The position, which is based at Lorain Correctional Institution (LorCI) in Grafton, Ohio requires a regular presence at LorCI but does offer you the opportunity to work from home for a pre-approved portion of time.
The duties for this position include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Serve as an Intake/PLS Department Supervisor in the PLS Section, supervising staff attorneys who provide legal orientation and litigation services to persons currently incarcerated and persons released on parole or post-release control (PRC), and working with core staff who coordinate responses to kites, collection of evidence/discovery for hearings, and assisting with scheduling of hearings.
-Primary duties include reviewing and assigning work product (e.g., legal orientations, post-conviction interviews, advocacy for clients during release violation (RV) & open full board (OFB) hearings; reviews drafts of case documents prepared by OPD attorneys & legal interns) to attorneys taking into account case complexity, caseloads, experience level and expertise of supervisees, etc.) and assisting attorneys in preparing for upcoming hearings.
-You also complete timely annual performance evaluations, work with employees to set performance goals, coach employees to develop performance, prioritize and approve work schedules, identify and approve training opportunities for staff, approve work and leave time for payroll purposes, and carry out other administrative tasks, potentially including the initiation of disciplinary actions.
-Carry a reduced caseload, primarily involving RV and OFB cases, and conduct legal research and prepare pleadings and/or case memoranda. Independently handle cases before Parole Board hearing officers and the Adult Parole Authority. Write technical legal pleadings, orally present arguments, and formulate legal strategy for clients. Provide in-person legal assistance to incarcerated people at Ohio's reception-center prisons.
-Administer and monitor contracts with private counsel who may represent clients in RV or OFB hearings.
-Respond to inquiries from county public defenders and private-practice counsel regarding various procedural and substantive aspects of criminal law related to criminal sentencing, release mechanisms, parole and PRC. Supervisors are also expected to create and manage targeted contacts in specific areas throughout the state to be aware of issues attorneys and people who are incarcerated are facing.
-Serve as project leader and manager for various litigation projects in the Intake/PLS Department. Projects include litigation strategies in response to Ohio legislation, DRC or Adult Parole Authority (APA) policies, and various superior court decisions, as well as developing litigation to address systemic criminal justice issues in Ohio.
-As a member of the Intake/Prison Legal Services Department management team: Appears on behalf of State Public Defender to discuss law and policy; attends meetings as assigned, assists in formation of department and agency policy. May be required to work on specific projects as assigned by the Department Managing Attorney and/or the State Public Defender. May instruct and assist outside counsel in fields of expertise; may be temporarily assigned to perform duties of a Managing Assistant Public Defender at the direction of the State Public Defender.
Admission to Ohio Bar pursuant to Section 4705.01; 3 years' experience as licensed attorney practicing criminal law; 6 months' experience or 6 months' training in supervisor principles & techniques.
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.
Job Skills: Attorney/Legal, Leading Others.
Knowledge of criminal law; judicial system & process in Ohio; supervisory principles/techniques; employee training & development; human relations; policies & procedures of Office of the Ohio Public Defender*; legal counseling; interviewing; public relations. 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; handle complex legal issues, some without clear legal precedents, 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; prepare & deliver training seminars for legal professionals; draft policies & legislation in area of criminal law; handle sensitive contacts with county public defenders, members of private bar, & representative of state, local & federal governments regarding criminal law & representation of indigent criminal defendants; prepare & deliver public speeches; draft qualifications & standards of conduct for county public defender & appointed counsel systems.
This position requires travel to additional DRC facilities in Ohio. May require overnight and/or extensive travel.
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.
Candidates must apply at this link:
https://dasstateoh.taleo.net/careersection/oh_ext/jobdetail.ftl?job=2300...