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 in the Intake section of the Intake and Prison Legal Services Department of the Appellate Services Division. This section receives requests for assistance through letters and phone calls and is responsible for evaluating legal claims and communicating with potential clients and their loved ones with clarity, empathy, and respect. Here, you will refer cases for litigation, offer resources and support to people whom the office is unable to represent, and develop accessible legal information that will be provided to those encountering the criminal legal system.
In this position, you will work closely with three fellow Intake attorneys, support staff, and a supervising attorney, and you will collaborate with colleagues on client advocacy across the agency. A commitment to indigent defense and compassion for clients will be key to your success. Your interpersonal skills and ability to communicate about the law with folks from all over our communities will be valuable attributes in this role.
The position currently is eligible for hybrid schedule, giving you the opportunity to work from home for a portion of time after initial onboarding. Some Intake attorneys work in the office one day a week while others work in the office five days a week; the minimum in-office time is 8 hours per week. The successful candidate will be self-motivated and comfortable communicating via Teams or other conferencing software.
Essential duties of the position include, but are not limited to, the following:
-Determining client eligibility for representation by the Office of the Ohio Public Defender. If necessary, obtaining initial client information for preparation of case files. Reading and prioritizing incoming letters and case files as distributed by supervisor [i.e., Memorandums in Support of Jurisdiction (MISJ), Post Convictions, Delayed Appeals, Federal Habeas, Delayed MISJ, new-trial requests, general requests letters, pro-se packet requests, etc.] into categories; Creating and managing a system ensuring that all letters and case files are addressed in a timely fashion.
-Reading and evaluating letters and files with an eye toward priority deadlines and conducting legal and factual research to determine if argued & addressed issues have the merit that is required for representation; if not, preparing correspondence explaining why the office will not pursue this issue on the client’s behalf and enclosing supporting documents and information for referrals to other offices as appropriate (e.g., pro-se packets); if so, advancing cases with merit to the Intake supervisor for case assignment.
-Responding to requests for legal assistance over the phone by speaking with people seeking help and/or their families.
Generating and revising legal information about processes that impact incarcerated people (i.e., judicial release; habeas corpus; delayed appeals; MISJs) with attention to literacy and access.
The following are the minimum qualifications for this position:
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.
Job Skills: Attorney/Legal, Responsiveness, Written Communication
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.
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.
To apply, use the following link:
https://dasstateoh.taleo.net/careersection/oh_ext/jobdetail.ftl?job=2300...
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.