The Office of the Ohio Public Defender (OPD) is seeking a zealous and committed Assistant Public Defender 1 (APD1) to join 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.
This APD1 position is currently headquartered in Franklin County, Ohio with anticipated significant time spent at the Correction Reception Center (“CRC”) in Orient, Ohio. The attorney hired to this position focuses on representation of clients in parole and post-release control hearings. The attorney is also expected to 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, this APD1 position has historically been headquartered at CRC. Depending upon the state of the COVID pandemic, this position will likely require work at CRC, the central office of the Ohio Public Defender, and at hearing locations throughout the state of Ohio.
The position 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. Because the position currently requires working from home for a portion of time, a successful candidate will be self-motivated and comfortable communicating via Teams or other
conferencing software during those times. Candidates can apply using this link. Deadline for application is 2/7/2022.
Licensed to practice law in State of Ohio pursuant to section 4705.01 of Revised Code.
Note: Temporary Certification for Practice in Legal Services, Public Defender, and Law School Programs may be accepted in lieu of License to practice law in State of Ohio pursuant to Gov. Bar R. IX of the Supreme Court of Ohio.