Assistant Public Defender (Intake Section) Ohio Public Defender

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:

The Intake Section of the Legal Department is often the first point of contact between the Office of the Ohio Public Defender and people who are incarcerated in the state of Ohio and their loved ones. The section receives requests for assistance through letter and phone and is responsible for both evaluating claims for legal viability and communicating with potential clients and their loved ones with clarity, empathy, and respect. The section refers cases for litigation, offers resources and support to people who the office is unable to represent, and develops accessible legal information to provide people who encounter the criminal legal system.

In this position, you will work closely with three fellow Intake attorneys and a supervising attorney and will collaborate with colleagues on client advocacy across the Legal Department. A commitment to indigent defense and compassion for clients will be key to your success. Excellent interpersonal skills, intellectual curiosity, and comfort with constructive feedback will also be valuable attributes for you in this position.

Under the direction of the Intake Section Supervisor, you will review cases for merit; respond to correspondence from people who are incarcerated, courts, and outside counsel; provide direct representation for clients; and develop systems for delivery of legal information to people incarcerated in the state of Ohio. The position currently offers you the opportunity to work from home for a portion of time, so to be successful you will need to be self-motivated and comfortable communicating via Teams or other conferencing software during those times.

Essential duties of the position include, but aren't limited to, the following:

Determines client eligibility for representation by the Office of the Ohio Public Defender; if necessary, obtains initial client information for preparation of case files. Daily reads and prioritizes 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 request, etc.), into categories; may also classify duty calls from judges, attorneys, or potential client families. Creates and manages a system ensuring that all letters and case files are timely addressed.
Reads and evaluates letters and files with an eye toward priority deadlines, conducts legal and factual research to determine if argued & addressed issues have the merit that is required for representation; if not, prepares correspondence explaining why the office will not pursue this issue on the client’s behalf; encloses supporting documents and information for referrals to other offices as appropriate (e.g., pro-se packets). Advances cases with merit to the Intake supervisor for case assignment.
Responds to requests for legal assistance over the phone by speaking with people seeking help and/or their families.
Generates and revises legal information about processes that impact incarcerated people (i.e., judicial release; habeas corpus; delayed appeals; MISJs) with attention to literacy and access.
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.

FY23 Assistant Public Defender Pay Range
Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Step 5 Step 6 Step 7 Step 8
$31.56 $33.29 $35.11 $37.00 $39.09 $41.19 $42.88 $44.90
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 [email protected].

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.