SUPERVISOR (NON-ATTORNEY) - CAPITAL HABEAS UNIT
Position Announcement 26-005
The Federal Public Defender for the Southern District of Ohio is accepting applications for a Supervisor in our Capital Habeas Unit, to be stationed in our Columbus office.
Our Capital Habeas Unit (CHU) represents clients in federal habeas proceedings who have been convicted and sentenced to death. We represent clients starting with their federal habeas petition through every subsequent stage in the proceedings. This includes appeals, clemency, and necessary additional state court litigation. Our mission is to provide our clients with legal services of the highest quality. We zealously and ethically represent the human worth, dignity, and interest of our clients with courage, devotion, and uncompromised advocacy and professionalism.
JOB REQUIREMENTS
This Supervisor will be part of the leadership team. They will directly supervise the paralegals and investigators in our CHU. Additional responsibilities include, but are not limited to, supervising and overseeing the training of CHU staff, monitoring performance and delivering feedback, solving problems and interpersonal disputes, working with the leadership team to develop the unit and office, and managing a reduced caseload.
We are looking for a candidate with significant experience working on capital habeas cases as either an investigator or paralegal. In addition to the supervisor’s duties, this person will also have a partial caseload in either a paralegal or investigator capacity.
We hold ourselves to exceptionally high standards and expect the same of every member of our team. Employees are expected to demonstrate the highest levels of professionalism, compassion, clear communication, client-centered judgment, and collaborative teamwork. We value continuous learning and expect employees to actively seek improvement in their skills and knowledge. Team members must be willing to acknowledge mistakes and areas for growth and take personal responsibility for developing proficiency in all skill areas relevant to capital habeas defense. Employees are required to demonstrate good judgement and always maintain a professional appearance and demeanor.
This position requires overnight out-of-state travel and local travel. Our cases are subject to strict deadlines set by the court; thus, some evening and weekend work is required.
The most important qualifications for this position are a desire to lead, strong passion for helping those in need, and the ability to thrive in a team environment.
A successful candidate will have strong written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills. They will be motivated, creative, resourceful, and able to work with different types of people and personalities with tact, discretion, and compassion. They will also have the ability to work well with others in a team-based approach.
We are seeking candidates with significant experience working on capital habeas cases. The ideal candidate will have worked primarily on capital habeas cases as either a paralegal or investigator for at least five years. Candidates should also have a significant interest in leadership and improving capital habeas litigation as a whole.
In your cover letter, please explain your capital habeas experience, your management experience or why you are interested in moving into management, and what skills/experience will help you thrive as a leader in our unit.
Additionally, applicants for this particular position should have the following:
• The ability to lead, form connections with employees, and provide feedback.
• Initiative, drive, and the ability to take on a project without waiting for instruction or a specific assignment.
• The ability to establish and maintain rapport and good working relationships.
• The ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• A demonstrated work history of dependability and responsibility, and the ability to be a team player.
• The ability to work in a high-demand, high-volume law office.
• Comfort working with clients and their families in both jail and community settings.
• Ability to learn and understand the legal process and the current status of assigned cases.
• A working knowledge of legal terminology and court procedures.
• Advanced skills in Microsoft Office (especially Outlook, Teams, Word, and Excel), and Adobe.
• A valid driver’s license and a reliable vehicle, as local travel will be necessary.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
Applicants must have at least an Associate’s degree. Paralegal degrees, degrees in Social Work, or degrees in Criminal Justice are advantageous, but we are open to applicants from a variety of different disciplines. Significant paralegal/investigation/mitigation experience could be substituted for a degree where appropriate.
ABOUT US
The Office of the Federal Public Defender for the Southern District of Ohio provides the highest quality legal representation in criminal cases to persons who cannot afford to hire a private attorney. Through our Trial and Appellate Units, we represent people who have been accused of federal criminal offenses from the onset of their case, through the trial and appellate phases. Through our Capital Habeas Unit, we represent people sentenced to death in Ohio and around the country, through federal habeas and all subsequent proceedings.
We utilize teams with interdisciplinary skill sets that ensure compassionate and comprehensive representation. We are attorneys, paralegals, investigators, office administrators, and information technology specialists who prioritize centering our representation around our clients and their needs.
Our office values people with a wide range of experience and perspectives, and works to foster a culture of mutual respect, collaboration, openness, and humility that honors the people we represent. We believe representation is better when members of the defense team have varied backgrounds and experiences. We seek team members who share that belief and commitment. We embrace the unique contributions our employees can bring to the office because of their backgrounds, social identities, and lived experiences. We are interested in applicants’ talent, intelligence, dedication, and persistence, and desire to see that all people are treated fairly and respectfully – no matter the allegation or circumstance.
SALARY AND BENEFITS
The starting annual salary for this position will be between $111,000 and $155,000/year, depending on experience. Salary is payable only by Electronic Funds Transfer (direct deposit). The position offers federal employment benefits, including paid vacation, paid sick time, paid holidays, health insurance, life insurance, retirement plan, and participation in the Thrift Savings Plan (similar to a 401k). Some telework is available, consistent with office policy, court obligations, and position duties.
HOW TO APPLY
Qualified applicants should submit a cover letter, a resume, and three professional references, in PDF format, to [email protected], by Monday, June 1, 2026. Please combine the application into a single PDF. In your application, please feel free to note which pronouns you use.
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
All application information is subject to verification. Appointment to the position is contingent upon a background investigation including an FBI fingerprint check. Employees of the Federal Defender are members of the judicial branch of government; they are considered “at will” and can be terminated with or without cause.
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