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 Administrative Professional 1 Position and What You’ll Do:
You will serve as an Administrative Professional 1 in the Trumbull County Office of the Trial Services Department. The Trumbull County Office provides criminal defense representation to clients who cannot otherwise afford an attorney in the courts in Trumbull County.
Your position plays a key role in client representation by providing secretarial and clerical assistance to a team of eleven attorneys who represent clients in the courts of Trumbull County. You will work under the supervision of the office Program Administrator, to collaborate with a core support staff team of four other Administrative Professionals, to achieve the common goal of meeting court deadlines and providing quality client service. Daily tasks include: answering the phone and checking voicemail; opening and closing client files; gathering indigency applications from potential clients, at the courts, via phone or in person; utilizing a web-based case management software to create and scan documents, as well as enter client information, court dates, and notes within that system; court filing; copying and distributing discovery materials; preparing mail; and providing general support to attorneys.
Experience working in a busy office is ideal, and knowledge of court filing procedures and the ability to prepare elementary legal documents is preferred but not required. Applicants must be capable of complying with detailed procedures and meeting deadlines in a busy office environment, and comfortable working with clients and family members that are facing difficult situations.
This position will work 40 hours per week in the office; the office is open to the public 8am to 4pm Monday through Friday, with staff schedules commensurate to those hours. The position offers the opportunity to flex hours during the week with supervisor approval.
The duties include, but are not limited to, the following:
Document Preparation & Court Filing
• Format (and/or assist in formatting), type, and proofread standard documents and/or documents requiring use of legal terminology that comply with court standards (e.g., Motion to Suppress Evidence; Motion for Discovery; Change of Venue; Entry of Appearance; Entry for Continuance; Notice of Appeal; Motion for Extension of Time; and business letters from agency-assigned attorney to prosecuting attorneys, clerks of court, court investigators, and other defense attorneys).
• Proofread final material for accuracy by reviewing documents to ensure complete document merger (e.g., complete case caption; no formatting issues) prior to distribution to attorneys, and review for completeness (e.g., attorney signature) upon return prior to copying for filing.
• Download, distribute, and file discovery materials.
• Perform conflict checks by following procedures to search case-management system for records to identify conflicts.
• Enter case information and court dates into a web-based case management software.
Attorney & Office Support
• Answer the phone; screen calls and visitors for attorneys and other personnel; and check voicemail.
• Open and close client files.
• Gather indigency applications from potential clients, at the courts, over the phone and in the office.
• Utilize a web-based case management software to create and scan documents, as well as enter client information; court dates; and notes within that system.
• Deliver legal documents (e.g., appeals, motions) daily to the Municipal Court; Court of Common Pleas; Diversion Office; Prosecutor’s Office; and Law Director’s Office.
• Copy and distribute discovery materials.
• Prepare, sort, and distribute mail.
• Relay messages to attorneys from courts, outside attorneys, and clients.
The Administrative Professional 1 position is assigned to the State of Ohio’s OCSEA Pay Schedule, Pay Range 27. Unless required by legislation or union contract, starting salary will be the minimum salary of that pay range (step 1, currently $19.99 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 4 months and annually thereafter. The State of Ohio typically has Cost of Living Adjustments that increase wages in these ranges each fiscal year.
FY 24 Administrative Professional 1 Wage Table
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4
Step 5
Step 6
Step 7
$19.99
$20.60
$20.92
$21.48
$22.02
$22.66
$23.49
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 HCM@opd.ohio.gov.
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 after one year of continuous service.
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.
Qualifications
The following are the minimum qualifications for this position:
1 yr. trg. or 1 yr. exp. in secretarial science or business office applications.
For positions requiring technical terminology, applicants must also have 6 mos. trg. or 6 mos. exp. in relevant technical terminology.
-Or equivalent of Minimum Class Qualifications For Employment noted above