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 Commitme nt 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 join the Appeals and Post-Conviction (“APC”) Section of our Legal Department. You will provide representation in a wide range of proceedings occurring after a client has been convicted of one or more non-capital crimes. You will work on a variety of post-conviction issues, including systemic litigation related to race in the criminal justice system, criminalization of poverty, and criminal defense immigration consequences. You will work individually on cases as well as in a group setting on projects reviewing larger issues, and these group litigation projects will include both supervisors and attorneys with varying levels of experience.
The most common day-to-day work for the position relates to the following types of legal filings/cases:
- Direct Appeal: You generally act as sole counsel on direct-appeal cases, but occasionally will work with co-counsel when appropriate. In pursuing an appeal, you will review the record of the case and all transcripts, meet with the client, conduct research and identify issues, draft the merit and reply briefs, and present oral argument. You will also conduct merit reviews for cases that have potential merit for a discretionary appeal to the Ohio Supreme Court, may file jurisdictional memoranda in meritorious cases, and will pursue the appeal if the case is accepted.
- Post-Conviction: You are assigned to review the cases of individuals who have gone to trial, who may have claims that a violation of their constitutional rights occurred, which can be established by evidence outside of the trial record of the case. You may work with an investigator to identify, locate, and interview witnesses, and/or may secure affidavits from expert witnesses in support of a post-conviction petition. If the trial court grants an evidentiary hearing, you will participate in the hearing.
- Federal and State Writs and Other Forms of Relief: You review cases for arguable merit for a variety of writ filings, including state and federal habeas petitions, mandamus actions, and writs of procedendo, as well as other non-traditional filings including temporary restraining orders and injunctions.
- Motions: You provide representation on various motions, including new-trial motions, motions for the correction of jail-time credit, motions to vacate post-release control and judicial sanctions, etc.
We are looking for zealous, creative attorneys who have a commitment to indigent defense and compassion for their clients. Successful candidates will also have strong analytical skills and are adept at legal research and persuasive writing. Further, excellent interpersonal skills, a desire to expand one’s legal knowledge and skills, and an ability to accept constructive feedback are valuable attributes. 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 APC 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 also be self-motivated and comfortable communicating via Teams or other conferencing software during those times.
**In your application, please upload and attach a cover letter and a writing sample. Applications without a cover letter and writing sample will not be reviewed.**
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 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.
FY24 Assistant Public Defender Pay Range Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Step 5 Step 6 Step 7 Step 8 $32.51 $34.29 $36.16 $38.11 $40.26 $42.43 $44.17 $46.25
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 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.
Qualifications
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.