Assistant Public Defender - Intake

Columbus, OH, United States

Primary Location : United States of America-OHIO-Franklin County-Columbus Organization : Public Defender Commission Classified Indicator : Unclassified Bargaining Unit / Exempt : Exempt Schedule : Full-time Compensation : $67,620 - $96,200 Unposting Date : Nov 1, 2023, 10:59:00 PM Primary Job Skill : Attorney/Legal Technical Skills : Attorney/Legal Professional Skills : Responsiveness, Written Communication Agency Contact Name : Joshua Barton Agency Contact Information : [email protected] Assistant Public Defender - Intake

(230009TO) Job Duties

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:

You will serve in the Intake section of the Intake and Prison Legal Services Department of the Appellate Services Division. This section receives requests for assistance through letters and phone calls and is responsible for evaluating legal claims and communicating with potential clients and their loved ones with clarity, empathy, and respect. Here, you will refer cases for litigation, offer resources and support to people whom the office is unable to represent, and develop accessible legal information that will be provided to those encountering the criminal legal system.

In this position, you will work closely with three fellow Intake attorneys, support staff, and a supervising attorney, and you will collaborate with colleagues on client advocacy across the agency. A commitment to indigent defense and compassion for clients will be key to your success. Your interpersonal skills and ability to communicate about the law with folks from all over our communities will be valuable attributes in this role.

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 Intake 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 be self-motivated and comfortable communicating via Teams or other conferencing software.

Essential duties of the position include, but are not limited to, the following:

Determining client eligibility for representation by the Office of the Ohio Public Defender. If necessary, obtaining initial client information for preparation of case files. Reading and prioritizing 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 requests, etc.] into categories; Creating and managing a system ensuring that all letters and case files are addressed in a timely fashion.

Reading and evaluating letters and files with an eye toward priority deadlines and conducting legal and factual research to determine if argued & addressed issues have the merit that is required for representation; if not, preparing correspondence explaining why the office will not pursue this issue on the client’s behalf and enclosing supporting documents and information for referrals to other offices as appropriate (e.g., pro-se packets); if so, advancing cases with merit to the Intake supervisor for case assignment.

Responding to requests for legal assistance over the phone by speaking with people seeking help and/or their families.

Generating and revising 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 the pay range (step 1, currently $32.51 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.

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Step 4

Step 5

Step 6

Step 7

Step 8

Hourly

$32.51

$34.29

$36.16

$38.11

$40.26

$42.43

$44.17

$46.25

Annual

$67,620

$71,323

$75,212

$79,268

$83,740

$88,254

$91,873

$96,200

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 the 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

Qualifications

The following are the minimum qualifications for this position:

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.

Job Skills: Attorney/Legal, Responsiveness, Written Communication

Knowledge of criminal law, judicial system & process in Ohio, human relations, policies & procedures of Office of the Ohio Public Defender* (e.g., standards promulgated*); legal counseling; interviewing; public relations. Skill in: Word processing (e.g., Microsoft Office), computer software applications (e.g., OPD Online*, Legal Research Software*), keyboarding, equipment operations (e.g., computer, scanner, copier). Ability to deal with many variables & determine specific action; calculate fractions, decimals & percentages; prepare & review pleadings, briefs, motions & memoranda; gather, collate & classify information about data, people or things; complex legal issues, some without clear legal precedent, involving significant risks & mental strain; ability to maintain attention to detail & professional composure under intense pressure &

volatile circumstances; establish good rapport with clients & their families &/or work cooperatively with county public defenders & members of private bar; handle contacts with federal, state & local officials or group representatives to resolve problems concerning specific clients or criminal law in general.

(*) Developed after employment.

This position serves at the pleasure and discretion of the State Public Defender. This position serves in a fiduciary relationship to the State Public Defender and will have an unclassified status per Ohio Revised Code 124.11 (A) (9).

Intentional omission of relevant information, falsification, or misrepresentation of information on the application will disqualify the applicant. In addition, such intentional acts are grounds for immediate termination of an employee.

Background Check Information

The final candidate tentatively selected for this position will be required to undergo a criminal background check. Criminal convictions do not necessarily preclude an applicant from consideration for a position. An individual assessment of an applicant's prior criminal convictions will be made before excluding an applicant from consideration.

All final applicants tentatively selected for this position will be required to submit to urinalysis to test for illegal drug use prior to appointment. An applicant with a positive test shall not be offered employment.

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