What are the responsibilities and job description for the Assistant Public Defender - Prison Legal Services position at State of Ohio?
You will serve as an Assistant Public Defender (APD) in the Prison Legal Services (PLS) Section of our Intake & PLS Department. Advocacy is at the core of a PLS attorney's job. Attorneys in the group advocate before the Ohio Parole Board on behalf of individuals seeking release onto parole after decades in prison. PLS attorneys also zealously defend people who are facing reimprisonment at parole and post-release control violation hearings. They also provide legal orientations to incarcerated people at the Ohio Reformatory for Women (“ORW”) in Marysville and answer questions pertaining to criminal sentencing, appeals, jail-time credit, release mechanisms, and other criminal matters.
The position is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. PLS attorneys visit ORW to provide legal orientation once or twice a month and typically meet with clients at other prisons across the state once or twice a month as well.
You will work closely with five fellow PLS attorneys, two supervising attorneys, and an administrative professional, and will collaborate with colleagues on client advocacy. A successful candidate will have strong advocacy skills and a client-centered ethos.
Your essential duties will include but are not limited to:
Starting pay for this position will be at Step 1 unless required by contract/legislation; Candidates with exceptional qualifications may be considered for higher starting pay. Our steps give a standard path for earnings growth: you move to the next step after 6 months and annually thereafter. We typically have fiscal year Cost of Living Adjustments as well.
FY25 Wages Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Step 5 Step 6 Step 7 Step 8 Hourly $34.14 $36.00 $37.97 $40.02 $42.02 $44.55 $46.38 $48.56 Annual $71,011 $74,880 $78,978 $83,242 $87,922 $92,664 $96,470 $101,005
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 the OPD HCM Department at 614-466-5394 or HCM@opd.ohio.gov.
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; Client Advocacy; Analyzation; Building Trust; Consultation; Verbal Communication; Written Communication
Organization
Public Defender Commission
Agency Contact Name and Information
Joshua Barton, joshua.barton@opd.ohio.gov
Unposting Date
Mar 1, 2025, 11:59:00 PM
Primary Location
United States of America-OHIO-Franklin County-Columbus
Compensation
$71,011 - $101,005
Schedule
Full-time
Classified Indicator
Unclassified
Union
Exempt from Union
Primary Job Skill
Attorney/Legal
Technical Skills
Attorney/Legal, Client Advocacy
Professional Skills
Analyzation, Building Trust, Consultation, Verbal Communication, Written Communication
Agency Overview
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.
We are committed to building a work environment where all team members have a voice and can embrace our differences to innovate service to the public in our pursuit of fairness and justice for all people.
Follow OPD on Facebook , LinkedIn , Instagram , and Threads | Visit our Website
The position is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. PLS attorneys visit ORW to provide legal orientation once or twice a month and typically meet with clients at other prisons across the state once or twice a month as well.
You will work closely with five fellow PLS attorneys, two supervising attorneys, and an administrative professional, and will collaborate with colleagues on client advocacy. A successful candidate will have strong advocacy skills and a client-centered ethos.
Your essential duties will include but are not limited to:
- Represent indigent individuals at parole and post-release control violation hearings. This requires adequate preparation, investigation, and legal research to engage in an adversarial administrative hearing process.
- Represent indigent individuals seeking release onto parole at hearings before the Ohio Parole Board. This requires close contact with the client's family and community support systems. It also requires written and oral advocacy.
- Provide legal advice to incarcerated individuals at the Ohio Reformatory for Women in Marysville, Ohio.
- Collaborate with other attorneys in the Agency on strategic litigation and advocacy, including writs of mandamus.
- Work with Intake & PLS Department Manager and PLS Supervisors to complete administrative tasks related to operation of the PLS section.
Starting pay for this position will be at Step 1 unless required by contract/legislation; Candidates with exceptional qualifications may be considered for higher starting pay. Our steps give a standard path for earnings growth: you move to the next step after 6 months and annually thereafter. We typically have fiscal year Cost of Living Adjustments as well.
FY25 Wages Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Step 5 Step 6 Step 7 Step 8 Hourly $34.14 $36.00 $37.97 $40.02 $42.02 $44.55 $46.38 $48.56 Annual $71,011 $74,880 $78,978 $83,242 $87,922 $92,664 $96,470 $101,005
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 the OPD HCM Department at 614-466-5394 or HCM@opd.ohio.gov.
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; Client Advocacy; Analyzation; Building Trust; Consultation; Verbal Communication; Written Communication
Organization
Public Defender Commission
Agency Contact Name and Information
Joshua Barton, joshua.barton@opd.ohio.gov
Unposting Date
Mar 1, 2025, 11:59:00 PM
Primary Location
United States of America-OHIO-Franklin County-Columbus
Compensation
$71,011 - $101,005
Schedule
Full-time
Classified Indicator
Unclassified
Union
Exempt from Union
Primary Job Skill
Attorney/Legal
Technical Skills
Attorney/Legal, Client Advocacy
Professional Skills
Analyzation, Building Trust, Consultation, Verbal Communication, Written Communication
Agency Overview
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.
We are committed to building a work environment where all team members have a voice and can embrace our differences to innovate service to the public in our pursuit of fairness and justice for all people.
Follow OPD on Facebook , LinkedIn , Instagram , and Threads | Visit our Website
Salary : $34 - $49
