Supervising Assistant Public Defender Trumbull County Office

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.

The State of Ohio is a drug-free workplace which prohibits the use of marijuana (recreational marijuana/non-medical cannabis). Please note this position may be subject to additional restrictions pursuant to the State of Ohio Drug-Free Workplace Policy (HR-39) and as outlined in the posting.

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

Final candidates selected for this position will be required to undergo a drug applicant with a positive test result will not be offered employment. Final candidates selected for this position will also be required to undergo a criminal background check and state income tax check. Criminal convictions do not necessarily preclude an applicant from consideration for a position. An individual assessment of an applicants prior criminal convictions will be made before excluding an applicant from consideration.

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).

You will supervise Assistant Public Defenders maintain a complex caseload and serve as a mission-driven member of the Trumbull County Supervisor team reporting to the Trumbull County Office Director. The Trumbull County Office provides criminal defense representation to clients who cannot otherwise afford an attorney in the courts in Trumbull County. You will directly supervise Assistant Public Defenders (APDs) serving in the various Trumbull County Courts and you will maintain a complex caseload as lead attorney or co-counsel representing indigent trial-level clients. You will also work with your team to build and maintain productive working relationships with judicial and court staff and the central OPD office.

To be successful in this position you would benefit from strong leadership abilities excellent communication skills a familiarity with applicable court staff and local procedure experience in the teaching and mentoring attorneys and a strong legal acumen.

This position is an in-office/in-court position. The office is open to the public 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Essential duties of this position include but not limited to:

• Directly supervises attorneys practicing in the criminal courts of Trumbull County.

• Coaches and develops staff (holds team meetings and one-on-one meetings; sets meaningful goals and provides support; completes timely performance evaluations).
• As a member of the office leadership team: assists in the formation of office and agency policy; attends meetings as assigned; may be required to work on specific projects as assigned; may instruct and assist outside counsel in fields of expertise; may be temporarily assigned to perform duties of a Managing Assistant Public Defender at the direction of the State Public Defender.
• Represents indigent criminal defendants as co-counsel or lead-counsel at the trial level.
• Conducts legal research prepares briefs memoranda motions and pleadings
• Corresponds and meets with clients to explain legal strategies.
• Corresponds with clients regarding their legal issues & incarceration.
• Recommends candidates for hire (e.g. screens and interviews applicants for vacant positions).
• Performs other necessary related legal and administrative work as directed by Managing Assistant Public Defender of the Trumbull County Office Assistant Director or State Public Defender.

The Supervising Assistant Public Defender position is assigned to the State of Ohios E-1 Pay Range 14 presented below in table format. Starting pay 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 180 days and annually thereafter. We typically have fiscal year Cost of Living Adjustments as well.

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 us at or .

Admission to Ohio Bar pursuant to Section 4705.01; 12 mos. exp. as licensed attorney practicing criminal law; 6 mos. employee training & development.
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 .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 4705.01.

Job Skills: Attorney/Legal; Client Advocacy; Attention to Detail; Coaching; Critical Thinking; Verbal Communication; Written Communication

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 ourTotal Rewards website! Our benefits package includes:

• Medical Coverage
• Free Dental Vision and Basic Life Insurance premiums after completion of eligibility period
• Paid time off including vacation personal sick leave and 11 paid holidays per year
• Childbirth Adoption and Foster Care leave
• Education and Development Opportunities (Employee Development Funds Public Service Loan Forgiveness and more)
• Public Retirement Systems (such as OPERS STRS SERS and HPRS)&Optional Deferred Compensation (Ohio Deferred Compensation)

*Benefits eligibility is dependent on a number of factors. The Agency Contact listed above will be able to provide specific benefits information for this position.

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: . 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.

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