General Counsel

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 as General Counsel for the agency. You will provide legal and policy advice to the State Public Defender, Assistant Directors, Deputy Directors, managers, supervisors, and employees of the agency. You will provide a full range of legal advice and services. Your job duties will include but are not limited to:

• Respond to and proactively identify issues related to various areas of law, including Professional Rules of Conduct for Lawyers, Ohio Ethics Laws, State of Ohio State Accounting Fiscal Essentials Manual, State of Ohio Administrative Code and Human Resources Division (HRD) Policy, Federal and State Equal Employment Opportunity, Public Records Law, and more.

• Review agency programs and policies for legal implications. Conduct legal research of case and statutory law, constitutions, state and/or federal rules. Draft advisory opinions on legal ethics and agency compliance with regulations.

• Consult with and advise managers, supervisors, and other personnel regarding a wide variety of programs, policies, and regulations.

• Receive and review incoming legal counsel requests and collaborate with appropriate staff for research and analysis.

• Assist with the implementation of agency personnel policy requirements and compliance with federal and state employment laws, including but not limited to the Civil Rights Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, Fair Labor Standards Act, Age Discrimination in Employment Act, and Family and Medical Leave Act

• Assist with reviewing materials related to lawsuits or other legal claims filed against the agency.

• Facilitate contract reviews.

• Consult on personnel matters or other topics as assigned.

• Directly supervise staff (supervisory tasks include but aren't limited to the following: work with employees to set performance goals and coach to develop performance; complete timely annual performance evaluations, approve work schedules, identify and/or approve training opportunities, approve work and leave time for payroll purposes, and carrying out other administrative tasks, potentially including the initiation of disciplinary actions)

The position requires independent and collaborative work. The ideal candidate will have demonstrated success working in a team environment to problem-solve and brainstorm to find solutions that best serve agency personnel and clients. We are seeking candidates with experience serving in an In-House Counsel or General Counsel position, with experience and knowledge in employment and administrative law, and the demonstrated ability to quickly research and assess risk and benefits.

The position reports to the Deputy Director of our Policy and Outreach Division. This division serves as the main point of contact for county indigent defense systems, oversees reimbursement to the counties, and is responsible for the agency's work with media, social media, legislation, training, social science research, administrative policy, legal services, and overall agency outreach.

This position does require in-office hours. You will be eligible for a hybrid schedule: at-home hours are available on average 2-3 days a week, depending on job duties and needs.

This Attorney 5 position is assigned to the State of Ohio's E-1 Pay Schedule, Pay Range 15. Unless required by legislation or union contract, starting salary will be the minimum salary of that pay range (step 1, currently $39.27 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. 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 $39.27 $41.48 $43.82 $46.23 $48.79 $51.47 $53.58 $56.10 Annual $81,681 $86,278 $91,145 $96,158 $101,483 $107,057 $111,446 $116,688

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.

PLEASE NOTE: A COVER LETTER MUST BE SUBMITTED WITH THIS APPLICATION. Your application will not be considered without a cover letter.

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

Employee Development Funds

• The State of Ohio offers a variety of educational and professional development funding that varies based on whether you are a union-exempt employee or a union-represented employee.

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.

The following are the minimum qualifications for this position:

Admission to Ohio Bar pursuant to Section 4705.01 of Revised Code; 18 mos. exp. as licensed attorney; 6 mos. exp. in supervisory principles/techniques.

Job Skills: Attorney/Legal, Management, Customer Focus, Collaboration