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Public Defender Leadership/Supervisory Position

Supervising Assistant Public Defender – Athens Co.

Expires: 2024-11-17
Organization
Ohio Public Defender
Salary
$78,062 - $111,446
Job Status
Full Time
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Athens, Ohio

You will supervise Assistant Public Defenders, maintain a complex caseload, and serve as a mission-driven member of the Athens County leadership team reporting to the Athens County Office Director. The Athens County Office provides criminal defense representation to clients who cannot otherwise afford an attorney in the courts in Athens County. You will directly supervise Assistant Public Defenders (APDs) serving in the various Athens 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 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, with standard attorney schedule hours between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.

Essential duties of this position include but not limited to:

  • Actively engages as a member of office leadership team, contributes to office-wide decision-making, and helps implement office and statewide programs and policies in conjunction with public defender, deputies, and other managers.
  • Directly supervises attorneys practicing in the criminal courts of Athens County.
  • Coaches and develops staff (holds team meetings and one-on-one meetings; sets meaningful goals and provides support; completes timely performance evaluations).
  • Recommends candidates for hire (e.g., screens and interviews applicants for vacant positions).
  • 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.
  • Performs other necessary related legal and administrative work as directed by Managing Assistant Public Defender of the Athens County Office, Assistant Director or State Public Defender.
Requirements
Admission to Ohio Bar pursuant to Section 4705.01; 3 yrs. exp. as licensed attorney practicing criminal law; 6 mos. exp. in 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 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 Contact
Tamra Meister
6144665394 tamra.meister@opd.ohio.gov