Assistant Public Defender - Youth Defense

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.

Follow OPD on Facebook and Twitter | Visit our Website

About the Position and What You'll Do:

You will serve as an Assistant Public Defender (APD) in the Conditions Section of the Youth Defense Department.

The Youth Defense Department is a team of talented professionals focused primarily on post-disposition advocacy and ensuring that the constitutional rights of children are fully realized and protected. We steadily work toward a holistic approach to helping youth in the justice system and know that the value of our advocacy extends beyond the child's duration of confinement.

You will provide assistance to children in Ohio Department of Youth Services (DYS) on conditions of confinement matters, which includes responding to requests for assistance, reviewing fact investigations, determining whether the child's conditions of confinement claim has merit, and referring the child to a private attorney for direct representation of their claim. If no private attorney accepts the case within a reasonable time, you will prepare pro se pleadings, including a complaint, a motion for appointment of counsel, and other applicable pleadings. You will also advocate for children during discipline and release reviews to the ODYS Release Authority, which impacts the child's length of stay and release date. You will be most successful in the position if you are organized, solutions oriented, adept at effective documentation and communication, and empathetic. This position is a hybrid position, which allows the employee to work from home, with in-office minimums weekly. However, frequent travel to juvenile correctional facilities is required.

Duties include but are not limited to the following:

• Provide legal assistance to incarcerated youth residing in Ohio Department of Youth Services (“DYS”) facilities and DYS contract facilities
• Travel to DYS and contract facilities to meet with youth in-person
• Provide legal orientation to youth upon their admission to DYS
• Interview youth on questions pertaining to conditions of confinement (e.g., medical deliberate indifference, excessive use of force, failure to protect, etc.)
• Advocate for youth on administrative issues that could result in the extension of the youth’s period of confinement
• Regularly provide DYS youth with legal information and advice on release and re-entry information
• Work with DYS administrators and OPD staff on providing re-entry services to youth
• Investigate youth claims pertaining to conditions of confinement issues, including but not limited to the following: ensuring that youth follow DYS grievance processes and procedures and exhaust administrative remedies; submitting records requests to DYS following a youth’s request for assistance; reviewing facility documentation of a youth’s claim as well as any video footage, if available; and, under the supervision of higher level assistant public defenders, determining the merits of a youth’s claim by analyzing relevant case law
• Provide youth with age-appropriate written explanations of the results of any investigation
• Under the supervision of unit Supervisor or the Youth Defense Department Managing Counsel, refer apparent meritorious claims to private counsel. If referrals cannot be accomplished within a reasonable time, prepare pro se pleadings and motions for appointment of counsel, completes affidavit of indigence and motions for appointment of guardian ad litem when necessary, to enable a youth to file pro se
• Collect data and compiles information for monthly reports
• Organize paperwork and request forms
• Maintain intra-agency intake calendar
• Collaborate with other attorneys in the department
• Refer matters to outside agencies when appropriate
• Answer inquiries from indigent youth pertaining to general issues of juvenile law
• Conduct intake for the department’s post-disposition and trial staff
• Appear in public and private settings on behalf of the Public Defender to discuss law and policy
• Train youth defenders on issues pertaining to post-dispositional and administration assistance/representation, appearing as counsel or co-counsel to represent youth on matters including judicial release, sealing and expungement, serious youthful offender invocation hearings, new charges, and other matters related to the youth’s confinement

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 that pay range (step 1, currently $31.56 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.

Please Note: A cover letter and writing sample must be submitted with this application Your application will not be considered without a cover letter and writing sample.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Tip about State of Ohio Application Procedures: When completing this application, be sure to clearly describe how you meet the minimum qualifications outlined in this job posting. We cannot give you credit for your qualifications, experience, education and training if you do not provide it in your on-line application – information in attached resumes must be in the application to be considered.

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.

The final candidate selected for the 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.