• Job Description

  Req#: 112205
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  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, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Threads | Visit our Website

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  The Ross County Office provides criminal defense representation in the courts of Ross County and Jackson County to clients who cannot otherwise afford an attorney. As the Administrative Professional 1, you will play a key role in client representation by providing secretarial and clerical assistance to attorneys. Daily tasks include opening client files, gathering indigency applications from potential clients at the courts, entering court dates, court filing, distributing discovery materials, and preparing mail. You will support a group of attorneys as assigned, and you will also work as a team with other administrative professionals to support all attorneys headquartered in Ross County. You will work under the supervision of the office Program Administrator, and collaborate with the core support staff team to achieve the common goal of meeting court deadlines and providing quality client service.

  Experience working in a busy office is ideal, and knowledge of court filing procedures and the ability to prepare elementary legal documents is preferred but not required. Applicants must be capable of complying with detailed procedures and meeting deadlines in a busy office environment, and be comfortable working with clients and family members that are facing difficult situations.

  The duties of the position include, but are not limited to, the following:

  Document Preparation & Court Filing

  • Transcribe, format and /or assist in formatting, type, and proofread standard documents and/or documents requiring use of legal terminology that comply with court standards (e.g., Motion to Suppress Evidence, Motion for Discovery, Change of Venue, Entry of Appearance, Entry for Continuance, Notice of Appeal, Motion for Extension of Time, business letters from agency assigned attorney to prosecuting attorneys, clerks of court, court investigators, and other defense attorneys).
  • Proofread final material for accuracy and completeness.
  • Download, distribute, and file discovery materials.
  • Deliver legal documents to various courts and offices.
  • Act as liaison between attorneys and courts.
  • Perform conflict checks.
  • Enter case information and court dates into web-based case management system.

  Attorney & Office Support

  • Operate standard office equipment (e.g., personal computer, scanner, photocopier, postage meter, and fax machine).
  • Convey messages as directed by supervisor or attorneys.
  • Keep attorneys abreast of hearings and court filing deadlines.
  • Screen calls and visitors for attorneys and other personnel.
  • Sort and distribute mail.
  • Prepare outgoing mail.
  • Cover other core duties during staffing shortages, as assigned.

  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 4 months and annually thereafter. We typically have fiscal year Cost of Living Adjustments as well.

  	Step 1	Step 2	Step 3	Step 4	Step 5	Step 6	Step 7
  Annual	$43,659	$44,990	$45,698	$46,904	$48,090	$49,483	$51,293

  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.

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  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
  • 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.

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  1 yr. trg. or 1 yr. exp. in secretarial science or business office applications. For positions requiring technical terminology, applicants must also have 6 mos. trg. or 6 mos. exp. in relevant technical terminology.
  
  -Or equivalent of Minimum Class Qualifications For Employment noted above
  
  Job Skills: Administrative Support/Services, Attention to Detail, Customer Focus, Written Communication, Organizing and Planning

  !*!

  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 tentatively selected for this 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.

  !*!

  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.

• About the company

  Ohio is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. Of the fifty states, it is the 34th-largest by area, and with a population of nearly 11.8 million, is the seventh-most populous and tenth-most densely populated.

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