Assistant Law Director II

City of Mount Vernon; Mount Vernon (OH); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Mount Vernon is seeking a recent law graduate to prosecute in the Mount Vernon Municipal Court, handling misdemeanors, traffic, and code enforcement with autonomy. You will coordinate with law enforcement, courts, and administration, and may attend City meetings outside regular hours.

The role requires legal research, trial preparation, and effective communication in court, with the potential for added responsibilities and professional growth within the City’s legal team.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of prosecutorial duties, Ohio law, and criminal procedure.
• Familiarity with police reports, witnesses, and discovery.
• Ability to handle high-volume caseloads with discretion.

Responsibilities

• Prosecute in Mount Vernon Municipal Court for misdemeanors, traffic, and code enforcement.
• Advise law enforcement on changes in criminal law and procedure; be on-call as needed.
• Prepare motions, briefs, and pleadings; present arguments in court.
• Conduct trials, pretrial hearings, and negotiate pleas with appropriate staff support.
• Review cases, witnesses, and discovery to determine charging decisions.

Skills

Legal research

Courtroom presentation

Plea negotiations

Communication

Independence

Education

Recent Graduate

Juris Doctorate preferred

Job description

Are you a recent Grad from an accredited four-year college or university, who is preparing to take the bar exam? Join the City of Mount Vernon! One of Ohio’s Best Home Towns.

Under the general direction of the Director of Law and First Assistant Director of Law, prepares and prosecutes cases in the Mount Vernon Municipal Court, including all violations of the City Charter, ordinances, and Ohio statutes, and assists in civil matters as needed. This position has a high degree of autonomy and works directly with multiple agencies including law enforcement, courts, and administration. This position may be required to attend City meetings outside of regular office hours.

Examples Of Duties

• Serve as full-time prosecutorial representative of all local law enforcement agencies appearing in the Mount Vernon Municipal Court on misdemeanor criminal, traffic, and code enforcement cases and for the Ohio Registrar of the Bureau of Motor Vehicles in driver’s license suspension appeal hearings.
• Serve as a legal advisor to local law enforcement personnel by keeping them apprised of relevant changes in criminal law and procedure through periodic in-service training and regular consultation. This includes being on-call in evenings to respond to calls from law enforcement.
• Conduct misdemeanor investigations and inquiries made to carry out the various prosecutorial duties as noted above.
• Prosecute appeals to and from the Ohio Fifth Appellate District Court of Appeals, including the timely submission of legal briefs and other required court papers and the presentation of oral arguments.
• Manage high volume docket of cases, conducts trials and pretrial hearings and negotiates plea agreements, with or without assistance.
• Prepare written motions, pleadings, arguments, and other memoranda.
• Review cases for negotiations, witnesses and discovery. Reviews legal documents in preparing cases for trial.
• Make charging decisions following review and evaluation of police reports in light of applicable law.
• Determine alternative courses of action and anticipates possible courses of action of opposing counsel; uses logical and creative thought processes to develop solutions according to written specifications and/or oral instructions.
• Interview witnesses, victims, attorneys and law enforcement officers, and present arguments in court. Appear against accused in court of law and presents evidence before a judge or jury. Confer with defense attorneys and/or witnesses in disputed cases and negotiates plea agreements when appropriate to do so.
• Perform other related duties as required or as assigned within the scope of the job classification.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of:
• Prosecutorial duties, the Ohio Revised Code, the Ohio Rules of Criminal Procedure, the Ohio Rules of Appellate Procedure, the Ohio Code of Professional Responsibility, and other applicable laws and constitutional case decisions, as well as, generally accepted professional standards of performance for public prosecutors.
• The general field of criminal law and procedure and the constitutional doctrines regarding the conduct of the police under the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution and under Article 1, Section 10 of the Ohio Constitution.
• Federal, state and local laws pertaining to the rights of crime victims. .
• Computer applications, databases, software and hardware related to the performance of the essential functions of the job.
• City government.

Ability To

• Conduct extensive legal research using online tools such as Westlaw and Lexis; assemble investigative information; plan, organize and develop trial strategies and prepare various motions, legal memoranda, related documents and correspondence with a high degree of professional competence.
• Communicate effectively and in a professional manner, both orally and in writing.
• Speak effectively and deliver effective presentations before groups and in a courtroom setting.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with associates, City officials and the general public.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with all local law enforcement and court personnel.
• Effectively prosecute a heavy caseload.
• Independently learn new areas of law.
• Effectively communicate and interact with crime victims, defendants, and witnesses in a considerate manner.
• Maintain confidentiality and use discretion and tact; work independently in the absence of specific instruction, and use good judgment to make decisions appropriate to this level of responsibilities.

Skills

• Understanding and fairly applying all applicable prosecutorial tools and resources.
• Setting priorities and meeting critical deadlines with minimal direction.
• Using tact, discretion, initiative and independent judgment within established guidelines.
• Interpersonal relations and effective leadership methods.
• Dealing courteously and diplomatically with the general public, law enforcement, and the legal community.

Education

• Recent Grad from an accredited four-year college or university, who is preparing to take the bar.
• Prefer a Juris Doctorate or equivalent degree from an accredited law school, in good standing, with the bar of the State of Ohio.

Experience

• This is an entry-level position, although those with relevant legal experience are invited to apply.
• The City of Mount Vernon permanent, full-time employees and their eligible dependents become eligible for comprehensive health benefits on the first day of the month following 30 days of employment. Health benefits include hospitalization, outpatient services, prescription coverage, dental coverage, and group life insurance.
• Time off benefits includes paid vacation (88 hours after 1 year), paid holidays, 24 hours of personal time, and paid sick leave.
• Ohio Public Employee Deferred Compensation Program
• Ohio Public Employee Retirement System