General Counsel

Supreme Court of Ohio; Columbus (OH); On-site; USD 175,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

The Supreme Court of Ohio seeks a General Counsel to direct the legal, legislative, and policy affairs of the Court and to serve as the principal advisor on legal matters affecting Court administration and the Ohio judicial branch.

You will lead multidisciplinary teams across the Office of the General Counsel, Office of the Reporter, and Office of Legal Resources, oversee budgets, strategic planning, records management, public access, and ensure statutory compliance.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school and an active Ohio law license in good standing. Must be admitted to practice law in Ohio. Minimum eight years of broad-based legal experience as a licensed attorney. At least five years of substantial management responsibility preferred.

Responsibilities

• Oversees the activities of the Offices of the General Counsel, Reporter, and Legal Resources, aligning with the Court's mission and priorities.
• Develops and executes strategic goals, values, and policies across offices; supports organizational change and policy compliance.
• Provides legal advice to the Chief Justice, Administrative Director, and staff to ensure compliance with laws and regulations.
• Oversees public records requests and policies across the Supreme Court of Ohio offices.
• Reviews contracts and intergovernmental agreements; trains staff on legal risk and terms.
• Directly supervises key staff and oversees recruitment, onboarding, and performance.

Skills

Attorney/Legal

Written Communications

Education

Juris Doctor

Job description

What You'll Do

Leadership: Oversees the activities of the Offices of the General Counsel, Reporter, and Legal Resources, ensuring alignment with the Court's mission, statutory obligations, and operational priorities. Fosters collaboration and clear communication to ensure strategies and operations are aligned under a unified legal and administrative strategy. Coordinates efforts to drive innovation, efficiency, and consistency, enabling the Court to advance priorities.

Organizational Goals: Develops and executes strategic goals, values, and policies across offices in alignment with the Court's mission. Provides high-level leadership for court-wide initiatives. Supports the Chief Justice and Administrative Director in implementing organizational change, fostering innovation, and ensuring policy compliance across relevant functions. Provides leadership for legal, legislative, and policy matters. Assists the Chief Justice and Administrative Director in planning and reviewing non-judicial operations. Coordinates activities with other agencies and court divisions. Conducts special projects assigned by the Chief Justice, Administrative Director, or Deputy Administrative Directors.

Office Management: Plans, prioritizes, directs, and oversees activities of the Office of the General Counsel, including legal, legislative, and policy activities. Develops and implements the Office of the General Counsel's budget.

Legal Advice: Provides legal advice to the Chief Justice, Justices, Administrative Director, Deputy Administrative Directors, managers, supervisors, and employees to ensure compliance with laws, rules, and regulations. Consults with managers and supervisors on various programs, policies, and regulations. Addresses legal issues impacting the Court or Ohio judicial branch by researching statutes, judicial decisions, and rules; drafting advisory opinions; and preparing legal memoranda and reports.

Public Records & Policy: Oversee public records requests and manage public records policies and procedures across the offices of the Supreme Court of Ohio.

Contract & Agreement Management: Reviews, prepares, and coordinates intergovernmental agreements, grant agreements, and contracts; advises staff on legal risks, terms, and conditions. Provides reference materials and training for judges and judicial branch employees.

Staff Supervisory Responsibilities: This position directly supervises the Reporter of Decisions; Director, Legal Resources; and Judicial Assignment Analyst. As a supervisor, this position is responsible for overseeing recruitment and onboarding processes, providing coaching and feedback to team members, managing performance issues, conducting performance evaluations, and fostering a collaborative and high-performance work environment to ensure team success.

What You're Looking For

Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school and an active Ohio law license in good standing or ability to obtain within 6 months of employment. At all times during employment with the Court, must be an attorney properly admitted to the practice of law in Ohio and be in good standing. Minimum of eight (8) years of increasingly responsible broad based legal experience as a bar licensed attorney. At least five (5) years of extensive and substantial management responsibility is preferred.

Unposting Date

Ongoing

Work Location

Ohio Judicial Center

Primary Location

United States of America-OHIO-Franklin County-Columbus

Compensation

$175,000 - $190,000

Schedule

Full-time

Classified Indicator

Unclassified

Union

N/A

Primary Job Skill

Attorney/Legal

Technical Skills

Attorney/Legal

Professional Skills

Written Communication

Agency Overview

The Supreme Court of Ohio is seeking to fill the position of General Counsel. This position directs the legal, legislative, and policy affairs of the Supreme Court and serves as the principal advisor on legal matters affecting Court administration and the Ohio judicial branch. The position provides executive leadership and operational oversight for the Office of the General Counsel, Office of the Reporter, and Office of Legal Resources, ensuring effective governance, statutory compliance, and coordinated service delivery. Key responsibilities include leading multidisciplinary teams of legal and professional staff, managing budgets and resources, and guiding strategic planning, policy development, records management, and public access functions.