Juvenile Criminal Justice Counsel

Supreme Court of Ohio; Columbus (OH); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Supreme Court of Ohio seeks a qualified attorney with experience in criminal justice policy to assist the Juvenile Criminal Justice Counsel. You will research, draft, and analyze statutes, write memos, and support presentations for committees and stakeholders.

The role requires a law degree, Ohio bar admission, and at least two years in criminal justice work, with strong writing and public-speaking abilities. Some travel within Ohio and out-of-state may be required.

Qualifications

• Requires a law degree, membership in good standing of the Ohio bar.
• Requires two or more years’ relevant experience in the criminal justice field; prior experience in the Juvenile Ohio Court System strongly preferred.
• The position also requires exceptional organization, communication and interpersonal skills and requires demonstrated understanding of the commission's work, procedures, and research.
• Requires the ability to exercise judgment, decisiveness, and creativity in situations involving the evaluation of information.
• The position also requires the ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions; the ability to prepare meaningful, concise and accurate reports; the ability to distill and simplify complex statutes; the ability to work with diverse groups on policy development; proficiency in the use of legal research methods, performing complex analyses and exceptional writing skills; and good communication skills.
• Requires a high level of proficiency with Microsoft Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint; the Internet, and Westlaw or Lexis and other legal‑research resources.
• Requires occasional travel within Ohio and occasional out of state travel and the ability to work non‑standard work hours when appropriate.
• Requires the ability to perform all aspects of the job with fairness, equity, patience, discretion, and confidentiality.
• Must possess proven skills to demonstrate strong public speaking and sound grammar/writing abilities.
• Special Requirements: This position is regularly exposed to sensitive information and the employee is expected to keep any such information strictly confidential.

Responsibilities

• Assists the director in preparing commission work products and facilitates commission and committee meetings and general duties of the office.
• Monitors trends developed through case law and promising practices relative to criminal justice issues and disseminates pertinent information to the commission director, the commission and its committees, interested parties, and justice system partners.
• Conducts legal and non-legal research.
• Writes memos and other documents on criminal justice issues for the commission and provides legal advice on commission matters, as needed.
• Makes presentations on the work of the commission and its committees, other working committees and criminal justice seminars, judicial and court personnel educational courses, and other meetings and sessions.
• Writes and edits Commission documents, including legislative drafting.
• May serve as liaison to the administration, relevant agencies, and other interest groups as designated by the commission director. May provide work direction as it relates to specific tasks and/or projects to administrative staff and/or interns.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Skills

Legal research

Oral communication

Public speaking

Organization

Interpersonal skills

Writing

Judgment and decisiveness

Education

Law degree

Ohio bar admission

Tools

Westlaw

Lexis

Microsoft Word

Outlook

PowerPoint

Job description

What You’ll Do

The following duties are normal for this position. These are not to be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive. Other duties may be required and assigned.

• Assists the director in preparing commission work products and facilitates commission and committee meetings and general duties of the office.
• Monitors trends developed through case law and promising practices relative to criminal justice issues and disseminates pertinent information to the commission director, the commission and its committees, interested parties, and justice system partners.
• Conducts legal and non-legal research.
• Writes memos and other documents on criminal justice issues for the commission and provides legal advice on commission matters, as needed.
• Makes presentations on the work of the commission and its committees, other working committees and criminal justice seminars, judicial and court personnel educational courses, and other meetings and sessions.
• Writes and edits Commission documents, including legislative drafting.
• May serve as liaison to the administration, relevant agencies, and other interest groups as designated by the commission director. May provide work direction as it relates to specific tasks and/or projects to administrative staff and/or interns.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Regular, reliable, and punctual attendance is required.

Staff Supervisory Responsibilities

This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

Qualifications & Experience

• Requires a law degree, membership in good standing of the Ohio bar.
• Requires two or more years’ relevant experience in the criminal justice field; prior experience in the Juvenile Ohio Court System strongly preferred.
• The position also requires exceptional organization, communication and interpersonal skills and requires demonstrated understanding of the commission's work, procedures, and research.
• Requires the ability to exercise judgment, decisiveness, and creativity in situations involving the evaluation of information.
• The position also requires the ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions; the ability to prepare meaningful, concise and accurate reports; the ability to distill and simplify complex statutes; the ability to work with diverse groups on policy development; proficiency in the use of legal research methods, performing complex analyses and exceptional writing skills; and good communication skills.
• Requires a high level of proficiency with Microsoft Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint; the Internet, and Westlaw or Lexis and other legal‑research resources.
• Requires occasional travel within Ohio and occasional out of state travel and the ability to work non‑standard work hours when appropriate.
• Requires the ability to perform all aspects of the job with fairness, equity, patience, discretion, and confidentiality.
• Must possess proven skills to demonstrate strong public speaking and sound grammar/writing abilities.
• Special Requirements: This position is regularly exposed to sensitive information and the employee is expected to keep any such information strictly confidential.

Physical Requirements

This position operates in a professional office environment. Travel on Commission business, including the possibility of some overnight travel, is expected and required. This role routinely uses standard office equipment, such as computers and phones. This is a largely sedentary role; however, the employee may also be required to move about the office and building, and other locations while traveling on Commission business. While performing the duties of this job, the employee will regularly be required to communicate and exchange information.

Travel Requirements

Requires ability to work extended hours as needed and to travel on Court business is required, including overnight stays. Valid driver’s license required.

Commission Expectations of Employee

In completing the duties and responsibilities of the position, the Commission expects the employee will adhere to all Commission policies, guidelines, practices and procedures; act as a role model; exhibit a professional manner in dealing with others; and work to maintain constructive working relationships. In addition, the Commission expects the employee to maintain a positive and respectful approach with superiors, colleagues, and individuals. Further, the Commission expects the employee to demonstrate flexible and efficient time management, the ability to prioritize workload, the ability to perform duties in a timely, accurate and thorough manner, and to communicate regularly with the incumbent’s supervisors about work-related issues.

Agency Overview

Juvenile Criminal Justice Counsel assists the Ohio Criminal Sentencing Commission (OCSC) in researching, developing, and recommending effective strategies relative to criminal justice issues, e.g., sentencing, diversion, access to justice, community supervision, etc. Assists the Criminal Sentencing Commission in its work to revise Ohio’s criminal statutes, to prepare summary materials designed to make the law more workable for practitioners, and to assist the commission in responding to routine inquiries.