STAFF ATTORNEY

STARK & KNOLL CO LPA; Akron (OH); On-site; USD 74,000 - 88,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid vacation

Sick time

Life insurance

Dental

Vision

Medical

Parental leave

Retirement 401(k)

Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)

Job summary

Summit Legal Defenders in Akron, Ohio, seeks a Staff Attorney to handle municipal advocacy, representing indigent defendants through all stages of the municipal court process.

The position is exempt and at-will, with a salary range of $73,840 to $88,000, commensurate with experience, and a benefits package including vacation, sick time, life, dental, vision, medical, parental leave, and retirement options. Travel to courthouses may be required.

Qualifications

• Licensed to practice law in Ohio in good standing.
• Strong legal research, writing, and oral advocacy skills.
• Understanding of race, poverty, mental health, and substance abuse in criminal justice.
• Local travel to courthouses and main office required.

Responsibilities

• Represent indigent defendants at all stages of the municipal court process.
• Appear in court when assigned and sometimes outside typical hours.
• Work as a float attorney covering multiple courts as part of a team.
• Use the case management system to manage caseloads and hearings notes.

Skills

Legal research

Oral advocacy

Written communication

Courtroom appearance

Education

Juris Doctor (JD) degree

Tools

Ohio Public Defender case management system

Job description

STAFF ATTORNEY
Summit Legal Defenders is seeking a Staff Attorney for Municipaladvocacy.

SALARY AND BENEFITS

• Salary range $73,840.00-$88,000.00, commensurate with experience.
• Benefits include paid vacation, sick time, life insurance, dental, vision, medical,parental leave, and retirement 401(k).
  Employees are not eligible for participation in the OPERS retirement system,but qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness.
• This is an exempt, at-will position.
• The outside practice of law is not permitted.
  

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Represent indigent defendants at all stages of the municipal court process
  including arraignments, discovery, pretrials, motions, pleas, trials, and other
  work integral to a criminal case.
• Appear in court at all times the assigned court is open and be available to meet
  and work outside the typical working hours if necessary.
• Work as a float attorney to cover multiple courts as part of a team and support
  colleagues who need assistance in or out of court.
• Use the Ohio Public Defender case management system to manage your
  caseload with timely and complete hearing notes, discovery, filings, etc.
• Regular client meetings in office or the jail.

REQUIREMENTS

• Licensed to practice law in Ohio in good standing with no disciplinary incidents.
  Commitment to client service and communication.
• Legal research, writing, and oral advocacy skills and experience.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the issues of race, poverty, mental health,
  and substance abuse as they relate to the criminal justice system.
• Local travel between courthouses and our main office is necessary therefore
  reliable transportation/driver’s license required.

APPLICATION

• Cover letter addressing your interests and experience.
• Resume.
• Name, relationship, and contact information for three references.
• Writing sample that reflects your legal research and writing ability.

Our Summit Legal Defenders’ mission is to treat every client as an individual, not
the sum of their charges. We envision our work within the context of social justice
and the opportunity for growth and change. Our attorneys work to offer solutions
to problems and navigate the criminal justice system in partnership with the client.
Our goal is to provide high-quality legal service to the indigent population of
Summit County in a respectful, diligent, and responsive manner.

We are a non-profit agency established in 1974 with our main office in downtown
Akron, Ohio, led by Director Andrea Whitaker. For more information, please visit website.