Open Position: Receptionist/Floating Secretary
Starting Salary:
Subject to applicants experience and Directors Discretion
Deadline:
April 01, 2023
Instructions:
Applicants interested in the above position, please submit your resume and cover letter to [email protected] or fax to 614-461-6470.
General:
Under general supervision performs various secretarial and clerical/administrative type functions including data entry, preparation of legal documents, maintaining computer files, contacts with clients and court personnel. This individual will be cross-trained and have the ability to perform the aforementioned duties and responsibilities in all units of the Franklin County Public Defender Office-Juvenile, Municipal, Appellate, and Common Pleas.
This person must also administer other attorney/client assignments and activities relative to assisting attorneys, social workers, and support staff in providing quality, comprehensive legal services to clients, including performing receptionist duties by providing the initial interface with indigent clients, individuals requesting representation, and people seeking general information and assistance. This interface occurs by way of telephone calls and/or visits to the Public Defender reception facility. This person, upon request, will also assist by performing general filing duties in all departments, including purging records, boxing files at year-end, and other filing as assigned.
Typical Duties:
- Using Word or typewriter, as appropriate, prepares letters, records, briefs, motions, other legal documents, etc., as requested by Unit Chief, Attorneys, and Social Workers.
- Maintains computer or other client database, including opening client files, entering information additions, changes, corrections, etc. and closing files.
- Communicates with court personnel relative to arraignments, cases assigned to the Franklin County Public Defender, other client matters and attorney assignments and changes.
- Communicates with clients through calls or office visits to answer client questions or otherwise to provide and/or receive information necessary to effectively carry out the attorney/social worker/client activities.
- Makes inquiries to the databases as needed for additional information on clients, charges, etc
- Performs various administrative functions for the Unit including caseload statistics, and employee matters including distributing paychecks, processing mail, etc.
- Respectfully greets indigent clients and others seeking representation as they arrive at the reception area window and preliminarily screens the qualifications of those seeking representation.
- Answers telephone calls, including jail calls, and where appropriate provide information to clients, relative to assigned attorneys, court dates, etc. from the computer, or re-directs calls to appropriate attorneys.
- Explains procedures for those seeking representation.
- Answers other telephone calls or greets visitors other than clients or persons seeking representation.
- Redirects the calls or prepares and transmits message forms. Notifies appropriate staff members of visitors. Such visitors may include County personnel, consultants, vendors, etc.
- Uses the office Public Address system as required to contact staff members relative to telephone calls, visitors, etc.
- Performs other similar and related duties, or duties as may be designated by the Public Defender or Unit Chiefs.
Requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have the equivalent certified education.
- Computer training (data entry experience) is a must.
- Ability to communicate with persons with varieties of backgrounds and responsibility levels.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality of information, including personal data relating to clients.
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FRANKLIN COUNTY PUBLIC DEFENDER
- 373 South High Street, 12th Floor
- Columbus, Ohio 43215
- FRANKLIN COUNTY PUBLIC DEFENDER
- Phone: 614-525-3194
- Fax: 614-461-6470
Open Position: Attorney – Common Pleas
Starting Salary:
Subject to applicants experience and Directors Discretion
Deadline:
April 01, 2023
Instructions:
Applicants interested in the above position, please submit your resume and cover letter to [email protected] or fax to 614-461-6470.
General:
Provides direct legal representation to indigent persons charged with criminal offenses. In Franklin county Ohio.
Typical Duties:
- Represents indigent clients, from the earliest possible time, which may include negotiating appropriate charges with police, prosecution, and continuing representation until the conclusion of the case. This includes, but is not limited to, all trial court appearances, post-trial motions, post-conviction remedies, and motions for judicial release.
- Advises clients on the legal and practical ramifications of the various steps in the criminal proceeding.
- Determines legal strategy to be employed at all stages of a case and, along with assistance from investigators and/or law clerks, seeks out facts and circumstances surrounding the charges. Researches legal questions and examines the procedures used by police and prosecuting authorities to assure that the constitutional rights of each client are not violated and, if a violation appears, performs such legal services as are necessary to ensure that these rights are protected.
- Representing clients in trial, whether before a jury or the Court, determines and utilizes the most appropriate trial tactics as required for each individual case.
- Prepares all legal briefs in the Trial Court as applicable, as well as various related legal motions, memoranda, etc.
- Maintains an ongoing knowledge of criminal law, legislative activities, current policing and prosecuting procedures and other criminal justice activities, including significant court decisions.
- Counsels clients, assisted by social workers when appropriate, about the rehabilitation process. Also advises clients of community resources and/or social agencies available to assist them in living crime free productive lives.
- Performs similar and related duties, or duties as may be designated by the Unit Chief. Responsibilities include conducting interviews with clients incarcerated in Local, State, or Federal facilities. ATTORNEY, STAFF I, II, III, IV (continued)
Requirements:
- Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited school of law.
- Must be licensed by the Supreme Court of Ohio to practice law in the State of Ohio.
- Experience:
- Attorney I requires no previous experience but must have demonstrated interest in criminal law and representing indigent clients. Exemplary performance as law clerk in public defender activities is also desirable but not mandatory.
- Attorney II generally requires a minimum of five (5) years exemplary experience as Attorney I or the equivalent and ability to advise and assist in training of Attorney I.
- Attorney III requires a minimum of five (5) years exemplary experience as Attorney I and an additional two (2) years of exemplary experience as an Attorney II.
- Attorney III also requires outstanding writing skills, demonstrated ability in preparing briefs and/or other legal documents and ability and disposition to carryout extensive legal research.
- Attorney IV generally requires a minimum of ten (10) years exemplary experience. Ability and disposition to handle trial and appellate death penalty cases is required in Common Pleas and Appellate Units.
- Must have ability to effectively communicate with clients, judges, police officers, prosecutors, attorneys, and other officers, as well as caseworkers and community service providers.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality of information, including client and personnel data.
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FRANKLIN COUNTY PUBLIC DEFENDER
- 373 South High Street, 12th Floor
- Columbus, Ohio 43215
- Phone: 614-525-3194
- Fax: 614-461-6470
Open Position: Social Worker
Starting Salary:
Subject to applicants experience and Directors Discretion
Deadline:
April 01, 2023
Instructions:
Applicants interested in the above position, please submit your resume and cover letter to [email protected] or fax to 614-461-6470.
Typical Duties:
- Accumulates and reviews available facts about the case and the client from case attorney and court personnel. (Involvement in a case is generally initiated by a request from case attorney or the judge.)
- Interviews clients to observe and discover additional facts, attitudes, reactions, etc.
- Makes field investigations, including discussions with client family members, friends, neighbors, etc.
- Communicates with witnesses and professionals.
- Makes recommendations relative to sentencing alternative, clients' efforts to correct problems, etc. Prepares pre-sentence reports.
- Maintains a knowledge of social agencies and their services and a line of communications with such agencies.
- In cases that result in incarceration, when appropriate, pursues early release options, advises client, etc.
- Performs other similar and related duties or duties as may be designated by the Unit Chief or Attorneys.
Requirements:
- Four (4) year degree in an accredited college or university in social work or closely related curricula.
- Must have a current license for social work in the State of Ohio.
- One (1) year of experience in the field of social work, preferably associated with the judicial system, counseling and knowledge of local social agencies and services.
- NOTE: Social Worker II requires three (3) to four (4) years additional experience, including exemplary experience as Social Worker I.
- Ability to effectively communicate with clients and others, both inside and outside the Public Defender organization.
- Must have a car, good driving record, valid driver’s license, and automobile insurance.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality of information relative to clients and other associates.
Need a printable PDF?
FRANKLIN COUNTY PUBLIC DEFENDER
- 373 South High Street, 12th Floor
- Columbus, Ohio 43215
- FRANKLIN COUNTY PUBLIC DEFENDER
- Phone: 614-525-3194
- Fax: 614-461-6470