Law Clerk - Lima, OH

The Office of the Ohio Public Defender is seeking a post-graduate professional to serve as a Law Clerk in the Northwest Regional Hub (NWRH) of our Trial Services Division. The NWRH is located in Lima, OH and serves individuals in Allen County, Hardin County, and Putnam County. The Law Clerk will assist Assistant Public Defenders who represent indigent trial-level clients facing misdemeanor and felony criminal charges in Common Pleas, Municipal, and Juvenile courts within those counties.

Your job duties would include reviewing discovery material, contacting relevant witnesses and gathering relevant evidence, conducting legal research for trial defenses. Under the supervision of a licensed attorney, conduct client interviews, engage in factual investigations, and review case material and analyze pending cases. Participate in department meetings, roundtables, and agency-wide meetings.

As a Law Clerk with OPD, your duties include but are not limited to:

• Conduct legal research on defined or potential issues in cases & present this information orally and through writing
• Draft legal arguments to use in motions and other pleadings
• Conduct factual investigations, review, and analysis of pending cases
• Accompany staff attorneys to client visits, oral arguments, or other proceedings
• Participate in department meetings, moots, roundtables, and agency-wide meetings

Your schedule will be 20-40 hours per week Monday-Friday, depending on your availability.

The Office of the Ohio Public Defender complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact us at 614-466-5394 or HCM@opd.ohio.gov.

36 mos. exp. as a paralegal, legal assistant, legal writer, or closely related job field.

• Or associate core program in specific or related field of study; 18 mos. exp. as paralegal, legal assistant, legal writer, or closely related job field.
• Or undergraduate core program in specific or related field of study; 12 mos. exp. in as paralegal, legal assistant, legal writer, or closely related job field.
• Or graduate core program in specific or related field of study.
• Or equivalent of Minimum Class Qualifications for Employment noted above.

Job Skills: Attorney/Legal; Active Learning; Analyzation; Collaboration; Written Communication