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Legislative Criminal Justice Counsel (26000437)

Organization: Supreme Court of Ohio

Agency Contact: Office of Human Resources, recruiting@sc.ohio.gov

Work Location: Ohio Judicial Center, 65 South Front Street, Columbus 43215

Compensation: $89,627 - $128,045

Schedule: Full-time

Union: Exempt from Union

Primary Job Skill: Attorney/Legal

Technical Skills: Criminology/Criminal Justice

Professional Skills: Establishing Relationships, Public Speaking, Strategic Thinking, Written Communication

Agency Overview

The Legislative Criminal Justice Counsel assists the Ohio Criminal Sentencing Commission (OCSC) in researching, developing, and recommending effective strategies relative to sentencing and criminal justice issues. This position assists the director and the commission in its work to revise Ohio’s criminal statutes, to prepare summary materials and resources designed to make the law more workable for practitioners, and to assist the commission in responding to routine inquiries. The Legislative Criminal Justice Counsel serves as liaison on legislative matters to the Ohio General Assembly, executive branch officials, state agencies, governmental entities, and judicial branch associations, monitors legislation, attends committee meetings, discusses initiatives, and drafts testimony for legislative committee hearings.

What You'll Do

• Assists the director in preparing commission work products and facilitates commission and committee meetings and general duties of the office.
• Serves as liaison to the Ohio General Assembly, executive branch officials, state agencies, regulatory bodies, governmental entities, judicial associations, bar associations, court personnel associations, and other interest groups as designated by the commission director.
• Monitors legislation, handles legislative program activities and public affairs as one of the commission’s registered lobbyist, attends legislative committee meetings, discusses initiatives with interested parties, and drafts testimony for legislative committee hearings.
• Prepares and makes presentations on the status of legislation, on legislative activities during the session, and on new laws after adjournment.
• Prepares, drafts, analyzes, and monitors new legislation. Tracks and monitors pending legislation affecting the criminal justice system, informing affected parties of its status, taking appropriate action, and drafting talking points and other communication tools.
• Advises the director, the commission and its committees, interested parties, and justice system partners regarding legislative issues and initiatives and provides updates on the status of legislation that is proposed or pending before the Ohio General Assembly. Makes presentations, including preparing and providing updates regarding the status of legislation that is proposed or pending before the Ohio General Assembly.
• Monitors trends developed through legislation, 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. Tracks bills in the Ohio Legislature and prepares written and oral updates for the commission.
• 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 OCSC, 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 provide written and oral testimony at legislative committee hearings.
• Serves as a staff liaison to committees, boards, task forces, commissions, and workgroups.
• May provide work direction as it relates to specific tasks and/or projects to administrative staff and/or interns placed at the OCSC.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Regular, reliable, and punctual attendance is required.

Staff Supervisory Responsibilities

This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

Why Work for the State of Ohio

At the State of Ohio, we take care of the team that cares for Ohioans. We provide a variety of quality, competitive benefits to eligible full-time and part-time employees*. For a list of all the State of Ohio Benefits, visit our Total Rewards website! Our benefits package includes:

• Medical Coverage
• Free Dental, Vision and Basic Life Insurance premiums after completion of eligibility period
• Paid time off, including vacation, personal, sick leave and 11 paid holidays per year
• Childbirth, Adoption, and Foster Care leave
• Education and Development Opportunities (Employee Development Funds, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, and more)
• Public Retirement Systems (such as OPERS, STRS, SERS, and HPRS) & Optional Deferred Compensation (Ohio Deferred Compensation)

*Benefits eligibility is dependent on a number of factors. The Agency Contact listed above will be able to provide specific benefits information for this position.

Qualifications

What we’re looking for…

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 Ohio Court System strongly preferred.
• Prior experience in developing positive relationships with legislators and in advancing legislative agendas is preferred.
• Registration as lobbyist or legislative agent must be obtained pursuant to Section 101.72 of Revised Code. Requires thorough knowledge of the legislative process; Ohio state government; and of the structure, organization, and operation of the Ohio judicial system.
• 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 & draw valid conclusions; the ability to prepare meaningful, concise & 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.

Supplemental Information

This is an exempt unclassified position that reports to the Director, Criminal Sentencing Commission. The salary range is $89,627 - $128,045.

Background Check Information

The final candidate selected for the position will be required to undergo a criminal background check. Criminal convictions do not necessarily preclude an applicant from consideration for a position. An individual assessment of an applicant’s prior criminal convictions will be made before excluding an applicant from consideration.

ADA Statement

Ohio is a Disability Inclusion State and strives to be a model employer of individuals with disabilities. The State of Ohio is committed to providing access and inclusion and reasonable accommodation in its services, activities, programs and employment opportunities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable laws.

The Supreme Court of Ohio is an equal employment opportunity employer that supports an alcohol and drug-free, and a weapons and violence free, work environment.