Organization
Supreme Court of Ohio
Location
Ohio Judicial Center, 65 South Front Street, Columbus, 43215
Compensation
$175,000 – $190,000
Schedule
Full‑time
Job Overview
Chief Legal Officer directs the legal, legislative, and policy affairs of the Supreme Court, serving as principal advisor on matters affecting Court administration and the Ohio judicial branch. The role provides executive leadership and operational oversight for the Office of the Chief Legal Officer, Office of the Clerk, Office of the Reporter, and Office of Legal Resources, ensuring effective governance, statutory compliance, and coordinated service delivery.
Responsibilities
- Oversee the activities of the Offices of the Chief Legal Officer, Reporter, Clerk, and Legal Resources, ensuring alignment with mission and statutory obligations.
- Lead multidisciplinary teams of legal and professional staff, manage budgets and resources, and guide strategic planning, policy development, records management, and public access functions.
- Develop and execute strategic goals, values, and policies across offices in alignment with the Court’s mission; provide high‑level leadership for court‑wide initiatives.
- Support the Chief Justice and Administrative Director in implementing organizational change, fostering innovation, and ensuring policy compliance.
- Provide legal advice to the Chief Justice, Justices, Administrative Director, Deputy Administrative Directors, managers, supervisors, and employees to ensure compliance with laws, rules, and regulations; consult on programs, policies, and regulations; research statutes, judicial decisions, and rules; draft advisory opinions; prepare legal memoranda and reports.
- Oversee public records requests and manage public records policies and procedures across the offices of the Supreme Court.
- Review, prepare, and coordinate intergovernmental agreements, grant agreements, and contracts; advise staff on legal risks, terms, and conditions; provide training for judges and judicial branch employees.
- Directly supervise the Reporter of Decisions, Clerk of the Court, Director of Legal Resources, Deputy Chief Legal Officers (Legal and Government Affairs; Policy and Rulemaking), and Judicial Assignment Analyst; manage recruitment, onboarding, coaching, performance evaluation, and a high‑performance work environment.
Qualifications
Juris Doctor from an accredited law school and an active Ohio law license in good standing (or ability to obtain within six months of employment). At all times during employment with the Court, must be an attorney properly admitted to practice law in Ohio and be in good standing. Minimum of eight (8) years of increasingly responsible broad‑based legal experience as a licensed attorney; at least five (5) years of extensive managerial responsibility is preferred.
Benefits
- Medical coverage
- Free dental, vision, and basic life insurance premiums after 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, etc.)
- Public retirement systems (OPERS, STRS, SERS, HPRS) and optional deferred compensation (Ohio Deferred Compensation)
Equal Opportunity Employer
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. The Supreme Court of Ohio is an at‑will employer; no employee shall have the employment terminated based solely upon political party affiliation or other partisan considerations.
Background Check
The final candidate will be required to undergo pre‑employment drug screening and a criminal background check. Criminal convictions do not necessarily preclude 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.
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