Assistant Attorney General- Criminal Justice Habeas Corpus Unit

Job Title

Assistant Attorney General - Criminal Justice Habeas Corpus Unit (2600000M)

Attorney General

Kelly Smith, kelly.smith

Jan 13, 2026, 11:59:00 PM

United States of America - OHIO - Franklin County - Columbus

Commensurate with experience

Full-time.

Work Hours:

8:00am-5:00pm. Hybrid in‑person/remote schedule, subject to change based on training and operational needs. Headquarter location:
Columbus, OH office.

Exempt from Union

Attorney/Legal

Attorney/Legal

Attention to Detail, Collaboration, Negotiation, Strategic Thinking, Verbal Communication, Written Communication

The Ohio Attorney General’s Office has played a vital role in shaping Ohio’s past and present and the work it does today helps chart the state’s future. The office consists of nearly 30 distinct sections that advocate for consumers and victims of crime, assist the criminal justice community, provide legal counsel for state offices and agencies, and enforce certain state laws.

In these and other capacities, staff members interact with tens of thousands of Ohioans each year.

The Criminal Justice Section, Habeas Corpus Unit is seeking an Assistant Attorney General who ideally has at least 5 years of practice experience, with a preference for appellate practice experience. Prosecutorial experience is preferred. The successful candidate will have excellent legal research and writing skills and excel in appellate advocacy. The successful candidate will have sufficient experience and judgment to eventually function independently in a supervised relationship.

Duties include representing the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction in responding to habeas petitions filed in state court pursuant to R.C. 2725 and federal court pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 2244 and 28 U.S.C. 2254 and defending against claims of unlawful detention.

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*:

• 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 (e.g., 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.

- Licensed to practice law in the State of Ohio pursuant to Section 4705.01 of the Ohio Revised Code

- 5 years of practice experience, with a preference for appellate practice

Job

Skills:

Attorney/Legal, Collaboration, Attention to Detail, Strategic Thinking, Verbal and Written Communication, Negotiation

The Attorney General’s Office is a dynamic organization that offers career opportunities across many different disciplines to people from all backgrounds and experiences. We do not discriminate in any way. All people are equal under the law, and it is so at the AGO. This is a workplace where talent gains you entry and performance determines your career path. Staff can join and lead employee resource groups and participate in online or in‑person events to learn about the experiences of others.

Employees of the Attorney General's Office must have been in their current positions for at least 12 months in order to be eligible for consideration.

The Attorney General's Office may fill additional, similar positions as a result of this posting.

The Ohio Attorney General’s Office is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Serves at the pleasure of the Attorney General per O.R.C. 124.14(B)(2).

AGO#: 26-01-002

• Criminal history
• Driving record
• Taxes
• Drug Test
• Internet search of publicly available job‑related information through social media (Facebook, Linked In, Twitter, etc.) or through the use of search engines (Google, Bing, etc.).

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.