Paralegal​/Legal Assistant

Overview

You will provide paralegal, clerical, and administrative support to the Appeals & Postconviction Department (APC) and the Trial Department. The APC department includes a team of 13 attorneys who collectively provide representation in a wide range of proceedings occurring after a client has been convicted of one or more non-capital crimes. APC represents clients in state and federal courts on emerging criminal legal issues and regularly accepts appointments for client representation from courts across the state in appeal and post-conviction matters.

Many of our clients are incarcerated throughout Ohio in the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction.

The Trial Department is a three-person team of attorneys who represent individuals at the trial level across Ohio’s 88 counties. This team’s focus is on high-level felony cases, death penalty representation, complex or strategic litigation, and representation of clients who have had strained relationships with prior counsel.

You will join a three-person APC Core Support team, under the leadership of the Department’s Program Administrator, and work closely with that team as well as the Department’s 13 attorneys. We are seeking a collaborative, organized, and motivated candidate. You will prepare, review and edit various legal documents, including briefs and other pleadings for trial and appellate cases in all state and federal courts.

• Prepare or assist in preparing briefs and other pleadings for appellate and trial cases for filing in all state and federal courts
• Transcribe, format, type and proof documents requiring use of legal terminology
• Proofread final written material for completeness and accuracy
• Compile and produce appendix materials for briefs according to various court rules
• File legal documents electronically and/or manually in federal, state and local courts
• Conduct research using legal research tools, computer applications, and online databases
• Download/sort trial discovery
• Open/close trial cases
• Monitor and maintain several Excel spreadsheets containing deadlines; local rules of courts’ filing requirements; and confidential attorney credentials
• Prepare legal correspondence from attorneys to prosecutors, courts, court personnel, defense attorneys and clients
• Act as liaison between courts/attorneys; investigators/experts; work with prosecutors/court personnel to help schedule/reschedule hearings/pre-trials/trial dates
• Assist with trial preparation when cases are set for trial including preparing and filing subpoenas; coordinating court appearances for experts/witnesses; and preparing trial binders
• Assist in maintaining office computer case management/docketing system (e.g., enter data into computer, use docketing program to print and produce reports)
• Maintain calendar of appointments for attorneys and keeps staff abreast of hearings and court filing deadlines
• Prepare and post outgoing mail
• Attend Trial and APC department meetings, and contribute to initiatives and projects

• Successful completion of certification program for paralegal or legal assistant; 2 yrs. exp. in legal research & writing
• Or 24 mos. law school training
• Or 36 mos. exp. as Paralegal/Legal Assistant 1, 63810
• Or equivalent of Minimum Class Qualifications for Employment noted above

Job

Skills:

Attorney/Legal;
Attention to Detail;
Customer Focus;
Written Communication;
Organizing & Planning;
Responsiveness

The Paralegal/Legal Assistant 2 position is assigned to the State of Ohio’s OCSEA Pay Schedule, Pay Range 29. Starting pay will be at Step 1 unless required by contract/legislation;
Candidates with exceptional qualifications may be considered for higher starting pay. Our steps give a standard path for earnings growth: you move to the next step after 180 days and annually thereafter. We typically have fiscal year Cost of Living Adjustments as well.

FY26 Pay Range

• Step 1 – Hourly $24.16;
  Annual $50,253
• Step 2 – Hourly $24.86;
  Annual $51,709
• Step 3 – Hourly $25.77;
  Annual $53,602
• Step 4 – Hourly $26.76;
  Annual $55,661
• Step 5 – Hourly $27.92;
  Annual $58,074
• Step 6 – Hourly $29.22;
  Annual $60,778
• Step 7 – Hourly $30.55;
  Annual $63,544