The Office of the Ohio Public Defender is seeking a dedicated leader to serve as the Director of the Wrongful Convic ti on Project (this posi ti on is classified as a Managing Assistant Public Defender). The Wrongful Convic ti on Project (WCP) is dedicated to iden ti fying, inves ti ga ti ng, and li ti ga ti ng cases of actual innocence for incarcerated people in Ohio. The WCP also works to educate others on the causes and consequences of wrongful convictions. The Project Director will be responsible for the planning, strategic direc ti on, and management of the Project. The posi ti on will directly supervise and mentor a tt orneys, inves ti ga ti ve staff, and student interns, and will also carry an independent case load. You will also be an active member of OPD's managing leadership team, which works together on issues of cross-departmental importance and identifies issues and solu ti ons that impact the agency's staff, culture, and client-centered service. To be successful in this position, you will exhibit though tf ul communica tio n, organiza ti on, leadership, team building, and decision-making skills. You must have strong analy ti cal skills, the ability to think crea ti vely, be adept at legal research and wri ti ng, and have demonstrated skill and exper ti se advoca ti ng for clients in court and arguing cases of actual innocence. You must also have the ability to handle complex cases, coordinate and mo ti vate focused a tt en ti on across a small and collabora ti ve Project team, and the ability to partner collabora ti vely with innocence networks and efforts within OPD and across the na ti on. The posi ti on will work closely with the Deputy Director of Appellate Service and the Managing Counsels of the other five Departments within the Appellate Services Division, requiring high-level teamwork and communica ti on skills. Essen ti al du ti es of this posi ti on include but are not limited to:
- Establish expectations and goals for the Project, including for opera ti ons and management as well as client representa ti on, independently and in collabora ti on with the Deputy Director of Appellate Services.
- Conduct regular, recurring team mee ti ngs and one-on-one meetings, and foster a collabora ti ve environment.
- Directly supervise Assistant Public Defenders, Mi ti ga ti on/Inves ti ga ti on Specialist, and Interns (respond to ques ti ons and concerns and resolve problems; disseminate and interpret informa ti on, policies, procedures and best prac ti ces; provide coaching and training; complete ti mely performance reviews; serve on hiring panels)
- Oversee intake for the Project (screen and evaluate claims of wrongful convic ti on; assign cases to staff and establish case strategy on pending cases and act as an advisor on crea ti ng case strategies)
- Represent indigent criminal defendants with claims of innocence in Ohio courts at trial, appellate, and postconviction levels, and federal courts. Act as lead counsel on complex cases. Correspond and meet with clients and families. Conduct legal research on and interpret the most complex innocence issues.
- Manage the Project's membership and connec ti on to the Innocence Network.
- Lead and manage various training projects for internal staff and members of the private bar in the areas of forensic science and evidence most prevalent in cases of wrongful convic ti on
- Appear in public and private se tti ngs to discuss the factors that lead to wrongful convic ti on and advocate for clients and system reforms.
- Serve on task forces and internal commi tt ees.
- Respond to inquiries from incarcerated individuals, legislators, and the public regarding wrongful convic ti on and the project's policy and procedures.
- Assist in budget prepara ti on (e.g., prepare and provide informa ti on and sta ti s ti cal analysis on requests for addi ti onal staff and equipment).
This role also carries its own caseload, and those duties comprise approximately 35% of this position's responsibilities. Please submit a cover letter and a writing sample with your application. Applications without a cover letter and writing sample will not be reviewed. The Managing Assistant Public Defender position is assigned to the State of Ohio's E1 Pay Schedule, Pay Range 15, presented below in table format. 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 six months and annually thereafter. We typically have fiscal year Cost of Living Adjustments as well. FY26 Pay Range Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Step 5 Step 6 Step 7 Step 8 Hourly $43.09 $45.51 $48.08 $50.72 $53.54 $56.47 $58.79 $61.56 Annual $89,627 $94,661 $100,006 $105,498 $111,363 $117,458 $122,283 $128,045 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-###-#### or ...@opd.ohio.gov . 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 Admission to Ohio Bar pursuant to Section 4705.01; 5 yrs. exp. as licensed attorney practicing criminal law; 6 mos. exp. or 6 mos. trg in supervisory principles & techniques. Note: Prior to representing a client in federal court or U.S. Supreme court, attorney shall obtain admission to practice law in that court; prior to appointment as appellate counsel for an indigent defendant in a capital case pursuant to Appt.Coun.R. 5.02 & 5.03, an attorney shall obtain certification from the Commission on Appointment of Counsel in Capital Cases. Note: Eligibility to practice under a Certificate to Practice Law Pending Admission in Ohio, under Rule I, Section 19 of the Supreme Court Rules for the Government of the Bar of Ohio, or eligibility to practice under a Temporary Certification for Practice in Legal services, Public Defender, and Law School Programs under Rule IX of the Supreme Court Rules for the Government of the Bar of Ohio, may be accepted in lieu of admission to the Ohio Bar pursuant to R.C. Section 4705.02.
Job Skills: Attorney/Legal, Client Advocacy, Building Consensus, Building Trust, Coaching, Critical Thinking, Leading Others