Staff Attorney, Municipal Advocacy

STAFF ATTORNEY

Summit Legal Defenders is seeking a Staff Attorney for Municipal advocacy.

SALARY AND BENEFITS

• Salary range $73,840.00-$88,000.00, commensurate with experience.
• Benefits include paid vacation, sick time, life insurance, dental, vision, medical, parental leave, and retirement 401(k). Employees are not eligible for participation in the OPERS retirement system, but qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness.
• This is an exempt, at-will position.
• The outside practice of law is not permitted. 

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Represent indigent defendants at all stages of the municipal court process including arraignments, discovery, pretrials, motions, pleas, trials, and other work integral to a criminal case.
• Appear in court at all times the assigned court is open and be available to meet and work outside the typical working hours if necessary.
• Work as a float attorney to cover multiple courts as part of a team and support colleagues who need assistance in or out of court.
• Use the Ohio Public Defender case management system to manage your caseload with timely and complete hearing notes, discovery, filings, etc.
• Regular client meetings in office or the jail. 

REQUIREMENTS

• Licensed to practice law in Ohio in good standing with no disciplinary incidents.
• Commitment to client service and communication.
• Legal research, writing, and oral advocacy skills and experience.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the issues of race, poverty, mental health, and substance abuse as they relate to the criminal justice system.
• Local travel between courthouses and our main office is necessary therefore reliable transportation/driver’s license required. 

APPLICATION

• Cover letter addressing your interests and experience.
• Resume.
• Name, relationship, and contact information for three references.
• Writing sample that reflects your legal research and writing ability.

Send materials to: employment@legaldefenders.org

The Summit Legal Defenders’ mission is to treat every client as an individual, not the sum of their charges. We envision our work within the context of social justice and the opportunity for growth and change. Our attorneys work to offer solutions to problems and navigate the criminal justice system in partnership with the client. Our goal is to provide high-quality legal service to the indigent population of Summit County in a respectful, diligent, and responsive manner.

We are a non-profit agency established in 1974 with our main office in downtown Akron, Ohio, led by Director Andrea Whitaker. For more information, please visit our website.