Assistant Public Defender - Lima, OH

State of Ohio•Lima, OH

41d

About The Position

The Office of the Ohio Public Defender is seekingâ¯fourâ¯qualified attorneys to serve as Assistant Public Defenders (APD) in the Northwest Regional Hub (NWRH) of our Trial Services Division. The NWRH is located in Lima, OH and serves individuals in Allen County, Hardin County, and Putnam County. These APD positions will represent indigent trial-level clients facing misdemeanor and felony criminal charges in Common Pleas, Municipal, and Juvenile courts within those counties. While, generally, all APDs in our office may represent individuals in all listed courts and jurisdictions,â¯each of these open positions will be assigned to serve in one of four courts. Those details are listed below. Note: the position does not involve trial-level representation in federal court and does not involve post-trial representation on direct appeal, state post-conviction, or federal habeas litigation. The successful APD candidate will thrive in a close-knit team environment and be interested in trial-level work and providing client service in a fast-paced work environment. A successful candidate will also be eager to work with a supervisor to learn the intricacies of the position and provide high-quality representation. There are four APD positions with each serving in one of the following courts: Putnam County/Hardin County Municipal Courts Putnam County Common Pleas Court Allen County Municipal Court Hardin County Common Pleas Court

Requirements

Admission to Ohio bar pursuant to section 4705.01
Please submit a writing sample and cover letter with your application. Applications without these attachments will not be reviewed.
Law school graduates awaiting results from the July 2025 Ohio bar examination are encouraged to apply.
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.