General Counsel

State of Ohio • Columbus, OH

21d • $175,000 - $190,000 • Onsite

About The Position

The Supreme Court of Ohio is seeking a General Counsel to direct the Court’s legal, legislative, and policy affairs and serve as its principal advisor on legal matters affecting Court administration and the Ohio judicial branch. The position provides executive leadership and operational oversight for the Office of the General Counsel, Office of the Reporter, and Office of Legal Resources, ensuring effective governance, statutory compliance, and coordinated service delivery.

The General Counsel leads multidisciplinary teams, manages budgets and resources, and guides strategic planning, policy development, records management, and public access functions. The position advises Court leadership and employees, oversees public records policies and requests, and reviews and coordinates agreements and contracts. It reports to the Administrative Director and directly supervises the Reporter of Decisions, Director of Legal Resources, and Judicial Assignment Analyst.

This is a permanent, full-time, unclassified, exempt position based at 65 South Front Street in Columbus, Ohio. The stated work hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Compensation is $175,000–$190,000, commensurate with experience. The selected candidate must undergo pre-employment drug screening and a criminal background check.

Requirements

• Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school.
• Active Ohio law license in good standing, or ability to obtain one within six months of employment; must remain properly admitted to practice law in Ohio and in good standing throughout employment.
• At least eight years of increasingly responsible, broad-based legal experience as a bar-licensed attorney.

Nice To Haves

• At least five years of extensive and substantial management responsibility is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the activities of the Offices of the General Counsel, Reporter, and Legal Resources, aligning their work with the Court’s mission, statutory obligations, and operational priorities.
• Foster collaboration and communication across offices and coordinate efforts to promote innovation, efficiency, and consistency.
• Develop and execute strategic goals, values, and policies across offices and provide leadership for court-wide initiatives.
• Support the Chief Justice and Administrative Director in organizational change, innovation, policy compliance, and planning and review of non-judicial operations.
• Provide leadership on legal, legislative, and policy matters; coordinate activities with other agencies and court divisions; and conduct special projects assigned by Court leadership.
• Plan, prioritize, direct, and oversee the legal, legislative, and policy activities of the Office of the General Counsel.
• Develop and implement the Office of the General Counsel’s budget.
• Advise the Chief Justice, Justices, Administrative Director, Deputy Administrative Directors, managers, supervisors, and employees on legal compliance.
• Research statutes, judicial decisions, and rules; draft advisory opinions; and prepare legal memoranda and reports concerning issues affecting the Court or Ohio judicial branch.
• Oversee public records requests and manage public records policies and procedures across the Supreme Court offices.
• Review, prepare, and coordinate intergovernmental agreements, grant agreements, and contracts; advise staff on legal risks, terms, and conditions.
• Provide reference materials and training for judges and judicial branch employees.
• Directly supervise the Reporter of Decisions, Director of Legal Resources, and Judicial Assignment Analyst, including recruitment and onboarding, coaching and feedback, performance management and evaluations, and fostering a collaborative, high-performance work environment.

Benefits

• Medical coverage.
• Free dental, vision, and basic life insurance premiums after completion of the eligibility period.
• Paid time off, including vacation, personal and sick leave, and 11 paid holidays per year.
• Childbirth, adoption, and foster care leave.
• Education and development opportunities, including employee development funds and Public Service Loan Forgiveness.
• Public retirement systems, including OPERS, STRS, SERS, and HPRS, and optional Ohio Deferred Compensation. Benefits eligibility depends on several factors.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree