General Counsel

State of Ohio • Columbus, OH

20d • Onsite

About The Position

The General Counsel directs the legal, legislative, and policy affairs of the Supreme Court of Ohio and serves as the 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. It leads multidisciplinary legal and professional teams, manages budgets and resources, and guides strategic planning, policy development, records management, and public access functions.

This position directly supervises the Reporter of Decisions, Director of Legal Resources, and Judicial Assignment Analyst. It oversees recruitment and onboarding, coaching and feedback, performance issues and evaluations, and the development of a collaborative, high-performance work environment. The role reports to the Administrative Director and is an exempt, unclassified, at-will position.

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 Offices of the General Counsel, Reporter, and Legal Resources, aligning their work with the Court’s mission, statutory obligations, and operational priorities.
• Promote collaboration, communication, innovation, efficiency, and consistency across the offices.
• Develop and execute strategic goals, values, and policies across offices, and provide leadership for court-wide initiatives and organizational change.
• Support the Chief Justice and Administrative Director in policy compliance, legal, legislative, and policy matters, and planning and reviewing non-judicial operations.
• 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 and manage office resources.
• Provide legal advice to Court leadership, managers, supervisors, and employees on compliance with laws, rules, and regulations.
• Research statutes, judicial decisions, and rules; draft advisory opinions; and prepare legal memoranda and reports on matters 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.
• Supervise the Reporter of Decisions, Director of Legal Resources, and Judicial Assignment Analyst, including recruitment, onboarding, coaching, performance management, and evaluations.

Benefits

• Medical coverage
• Free dental, vision, and basic life insurance premiums after completion of the eligibility period
• Paid vacation, personal leave, and sick leave
• 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
• Optional deferred compensation through Ohio Deferred Compensation

What This Job Offers

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