Legislative Criminal Justice Counsel

State of Ohio • Columbus, OH

3d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Legislative Criminal Justice Counsel assists the Ohio Criminal Sentencing Commission (OCSC) in researching, developing, and recommending effective strategies relative to sentencing and criminal justice issues. This position assists the director and the commission in its work to revise Ohio’s criminal statutes, to prepare summary materials and resources designed to make the law more workable for practitioners, and to assist the commission in responding to routine inquiries. The Legislative Criminal Justice Counsel serves as liaison on legislative matters to the Ohio General Assembly, executive branch officials, state agencies, governmental entities, and judicial branch associations, monitors legislation, attends committee meetings, discusses initiatives, and drafts testimony for legislative committee hearings.

Requirements

• Requires a law degree
• Membership in good standing of the Ohio bar
• Two or more years’ relevant experience in the criminal justice field
• Thorough knowledge of the legislative process
• Thorough knowledge of Ohio state government
• Thorough knowledge of the structure, organization, and operation of the Ohio judicial system
• Exceptional organization skills
• Exceptional communication skills
• Exceptional interpersonal skills
• Demonstrated understanding of the commission's work, procedures, and research
• Ability to exercise judgment, decisiveness, and creativity in situations involving the evaluation of information
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts & draw valid conclusions
• Ability to prepare meaningful, concise & accurate reports
• Ability to distill and simplify complex statutes
• Ability to work with diverse groups on policy development
• Proficiency in the use of legal research methods
• Performing complex analyses
• Exceptional writing skills
• Good communication skills
• High level of proficiency with Microsoft Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint
• High level of proficiency with the Internet
• High level of proficiency with Westlaw or Lexis and other legal-research resources
• Ability to perform all aspects of the job with fairness, equity, patience, discretion, and confidentiality
• Proven skills to demonstrate strong public speaking abilities
• Proven skills to demonstrate sound grammar/writing abilities
• Regular, reliable, and punctual attendance is required.

Nice To Haves

• Prior experience in the Ohio Court System strongly preferred
• Prior experience in developing positive relationships with legislators and in advancing legislative agendas is preferred
• Registration as lobbyist or legislative agent must be obtained pursuant to Section 101.72 of Revised Code.

Responsibilities

• Assists the director in preparing commission work products and facilitates commission and committee meetings and general duties of the office.
• Serves as liaison to the Ohio General Assembly, executive branch officials, state agencies, regulatory bodies, governmental entities, judicial associations, bar associations, court personnel associations, and other interest groups as designated by the commission director.
• Monitors legislation, handles legislative program activities and public affairs as one of the commission’s registered lobbyist, attends legislative committee meetings, discusses initiatives with interested parties, and drafts testimony for legislative committee hearings.
• Prepares and makes presentations on the status of legislation, on legislative activities during the session, and on new laws after adjournment.
• Prepares, drafts, analyzes, and monitors, new legislation.
• Tracks and monitors pending legislation affecting the criminal justice system, informing affected parties of its status, taking appropriate action, and drafting talking points and other communication tools.
• Advises the director, the commission and its committees, interested parties, and justice system partners regarding legislative issues and initiatives and provides updates on the status of legislation that is proposed or pending before the Ohio General Assembly.
• Makes presentations, including preparing and providing updates regarding the status of legislation that is proposed or pending before the Ohio General Assembly.
• Monitors trends developed through legislation, case law, and promising practices relative to criminal justice issues and disseminates pertinent information to the commission director, the commission and its committees, interested parties and justice system partners.
• Tracks bills in the Ohio Legislature and prepares written and oral updates for the commission.
• Conducts legal and non-legal research.
• Writes memos and other documents on criminal justice issues for the commission and provides legal advice on commission matters, as needed.
• Makes presentations on the work of the OCSC, its committees, other working committees and criminal justice seminars, judicial and court personnel educational courses, and other meetings and sessions.
• Writes and edits commission documents, including legislative drafting.
• May provide written and oral testimony at legislative committee hearings.
• Serves as a staff liaison to committees, boards, task forces, commissions, and workgroups.
• May provide work direction as it relates to specific tasks and/or projects to administrative staff and/or interns placed at the OCSC.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Regular, reliable, and punctual attendance is required.

Benefits

• 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 )

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level