National Legal Aid & Defender Association
Staff Attorney
National Legal Aid & Defender Association, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States, 45208
Position Description
Law Office of the Hamilton County Public Defender
Location: In Person
Salary: $80,256 per year
Start Date: August 2026
Open Position(s): Staff Attorney, Municipal Court Division
The Hamilton County Public Defender is seeking passionate and dedicated candidates who are ready to engage in client-centered advocacy and holistic representation for clients in the Cincinnati area. Staff Attorneys engage in spirited and creative litigation while also contributing to innovative defense strategies and systemic reform efforts.
Division Overview Staff Attorneys in the Municipal Division represent adults charged with misdemeanor criminal offenses in the Hamilton County Municipal Court. The Staff Attorney position is the entry‑level litigation attorney position at the Hamilton County Public Defender. As the attorney’s skill level and experience increases, they will be assigned more complex work, including cross‑training on felony cases and even working on selected felony jury trials. Once an attorney demonstrates full competence in the defense litigation required in municipal court, they are eligible for promotion to the Youth or Felony divisions.
Position Summary Staff Attorneys at the Hamilton County Public Defender are expected to handle all phases of litigation in their assigned cases. This includes arraignment, demanding and reviewing discovery, conducting legal research and analysis, writing briefs, motions, and other legal documents, attending all court appearances, arguing motions, and conducting trials. In addition to litigation, Staff Attorneys must also communicate regularly with their clients, both in the community and at the local jail. Staff Attorneys are one part of the holistic defense team. They work in a collaborative environment with social workers, investigators, and administrative support staff. Due to the nature of the work and the arraignment court schedule, Staff Attorneys are occasionally required to work nights, weekends, and other non‑traditional schedules.
Examples of Duties
Client Communication : Interview new clients and obtain relevant case information; advise clients of their rights and legal options at each phase of the case; keep clients informed of their case status, court or hearing dates, and negotiations with prosecutors; meet with clients to discuss the discovery on their case; counsel clients on the applicable law, potential legal outcomes, and collateral consequences so they can make informed decisions in their case.
Legal Knowledge : Evaluate the factual and legal issues in each client’s case by doing the necessary legal research and analysis; maintain an ongoing knowledge of criminal law, legislative activities, current policing and prosecuting procedures, and significant court decisions; complete all necessary CLE hours.
Holistic Defense : Identify areas of a case ripe for social service or investigative intervention; communicate case needs timely and clearly; participate in the process.
Advocacy : Develop a case theory; take the appropriate legal steps to best defend clients at pretrial and evidentiary hearings; find and articulate creative solutions to pre‑trial and post‑conviction incarceration; prepare the case for trial and determine trial strategy; execute all phases of a bench or jury trial; negotiate with prosecutors when appropriate; present mitigation to the court.
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Location: In Person
Salary: $80,256 per year
Start Date: August 2026
Open Position(s): Staff Attorney, Municipal Court Division
The Hamilton County Public Defender is seeking passionate and dedicated candidates who are ready to engage in client-centered advocacy and holistic representation for clients in the Cincinnati area. Staff Attorneys engage in spirited and creative litigation while also contributing to innovative defense strategies and systemic reform efforts.
Division Overview Staff Attorneys in the Municipal Division represent adults charged with misdemeanor criminal offenses in the Hamilton County Municipal Court. The Staff Attorney position is the entry‑level litigation attorney position at the Hamilton County Public Defender. As the attorney’s skill level and experience increases, they will be assigned more complex work, including cross‑training on felony cases and even working on selected felony jury trials. Once an attorney demonstrates full competence in the defense litigation required in municipal court, they are eligible for promotion to the Youth or Felony divisions.
Position Summary Staff Attorneys at the Hamilton County Public Defender are expected to handle all phases of litigation in their assigned cases. This includes arraignment, demanding and reviewing discovery, conducting legal research and analysis, writing briefs, motions, and other legal documents, attending all court appearances, arguing motions, and conducting trials. In addition to litigation, Staff Attorneys must also communicate regularly with their clients, both in the community and at the local jail. Staff Attorneys are one part of the holistic defense team. They work in a collaborative environment with social workers, investigators, and administrative support staff. Due to the nature of the work and the arraignment court schedule, Staff Attorneys are occasionally required to work nights, weekends, and other non‑traditional schedules.
Examples of Duties
Client Communication : Interview new clients and obtain relevant case information; advise clients of their rights and legal options at each phase of the case; keep clients informed of their case status, court or hearing dates, and negotiations with prosecutors; meet with clients to discuss the discovery on their case; counsel clients on the applicable law, potential legal outcomes, and collateral consequences so they can make informed decisions in their case.
Legal Knowledge : Evaluate the factual and legal issues in each client’s case by doing the necessary legal research and analysis; maintain an ongoing knowledge of criminal law, legislative activities, current policing and prosecuting procedures, and significant court decisions; complete all necessary CLE hours.
Holistic Defense : Identify areas of a case ripe for social service or investigative intervention; communicate case needs timely and clearly; participate in the process.
Advocacy : Develop a case theory; take the appropriate legal steps to best defend clients at pretrial and evidentiary hearings; find and articulate creative solutions to pre‑trial and post‑conviction incarceration; prepare the case for trial and determine trial strategy; execute all phases of a bench or jury trial; negotiate with prosecutors when appropriate; present mitigation to the court.
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