Youngstown - BWC Attorney 1 (PN 20067627)

A Little About Us:
With roughly 1,500 employees in seven offices across Ohio, BWC is the state agency that cares for Ohio workers by promoting a culture of safety at work and at home and ensuring quality medical and pharmacy care is provided to injured workers.
For Ohio employers, we provide insurance policies to cover workplace injuries and safety and wellness services to prevent injuries.

Our Culture:
BWC is a dynamic organization that offers career opportunities across many different disciplines. BWC strives to maintain an inclusive workplace. We begin by being an equal opportunity employer. Employees can participate in and lead employee work groups, participate in on-line forums and learn about how different perspectives can improve leadership skills.

Our Vision:
To transform BWC into an agile organization driven by customer success.

Our Mission:
To deliver consistently excellent experiences for each BWC customer every day.

Our Core Values:
One Agency, Personal Connection, Innovative Leadership, Relentless Excellence.

Duties

What Our Employees Have to Say:
BWC conducts an internal engagement survey on an annual basis. Some comments from our employees include:

• BWC has been a great place to work as it has provided opportunities for growth that were lacking in my previous place of work.
• I have worked at several state agencies and BWC is the best place to work.
• Best place to work in the state and with a sense of family and support.
• I love the work culture, helpfulness, and acceptance I've been embraced with at BWC.
• I continue to be impressed with the career longevity of our employees, their level of dedication to service, pride in their work, and vast experience. It really speaks to our mission and why people join BWC and then retire from BWC.

If you are interested in helping BWC grow, please click this link to read more, and then come back to this job posting to submit your application!

BWC’s core hours of operation are Monday-Friday from 8:00am to 5:00pm, however, daily start/end times may vary based on operational need across BWC departments. Most positions perform work on-site at one of BWC’s seven offices across the state. BWC offers flex-time work schedules that allow an employee to start the day as early as 7:00am or as late as 8:30am. Flex-time schedules are based on operational need and require supervisor approval.

What You’ll Be Doing:

• Represents the BWC Administrator at all levels of Industrial Commission (IC) hearings.
• Prepares for hearings by reviewing claim files and analyzing the legal issues involved.
• Interprets laws, rules and regulations, advances legal arguments, examines witnesses and presents evidence at IC hearings.
• Reviews all hearing notices and IC decisions, interprets IC orders and decides whether to appeal based on laws, rules and regulations.
• Provides legal advice and consultation to the service offices, BWC administration and staff on legal issues involving claims determinations, risk matters, and other issues pertaining to BWC operations.

Salary

• $36.90/hour

Qualifications

To Qualify, You Must Clearly Demonstrate:

Admission to Ohio Bar per Section 4705.01 of Revised Code AND must be able to provide own transportation. Probationary period is 12 months.

Job Skills: Attorney/Legal

Major Worker Characteristics:

Knowledge of: law; public relations; human relations; BWC policies & procedures*; Workers’ Compensation & Industrial Commission law *; claims management; state insurance fund.

Skill in: use of personal computer.

Ability to: define problems; conduct legal research; collect data & evidence; establish facts & recommend appropriate legal recourse; review, edit & draft appeals & motions; prepare legal reports, memorandums & hearing summary sheets; handle difficult interactions with injured workers, employers & their representatives.

(*) developed after employment.

Unusual Working Conditions:

• This position is Overtime Exempt pursuant to OCSEA/AFSCME Article 13, Section 13.10.

• Position requires admission to the Ohio Bar Pursuant to Section 4705.01 of the Ohio Revised Code.

• May work flexible hours based on operational need.

• Position requires travel; therefore, persons occupying this position must be able to provide own transportation &/or legally operate a state-owned vehicle.

• Probation period is one year (12 months).
• TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT REQUIRED TO REMAIN IN THE CLASSIFICATION AFTER EMPLOYMENT:
  • Completion of continuing legal education for attorneys per Rule X of Ohio Supreme Court.
  • Compliance with registration for attorneys per Rule VI of the Ohio Supreme Court.

Other Information

EEO & ADA Statement:The State of Ohio is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of applicants or employees due to protected classes as defined in applicable federal law, state law, and any effective executive order.

The Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in its employment opportunities pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act and other applicable laws. To request a reasonable accommodation due to disability, please contact ADA Coordinator Kathleen Bourke at 614-644-7811 or by email to: eeodept@bwc.state.oh.us.

BWC OCSEA Selection Rights:
This position shall be filled in accordance with the provisions of the OCSEA Collective Bargaining Agreement. BWC bargaining unit members have selection rights before non-bargaining unit members. All other applications will only be considered if an internal bargaining unit applicant is not selected for this position.

Salary Information:
Hourly wage is expected to be paid at step 1 of the pay range associated with the position for candidates who are new employees of the state. Current employees of the state will be placed in the appropriate step based on any applicable union contract and/or requirements of the Ohio Revised Code. Movement to the next step of the pay range (a roughly 4% increase) will occur after six months, assuming job performance is acceptable. Thereafter, an employee will advance one step in the pay range every year until the highest step of the pay range is reached. There may also be possible cost of living adjustments (COLA) and longevity supplements begin after five (5) years of state service.

Educational Transcripts:
For any educational achievements to be considered during the screening process, you must at least attach an unofficial transcript that details the coursework you have completed.

All applicants must submit an Ohio Civil Service Application using the online Ohio Hiring Management System. Paper applications will not be accepted.

Background Check:

Prior to an offer of employment, the final applicant will be required to sign a background check authorization form and undergo a criminal background check. Criminal convictions do not necessarily preclude an applicant from consideration for a position.

ADA Statement

Ohio is a Disability Inclusion State and strives to be a model employer of individuals with disabilities. The State of Ohio is committed to providing access and inclusion and reasonable accommodation in its services, activities, programs and employment opportunities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable laws.

Drug-Free Workplace

The State of Ohio is a drug-free workplace which prohibits the use of marijuana (recreational marijuana/non-medical cannabis). Please note, this position may be subject to additional restrictions pursuant to the State of Ohio Drug-Free Workplace Policy (HR-39), and as outlined in the posting.

Benefits

At the State of Ohio, we take care of the team that cares for Ohioans. We provide a variety of quality, competitive benefits to eligible full-time and part-time employees*. For a list of all the State of Ohio Benefits, visit our Total Rewards website! Our benefits package includes:

• 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)

*Benefits eligibility is dependent on a number of factors. The Agency Contact listed above will be able to provide specific benefits information for this position.