Legal Consultant (Attorney 5) - PN: 20034236

Legal Consultant

Attorney 5

Who we are:

At the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health (DBH), we strive to exemplify The Heart of Hope for individuals and families affected by mental health and substance use disorders.

We proudly employ over 2,800 dedicated employees across our six inpatient behavioral health hospitals, Ohio Pharmacy Services, Ohio's prison systems, and the central office located in the James A. Rhodes State Office Tower in Columbus, OH.

DBH Values:

• Service-Oriented (Person Centered, Solution Oriented, Customer Service Focused)
• Collaborative (Approachable, Reasonable, Transparent)
• Value Driven
• Innovative (Yes Before No)
• Strong Sense of Urgency

Our team of highly qualified professionals advances a critical system of behavioral healthcare in Ohio that helps people be well, get well, and stay well. Join our collaborative, service-oriented environment, where you will be respected and valued.

The Ohio Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) is proud to be an Ohio Recovery Friendly Workplace, committed to supporting the health and well-being of all employees, including those in recovery. We foster an inclusive, stigma-free environment where individuals impacted by mental health and substance use challenges are valued, supported, and empowered to thrive. Our workplace culture promotes wellness, second-chance hiring, and recovery-informed policies that reflect our mission to serve Ohioans with compassion and respect, both in the community and within our own team.

Duties

Please note: Effective October 1, 2025, the Ohio Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services has transitioned to its new name—the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health. This change reflects our continued commitment to providing comprehensive, person-centered care that addresses the full range of behavioral health needs for Ohioans. All positions and services now fall under the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health as we move forward in serving individuals, families, and communities across the state.

The Ohio Department of Behavioral Health is seeking a dynamic Ohio‑licensed attorney to lead statewide rule‑promulgation efforts, advise senior leadership on complex policy and legislative matters, and support high‑impact legal initiatives across the agency. This role offers the opportunity to shape major departmental policies, collaborate with partners across government, support litigation and case preparation, and drive clear, consistent, and stakeholder‑informed program rules. Ideal candidates bring strong research, writing, and analytical skills and thrive in a fast‑paced, collaborative environment dedicated to improving behavioral health outcomes statewide.

What you’ll do at DBH:

Legal Leadership for Statewide Initiatives

• Plans, directs, and coordinates legal activities for major departmental or system‑wide initiatives.
• Provides legal guidance for assigned areas.
• Researches and interprets relevant laws, regulations, rules, and policies.
• Advises on policy formulation and strategic decision‑making.
• Reviews legislative and regulatory proposals with potential impact on statewide initiatives.

Representation on Multi‑Agency / Statewide Workgroups

• Serves as the department’s legal representative on multi‑agency or statewide policy groups.
• Presents departmental positions and interpretations of applicable laws and regulations.
• Drafts documents and guidance in support of collaborative initiatives.

Legal Consultation and Support to Internal Leadership

• Provides legal advice and consultation to administrative leadership, legal staff, and internal constituencies.
• Conducts research, analysis, and interpretation of legal issues related to policies, operations, and agency procedures.
• Prepares legal documentation required for administration of DBH program areas.
• Assists in reviewing, assessing, negotiating, resolving, and settling complex matters.

Coordination with the Ohio Attorney General

• Serves as liaison to the Ohio Attorney General’s Office on assigned legal questions, rules, policies, and statutory topics.
• Exercises independent judgment in handling issues involving AG coordination.

Case Preparation & Litigation Support

• Assists Chief Legal Counsel with legal support services for litigation and administrative matters, including Court of Claims, and federal courts.
• Participates in pre‑trial conferences.
• Reviews case notes and documentation.
• Assesses case impacts and develops recommendations related to settlement or appeal.
• Provides support to senior officials engaged in case reviews while ensuring alignment with agency policy and procedure.

Documentation, Reporting, and Information Management

• Prepares memoranda, correspondence, legal opinions, contracts, and other legal documents.
• Reviews and interprets legal documentation.
• Maintains updated information on legal transactions and activities within assigned areas.
• Writes reports, maintains documentation files, and responds to information requests.
• Attends and conducts meetings to exchange or gather information.

Staff Direction & Oversight

• Provides direction to legal support personnel on a project‑by‑project basis.
• As assigned, reviews the preparation, organization, and management of case documentation by legal support staff.

Rules Promulgation

• Assists with statewide rule‑promulgation activities by evaluating, shaping, and implementing DBH policy in accordance with statutory requirements, Legislative Service Commission (LSC) standards, Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review (JCARR) procedures, and internal departmental protocols.
• Analyzes and refines program rules and policies using software tools such as Excel, Microsoft Word, Electronic Rules Filing systems, Rule Authority Software (RAS), and online research platforms to ensure clarity, consistency, flexibility, and the elimination of duplication.
• Reviews and integrates public comments on proposed rules and policies, ensuring that final documents reflect relevant stakeholder feedback and support effective program implementation.

This is an hourly position and is exempt from the bargaining units, with a pay range of 15 on the E1 Exempt Pay Range Schedule. Normal working hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm (Flexible Schedule).

Unless required by any applicable union contract and/or requirements of the Ohio Revised Code, the selected candidate will begin at Step 1 of the pay range schedule listed above, with an opportunity for pay increase after six months of satisfactory performance and then a yearly raise thereafter.

Additional Salary / Appointment Information:

This position is unclassified per 124.11 (A) (9), Ohio Revised Code.

Salary

• $44.38 - $63.41/hour

Qualifications

Position Qualifications:

Admission to Ohio Bar pursuant to Section 4705.01 of Revised Code; 18 mos. exp. as licensed attorney; 6 mos. exp. in supervisory principles/techniques.

Job Skills: Attorney/Legal

Professional Skills: Consultation, Collaboration, Strategic Thinking, Teamwork, Written Communication

Required Educational Transcripts
Official transcripts are required for all post-secondary education, coursework, or degrees listed on the application. Applicants must submit an official transcript before receiving a formal employment offer. Failure to provide transcripts within five (5) business days of the request will result in disqualification from further consideration. Transcripts printed from the institution’s website will not be accepted. DBH reserves the right to evaluate the academic validity of the degree-granting institution.

Other Information

Application Procedures
To be considered for this position, you must apply online through this posting website (careers.ohio.gov). We no longer accept paper applications. When completing your online Ohio Civil Service Application, be sure to clearly describe how you meet the minimum qualifications outlined on this job posting. We will not give credit for your qualifications, experience, education, and training in the job selection process if there is no evidence provided on your application. In addition, “see resume” is not a substitution for completing supplemental questions. Answers to the supplemental questions must be fully supported by the work experience/education sections of your application. You may check the status of your application by signing into your profile on this website (careers.ohio.gov). We will communicate with you through the email you provided in your profile and job application. Be sure to check your email regularly.

Background Check Notice
The final candidate selected for this position will be required to undergo a criminal background check. Criminal convictions do not necessarily preclude an applicant from consideration for a position. An individual assessment of an applicant’s prior criminal convictions will be made before excluding an applicant from consideration.

Rule 5122-7-21, “Background check on applicants,” outlines disqualifying offenses that will preclude an applicant from being employed by the Department of Behavioral Health.

If you require a reasonable accommodation for the application process, assessment &/or interview, please contact Andrew Seifert, EEO/ADA Administrator at andrew.seifert@dbh.ohio.gov or 614-466-8884.

All final applicants tentatively selected for this class will be required to submit to urinalysis to test for illegal drug use prior to appointments. An applicant with a positive test shall not be offered employment.

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.