Public Records Special Master

Minimum Qualifications:

• Juris Doctor from an ABA accredited law school and Admission to Ohio Bar pursuant to Section 4705.01 of Revised Code.
• Extensive experience with Ohio Sunshine Laws; specifically Public Records law.
• Strong research, writing & communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in civil litigation and/or government relations.
• Experience in mediation.

The selected candidate will be subject to a criminal history 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.

What You'll Do:

The Public Records Special Master position was created pursuant to R.C. 2743.75 which established a procedure in the Court of Claims to hear complaints alleging a denial of access to public records. The Public Records Special Master is an attorney, appointed by the Clerk of the Court of Claims, who specializes in public records law.

This position will be required to be in the office during the training period and may be eligible for a hybrid teleworking schedule.

The successful candidate may perform some or all of these duties or other job-related duties as assigned:

• Drafts Reports and Recommendations and entries on Public Records complaints pursuant to R.C. 2743.75(F).
• Performs written analysis of legal and factual issues presented in Public Records cases before the court; researches statutory law, case law, and procedure germane to civil matters pending before the court; uses online & hard copy research sources.
• Uses mediation techniques to facilitate communication between parties, to further parties' understanding of different perspectives, and to guide parties toward mutual agreement; conducts initial meetings with parties to outline the arbitration process, settle procedural matters, or determine details such as witness numbers or time requirements; confers with parties to clarify issues, identify underlying concerns, and develop an understanding of their respective needs and interests; interviews claimants, agents, or witnesses to obtain information about disputed issues; sets up appointments for parties to meet for mediation.
• Creates and delivers presentations to interested groups in order to expand educational awareness on public records law; prepares and provides educational materials, such as brochures and primers, for internal and external audiences; provides educational information to the public.
• Responds to request for information from the media; writes press releases or other media communications; writes content for the website.
• Answers inquiries from attorneys, litigants.
• Coordinates work with clerical staff.
• Provides general management of the Public Records docket.

What’s in it for you:

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 are free after completed eligibility period
• Paid time off, including vacation, personal, sick leave and 11 paid holidays per year
• Childbirth, Adoption, and Foster Care leave
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness
• Ohio Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS)

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.

The Ohio Court of Claims is a statutorily created court with statewide jurisdiction and hears claims against the state of Ohio for money damages, appeals from Attorney General decisions regarding claims filed under the Victims of Crime Compensation Program, and complaints from citizens against government agencies regarding denial of access to public records. The Ohio Court of Claims is located along with the Ohio Supreme Court in the Thomas J. Moyer Ohio Judicial Center, a restored 15 story historical building located along the Scioto River in downtown Columbus.