Master Commissioner

What we’re looking for:

Master commissioner candidates must have an active law license in good standing in any jurisdiction.  A master commissioner must, at all times during employment with the Supreme Court, be an attorney properly admitted to the practice of law and be in good standing with the appropriate admitting authority of any state or territory of the United States. 

Over two years of legal experience is preferred.  Previous experience as a judicial law clerk or staff attorney at the appellate level is preferred.  Experience in the courtroom or interacting with clients is helpful.  

Experience with any of the areas of law in which the Office of Legal Resources routinely provides legal analysis, including extraordinary writs, workers’ compensation direct appeals, public utilities cases, state and local taxation appeals, practice-of-law matters, or death-penalty-related matters, is helpful.   

The candidate selected for the position must demonstrate outstanding legal research and analysis capabilities and excellent writing skills. 

Requires sound judgment, decisiveness, and creativity in evaluating information; strong time-management skills; and the ability to communicate effectively with the Justices, and with supervisors, co-workers, attorneys, and the public. 

*Special Requirements\:  This position is regularly exposed to sensitive information and the employee is expected to keep any such information strictly confidential.

At-Will Employment
The Supreme Court of Ohio is an at-will employer that seeks to attract, employ, and retain highly skilled and motivated individuals, attempts to maintain staff continuity for the efficiency of its operation, and desires to foster and maintain an ethical, professional, and impartial work environment. Pursuant to Adm. P. 4 (At-Will Employment), no person shall be offered or denied a position of employment with the Court, and no employee shall have the employee's employment terminated based solely upon political party affiliation, political activity permitted under Adm. P. 17 (Employee Code of Ethics), or other partisan considerations. Further, no employee shall have the employee's employment terminated with or without cause unless upon the concurrence of a majority of the Court.

Major Worker Characteristics\: 
The Court seeks to recruit and retain talented individuals with outstanding legal analytical and writing skills and a commitment to public service.

Application Process

This is an exempt unclassified position, reporting to the director of the Office of Legal Resources. The salary range for this position, which is commensurate with experience, is $124,924.80 - $135,304.00.

Formal consideration of interested applicants responding to this job announcement will begin November 21, 2024, and will continue until the positions are filled. To be considered for this position, candidates must apply online at www.careers.ohio.gov or deliver an application by December 1, 2024, to the Supreme Court of Ohio, 65 S. Front St., Columbus, OH 43215 and attach or enclose all of the following:

1.    Complete application 
2.    Supplemental questions 
3.    Resume or CV
4.    Cover letter
5.    A list with three professional references 
6.    One writing sample

Only completed applications will be considered.  In response to your application, this system will send you a confirmation email. Interviews will be scheduled as soon as practical. We will contact you if you are selected for an interview. Please do not duplicate your application and please, no phone inquiries.

Out of state applicants may apply; however, the Supreme Court of Ohio does not reimburse travel or relocation expenses.
 
The Supreme Court of Ohio is an equal employment opportunity employer that supports an alcohol and drug-free, and a weapons and violence free, work environment.

Background Check Information:
The final candidate selected for the position will be required to undergo a pre-employment drug screening and 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.

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.

The Supreme Court of Ohio is seeking up to two experienced professionals to fill the positions of Master Commissioner (Attorney) within the Office of Legal Resources. The successful candidates will provide the Justices of the Supreme Court of Ohio expert legal analysis in complex areas of law including death-penalty-related matters, attorney discipline, the unauthorized practice of law, state and local taxation, public utilities, workers’ compensation, and extraordinary writs. 
Master commissioners review and analyze case filings and documents, conduct extensive legal research, and prepare comprehensive written memoranda for review by the Justices of the Court.

What You'll Do:

Review and analyze the pleadings, motions, transcripts, exhibits, records, and briefs in appeals and original actions filed in the Supreme Court of Ohio. 

Review the case law, statutory, and constitutional authorities cited by the parties and perform additional legal research as needed pertaining to the assigned matters. 

Based on expertise and research, prepare for the Justices a comprehensive, written analysis of the facts and issues presented in an appeal or original action and a recommended disposition of the case, including any pending motions.

Consult with other master commissioners concerning legal issues in pending cases. 

May conduct hearings as assigned by the Court. 

Prepare draft opinions and entries for the Court upon request. 

Review editorial changes made to opinions before publication. 

Assist the Justices or senior management in complex legal matters; conduct research of complex legal issues; evaluate factual information. 

Review and provide feedback on work product for other master commissioners; may direct the administrative assistant to review personal work product for compliance with the Court’s writing manual.

Collaborate with the administrative assistant in maintaining a log of the status of assigned cases, as requested. 

Propose amendments to court rules when appropriate. 

Attend state and national seminars when directed, participate in bar association committee activities as appropriate, and otherwise remain current with developing legal trends and authority.

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.