Overview
Legal Research Associate Jobs in Indianapolis, IN at Abacus Service Corporation
What You’ll Do:
Plans, prioritizes, directs and oversees the activities of the office, which include but are not limited to:
Providing legal and ethics advice to the Chief Justice, Justices, Administrative Director, Deputy Administrative Director, managers, supervisors, and employees in order to maintain compliance with all laws, rules, and regulations relevant to the Court.
Researching, analyzing, appraising, and interpreting laws, court decisions, rulings, advisory opinions, regulations, statutes, and pending legislation in order to determine an appropriate outcome.
Researching unique legal issues impacting the judicial branch by identifying applicable statutes, judicial branch decisions, and rules.
Drafting advisory opinions of law and fact with a recommended outcome.
Preparing legal memoranda and oral and written reports.
Reviewing, preparing, evaluating, and coordinating public records requests; drafts and updates policies and procedures on public records. Ensuring that electronic information systems and investigative practices comply with state confidentiality and data access laws and regulations.
Analyzing and monitoring new legislation. Developing relations with the General Assembly and monitoring legislative activity on matters of interest to the Court and the Ohio Judicial Branch. Coordinating Court legislative activities with other Judicial Branch entities and the state bar associations. Advising the Court and Court staff regarding legislative activities.
Reviewing, preparing, evaluating, negotiating, recommending, and coordinating a variety of intergovernmental agreements, grant agreements, and contracts in accordance with policy; advising staff on status, legal risks, and proper terms and conditions.
Working with the Office of the Attorney General and outside counsel to manage litigation brought against the Supreme Court and Courts of Appeals.
Researching, writing, updating, and editing reference materials for judicial branch employees, particularly judges and quasi-judicial personnel. Preparing and providing training on legal issues for judicial branch employees.
Participating on or acting as staff liaison to committees, boards, task forces, commissions, and workgroups.
Providing assistance on matters such as implementation of Supreme Court rules, procurement policy requirements, personnel policy requirements, and compliance with the federal laws such as the Civil Rights Acts, ADA, FLSA and FMLA.
Consulting with and advising managers, supervisors, and other personnel regarding a wide variety of programs, policies, and regulations.
Attends staff and other work-related meetings, workshops, seminars, and other continuing education opportunities in order to stay informed of legal updates.
Supervises and coordinates activities of subordinate legal and policy personnel which includes interviewing, work product assessment, work assignment, monitoring performance and writing performance evaluations, preparation of personnel forms, status changes, and other personnel related materials.
Conducts special projects assigned by the Chief Justice, Administrative Director, or the Deputy Administrative Director.
Why Work for the State of Ohio
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.
Qualifications
What we’re looking for:
Requires a Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school and an active Ohio law license in good standing or ability to obtain within 6 months of employment. At all times during employment with the Supreme Court, must be an attorney properly admitted to the practice of law in Ohio and be in good standing.
The qualified candidate must have a minimum of ten years of increasingly responsible broad based legal experience as a bar licensed attorney; with a minimum of two years in a management role.
Preference will be given to candidates with experience in a court administration or government environment primarily performing detailed policy analysis, and research and design. Experience in drafting policies, rules, and legislation is also highly desirable.
Significant experience with public records policies and procedures, judicial ethics, and contract drafting preferred. Previous litigation experience helpful.
Knowledge of the procedural operations of all levels of court preferred.
Requires strong writing skills and the ability to draft complete and concise documents using proper grammar, punctuation, and spelling.
Requires substantial skills in legal research, analysis, writing, editing, and proofreading.
Requires the ability to work independently with minimal direct supervision.
Requires the ability to work under pressure, handling all aspects of the job with professionalism, patience, discretion, and confidentiality.
Requires the ability to communicate tactfully and effectively, both verbally and in writing.
Requires the ability to effectively interact and communicate with supervisor, co-workers, justices, judges, other public officials and employees, attorneys, judicial branch personnel, and the public.
Requires the ability to establish and maintain collaborative, effective working relationships with supervisors, colleagues, subordinate staff, department directors, managers, employees, public officials, state agencies, and agency liaisons. Requires the ability to handle sensitive, face-to-face contact with the public and government officials in a composed, hospitable, and approachable manner
Special Requirements: This position is regularly exposed to sensitive information and the employee is expected to keep that information strictly confidential.
Supplemental Information
Application Process
This is an exempt unclassified position, reporting to the Administrative Director. The salary range for this position, which is commensurate with experience, is $159,416.00 – $169,416.00.
Formal consideration of interested applicants responding to this job announcement will begin immediately 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 end of business February 25, 2025, to the Supreme Court of Ohio, 65 S. Front St., Columbus, OH 43215 and attach or enclose all of the following:
Completed application
Resume or CV
Cover letter .
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Title: Legal Research Associate
Company: Abacus Service Corporation
Location: Indianapolis, IN
