Chief Legal Counsel [Deputy Director]
State of Ohio, Columbus, OH, United States
Job Title
Chief Legal Counsel [Deputy Director] (260002KV)
Organization Youth Services - Central Office
Contact Kelly.East@dys.ohio.gov
Work Location William Green Building, 30 West Spring Street, Columbus, 43215-2256
Primary Location United States of America - Ohio - Franklin County - Columbus
Compensation Negotiable based on education/experience
Schedule Full-time (Exempt from Union)
Primary Job Skill Attorney/Legal
Mission Our mission at the Ohio Department of Youth Services (DYS) is to improve Ohio's future by habilitating youth and empowering families and communities. We believe that all youth will be given an opportunity to live up to their greatest potential and staff are our greatest resource.
Demonstrate staff are our greatest resource
Treat everyone with respect
Cultivate a trauma responsive environment for staff and youth to thrive
Provide the best support and services for youth and families
Advance our culture of inclusion through understanding and appreciating staff and youth differences
Commit to and encourage collaboration and continuous improvement to produce better outcomes for those we serve
Celebrate collective successes and support one another through opportunities to improve
DYS is the juvenile corrections system for the state of Ohio. DYS is statutorily mandated to confine felony offenders, ages 10-21, who have been adjudicated and committed by one of Ohio's 88 county juvenile courts. During their stay with DYS, youth are engaged in programming that is designed to address their criminological and behavioral needs. DYS reaches thousands of youth in facilities and those on parole.
Core Responsibilities Strategic Legal Advisor
Executive Counsel: Provide advice and counsel to the Director, executive leadership, and agency staff on legal, ethics, and operational matters; guide enterprise legal strategy; and serve as executive risk manager.
External Liaison: Serve as the agency’s primary representative in legal matters with the Attorney General’s office, outside counsel, juvenile court judges, prosecutors and local law enforcement.
Litigation Management: Oversee litigation in federal, state, and local courts, including supervising settlement negotiations for pending litigation.
Policy, Compliance, and Advocacy
Regulatory Oversight: Interpret federal and state statutes to design, develop, and execute legal policy that aligns with agency goals.
Chief Ethics Officer: Facilitate agency’s compliance with the Ohio Ethics Laws (R.C. Chapter 102; 2921.42/2921.43) and act as a liaison with the Ohio Ethics Commission.
Juvenile Justice Research: Manage ongoing research into youth rights and juvenile justice legislation to ensure agency directives remain compliant with current laws.
Constitutional Integrity: Monitor the delivery of legal services to youth committed to DYS to ensure all constitutional requirements are met.
Administrative & Youth Records Leadership
Sentence Computation: Direct the development and implementation of policies used for youth sentence calculations and respond to legal inquiries regarding release dates.
Public Records Management: Oversee complex public records requests, ensuring compliance with Ohio law and managing required documentation.
Chief Records Officer: Oversee agency records management and retention, including youth records.
Benefits Medical Coverage, Free Dental, Vision and Basic Life Insurance premiums after eligibility period, Paid time off (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).
Qualifications Admission to Ohio Bar pursuant to Section 4705.01 of Revised Code.
Job Skills: Attorney/Legal
Background Check Notice The final candidate selected for this position will be required to undergo a pre-employment drug screening and criminal background check that includes results from BCI and FBI, Ohio Department of Public Safety and Ohio Department of Taxation. 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.
Pre‑Service Training All new candidates hired to the Department of Youth Services are required to attend 3 weeks of mandatory, paid training at the Correctional Training Academy in Orient, Ohio. Training Academy hours are Monday through Thursday, 7:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Additional Information DYS is a “qualifying employer” for purposes of the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness [PSLF] program.
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 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.
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Organization Youth Services - Central Office
Contact Kelly.East@dys.ohio.gov
Work Location William Green Building, 30 West Spring Street, Columbus, 43215-2256
Primary Location United States of America - Ohio - Franklin County - Columbus
Compensation Negotiable based on education/experience
Schedule Full-time (Exempt from Union)
Primary Job Skill Attorney/Legal
Mission Our mission at the Ohio Department of Youth Services (DYS) is to improve Ohio's future by habilitating youth and empowering families and communities. We believe that all youth will be given an opportunity to live up to their greatest potential and staff are our greatest resource.
Demonstrate staff are our greatest resource
Treat everyone with respect
Cultivate a trauma responsive environment for staff and youth to thrive
Provide the best support and services for youth and families
Advance our culture of inclusion through understanding and appreciating staff and youth differences
Commit to and encourage collaboration and continuous improvement to produce better outcomes for those we serve
Celebrate collective successes and support one another through opportunities to improve
DYS is the juvenile corrections system for the state of Ohio. DYS is statutorily mandated to confine felony offenders, ages 10-21, who have been adjudicated and committed by one of Ohio's 88 county juvenile courts. During their stay with DYS, youth are engaged in programming that is designed to address their criminological and behavioral needs. DYS reaches thousands of youth in facilities and those on parole.
Core Responsibilities Strategic Legal Advisor
Executive Counsel: Provide advice and counsel to the Director, executive leadership, and agency staff on legal, ethics, and operational matters; guide enterprise legal strategy; and serve as executive risk manager.
External Liaison: Serve as the agency’s primary representative in legal matters with the Attorney General’s office, outside counsel, juvenile court judges, prosecutors and local law enforcement.
Litigation Management: Oversee litigation in federal, state, and local courts, including supervising settlement negotiations for pending litigation.
Policy, Compliance, and Advocacy
Regulatory Oversight: Interpret federal and state statutes to design, develop, and execute legal policy that aligns with agency goals.
Chief Ethics Officer: Facilitate agency’s compliance with the Ohio Ethics Laws (R.C. Chapter 102; 2921.42/2921.43) and act as a liaison with the Ohio Ethics Commission.
Juvenile Justice Research: Manage ongoing research into youth rights and juvenile justice legislation to ensure agency directives remain compliant with current laws.
Constitutional Integrity: Monitor the delivery of legal services to youth committed to DYS to ensure all constitutional requirements are met.
Administrative & Youth Records Leadership
Sentence Computation: Direct the development and implementation of policies used for youth sentence calculations and respond to legal inquiries regarding release dates.
Public Records Management: Oversee complex public records requests, ensuring compliance with Ohio law and managing required documentation.
Chief Records Officer: Oversee agency records management and retention, including youth records.
Benefits Medical Coverage, Free Dental, Vision and Basic Life Insurance premiums after eligibility period, Paid time off (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).
Qualifications Admission to Ohio Bar pursuant to Section 4705.01 of Revised Code.
Job Skills: Attorney/Legal
Background Check Notice The final candidate selected for this position will be required to undergo a pre-employment drug screening and criminal background check that includes results from BCI and FBI, Ohio Department of Public Safety and Ohio Department of Taxation. 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.
Pre‑Service Training All new candidates hired to the Department of Youth Services are required to attend 3 weeks of mandatory, paid training at the Correctional Training Academy in Orient, Ohio. Training Academy hours are Monday through Thursday, 7:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Additional Information DYS is a “qualifying employer” for purposes of the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness [PSLF] program.
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 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.
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