ASSISTANT PUBLIC DEFENDER II

Fulton County; Atlanta (GA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Fulton County's Office of the Public Defender seeks a qualified attorney to provide competent and zealous legal representation to indigent clients. The position involves representing clients in court at various stages, preparing and arguing motions, conducting jury selection, and presenting evidence.

The minimum qualifications include a Juris Doctorate, three years of experience as a practicing attorney, and active membership in the State Bar of Georgia; applicants must hold a valid driver’s

Qualifications

• Juris Doctorate Degree required.
• Three years of experience as a practicing attorney.
• Active membership in the State Bar of Georgia.
• Valid driver’s license held and maintained.
• Admission on Motion rules with Georgia for out-of-state bar may apply.

Responsibilities

• Represent clients in court at various stages, including arraignments and hearings.
• Prepare and argue motions, conduct jury selection, and present evidence.
• Investigate cases, review discovery, and interview clients and witnesses.
• Negotiate resolutions with prosecutors and advise clients on options.
• Coordinate with court personnel, investigators, and experts to support cases.
• Maintain case records and stay current with criminal law developments.

Skills

Criminal law knowledge

Trial preparation

Client advocacy

Education

Juris Doctorate Degree

Job description

UNCLASSIFIED EXEMPT POSITION

CURRENT VACANCY IN THE OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC DEFENDER

Minimum Qualifications

Juris Doctorate Degree required; supplemented by three years (s) of experience as a practicing attorney; or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience which provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities for this job. Resumes are welcome without personal and identifiable information.

Specific License or Certification Required

Must be registered as a member of the State Bar of Georgia. Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license. Attorneys licensed in other States that have reciprocity with the State of Georgia seeking Admission on Motion without Examination, must have passed a bar exam in a reciprocal jurisdiction, and meet other qualifications required by the State Bar of Georgia.

Specific Knowledge, Skills, or Abilities

Must be able to demonstrate proficiency in the performance of the essential functions and learn, comprehend, and apply all county or departmental policies, practices, and procedures necessary to function effectively in the position. Requires knowledge of federal, state, and local criminal laws; policies and procedures governing Fulton County Superior Court, and methods and techniques related to the area of assignment.

Veterans’ Preference

Qualifying veterans will be given preference in the form of a guaranteed invitation to interview for any position to which they applied and have been found to have met the minimum qualifications. Veterans’ preference provides for hiring preference on initial appointment only. To see the full Fulton County Veterans’ Preference Policy and Procedure, please.

Purpose of Classification

The purpose of this classification is to provide competent and zealous legal representation and advocacy to indigent clients of Fulton County. This classification is distinguished from the series by closely supervised case assignments. Positions in this classification generally perform beginning level professional legal work and may assist in cases of routine complexity.

Essential Functions

• Represents clients in court at various stages of cases, including arraignments, preliminary and pretrial hearings, probation and sentencing, post-adjudication/post-conviction hearings, appeals or any related courtroom proceedings: negotiates at all stages on behalf of the client; prepares and argues motions; conducts jury selection, makes opening and closing statements, presents evidence, and questions witnesses; and makes appropriate objections and arguments.
• Investigates and prepares cases for hearings and trials: reviews discovery; interviews clients in and out of custody; requests and inspects records and evidence; review criminal histories; prepares graphics and exhibits; explores alternative explanations for the alleged incident; follows up on defense leads; identifies and interviews witnesses and alibis; observes crime scenes; subpoenas witnesses and prepares them for trial; prepares clients for trial; determines need for, procures, and interviews expert witnesses; assesses need for psychological/psychiatric evaluation of client; anticipates legal issues; develops defense theory and case strategies.
• Represents clients at pre-trial conferences: secures and argues mitigating evidence; negotiates resolutions with assistant district attorneys; and advises clients regarding the acceptance or rejection of plea offers.
• Coordinates post-adjudication/disposition/conviction follow-up and relief: secures mitigating evidence for sentencing or restitution; reviews court orders and case plans; files related requests, motions and appeals; advocates for client; and secures additional services for client.
• Conducts case research and documentation: researches relevant case law and interprets in relation to the facts of the case; researches the terms, procedures, or science used in other fields that may be relevant to a case; prepares briefs and motions and responses to same; writes case summaries; drafts jury charges; and makes trial notes.
• Communicates with, advises, and advocates for indigent clients: develops trusting and supportive attorney-client relationship; explains and advises clients regarding their rights, the investigative and judicial process, and the advisability of alternative courses of action; provides updates regarding case status.
• Manages caseload: attends scheduled court appearances; creates new case files, inputs and records case-related data and notes, logs case activities, and closes files; receives and, reviews calendars; and coordinates with court administration, clients, witnesses, experts and others.
• Maintains and upgrades knowledge in appropriate legal fields: attends conferences, seminars, meetings and training events relevant to area of expertise; keeps abreast of legal changes; and participates in professional organizations.
• Communicates with prosecuting attorneys, judges, investigators, legal support staff, witnesses, experts, translators, client friends and family, probation officers, supervisor, government officials, other employees, the public, and other individuals as needed to coordinate work activities, review status of work, present or exchange information, provide legal counsel and interpretation, or resolve problems.
• Processes a variety of documentation associated with department/division operations, within designated timeframes and per established procedures: receives and reviews various documentation, including, police reports, witness statements, laboratory reports, criminal histories, defense motions, and case law updates; reviews, completes, processes, forwards or retains as appropriate; prepares or completes various forms, reports, correspondence, and other documentation, including a variety of motions, orders, letters, notices, petitions, legal briefs, trial summaries, and departmental reports; compiles data for further processing or for use in preparation of department reports; and maintains computerized and/or hardcopy records.

Additional Functions

Performs other related duties as required.

For Applicants With Prior Military Service

Leadership under pressure

Stays calm and focused when managing demanding caseloads, urgent hearings, or unexpected case developments; Makes clear, timely decisions that support client interests even in fast-moving or high-stakes situations; Provides guidance to colleagues, interns, or support staff during complex or time-sensitive tasks.

Operational planning and execution

Prioritizes cases, deadlines, and client needs with strong organizational discipline; Coordinates case preparation, client communication, and court scheduling to ensure smooth workflow; Maintains accurate documentation and follows required procedures to support compliance and efficiency.

Adaptability and rapid problem solving

Adjusts quickly to new information, shifting case conditions, or evolving legal or procedural requirements; Identifies challenges early and develops practical solutions to keep cases moving forward; Responds constructively to sudden schedule changes, new directives, or emerging client issues.

Team cohesion and communication

Communicates clearly with colleagues, investigators, social service partners, court personnel, and clients; Builds collaborative relationships that support unified case strategies and timely outcomes; Uses active listening and consistent updates to maintain alignment across internal and external teams.

Safety and risk awareness

Recognizes potential risks related to case management, client interactions, or courtroom environments and takes appropriate precautions. Protects confidentiality, data security, and the integrity of sensitive information; Knows when to elevate concerns or seek guidance to prevent procedural or organizational risk.

Technical and equipment proficiency

Utilizes case-management systems, digital filing tools, and legal research platforms effectively; Prepares and organizes electronic case materials, evidence, and records with accuracy; Applies strong attention to detail when using office technology to support documentation and data integrity.

Performance Aptitudes

Data Utilization

Requires the ability to coordinate, manage, and/or correlate data. Includes exercising judgment in determining time, place and/or sequence of operations, referencing data analyses to determine necessity for revision of organizational components, and in the formulation of operational strategy.

Human Interaction

Requires the ability to provide formal instruction through explanation, demonstration, and/or examination in a structured setting.

Equipment, Machinery, Tools, and Materials Utilization

Requires the ability to operate, maneuver and/or control the actions of equipment, machinery, tools, and/or materials used in performing essential functions.

Verbal Aptitude

Requires the ability to utilize consulting and advisory data and information, as well as reference, descriptive and/or design data and information as applicable.

Mathematical Aptitude

Requires the ability to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division; the ability to calculate decimals and percentages; the ability to use principles of fractions; and the ability to interpret graphs.

Functional Reasoning

Requires the ability to apply principles of logical or synthesis functions; to deal with several concrete and abstract variables; and to analyze major problems that require complex planning for interrelated activities that can span one or several work units.

Situational Reasoning

Requires the ability to exercise judgment, decisiveness and creativity in situations involving broader aspects of organizational programs and operations, moderately unstable situations, or the direction, control and planning of an entire program or set of programs.

It is the policy of Fulton County that there will be equal opportunity for every citizen, employee and applicant, based upon merit without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, genetics, age, disability or sexual orientation.