SENIOR STAFF ATTORNEY, APPOINTED

Superior-Court-of-Fulton-Count; Atlanta (GA); On-site; USD 106,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

The Superior Court of Fulton County in Georgia seeks a Senior Staff Attorney, Appointed, to support Judges’ Chambers in research, drafting orders, and providing legal analysis. The role reports to the elected official and collaborates with a three-person team on litigation processing and docket management.

Requires a Juris Doctorate and minimum years of experience, with emphasis on differentiated case management, court procedures, and effective communication with judges, attorneys, and staff.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of civil and criminal procedure and substantive law.
• Ability to conduct effective legal research and analysis.
• Strong drafting, memoranda, and order-writing skills.

Responsibilities

• Research and draft proposed orders for assigned judge.
• Provide legal opinions and guidance to judges and court staff.
• Summarize facts and arguments for cases before the court.
• Assist in case flow management and docket coordination across case types.

Skills

Legal research

Civil procedure

Criminal procedure

Legal drafting

Court communications

Differentiated case management

Education

Juris Doctorate

Job description

SUPERIOR COURT OF FULTON COUNTY
JOB ANNOUNCEMENT FOR THE POSITION OF
SENIOR STAFF ATTORNEY, APPOINTED
SALARY GRADE K9: $117,794 (Salary may be adjusted based on qualifying experience and available funding)
Unclassified Position
(Current Vacancy in Judges' Chambers)
CLOSING DATE: Open Until Filled

**THIS POSTING MAY BE USED TO FILL MULTIPLE POSITIONS**
FOR RECRUITMENT ONLY

Are you ready to make a meaningful impact in the justice system? Consider joining our team at the Superior Court of Fulton County, Georgia, as a Senior Staff Attorney, Appointedassigned tothe Judges' Chamberswhere your work will support fairness, efficiency, and accessibility for all who come before the Court. This is an on-site position.
As Georgia’s busiest trial court, we are dedicated to providing an impartial, timely, and safe forum for resolving legal disputes. Every team member contributes to upholding these mission‑driven principles and strengthening public trust in the judiciary.

Job Summary

The Senior Staff Attorney, Appointed is a career-track court professional, conducts legal research, drafts court orders and memoranda, advises the judge on legal issues as required. This position functions as part of a cross-trained team responsible for litigation processing and docket management. This position is appointed by an elected official to serve in a "highly intimate and sensitive position of responsibility", under the direct supervision of the elected official.

Essential Duties

The staff attorney performs legal research and drafts proposed orders for an assigned judge. Provides legal advice and opinions to judges and court staff. Prepares legal summaries of facts and arguments for cases brought before the court.
Drafts legal memoranda, proposed orders, and jury charges on court cases and specific points of law as required by the assigned judge. Reviews legal opinions and various legal publications for research purposes.
Stays current on relevant laws, regulations, and court processes and procedures. Provides legal analysis of appellate opinions, motions, jury charges and court documents and monitors for compliance with established court rules and procedures.
Applies training and experience to caseload to identify and ensure emergency issues are addressed in a timely and appropriate manner. Supervises other court personnel within chambers at the discretion of the assigned judge.
Provides information, guidance and direction to attorneys, patrons of the court, other court employees and other agency representatives regarding applicable case management policies and procedures. Provides information to attorneys and other concerned parties regarding cases on court calendar.
Trial judges responsible for litigation processing and docket management are supported by a three person team of court professionals. Team members provide lead direction and guidance to lawyers and litigants navigating the litigation process before the judge. The team functions collaboratively to facilitate orderly case management and court proceedings, including analyzing and prioritizing the flow of work relating to all case types comprising a judicial caseload.
Areas of primary responsibility are divided among team members as determined by the judge. As part of the litigation and docket management support unit, the staff attorney may assist in case flow and litigation process management, including scheduling, caseload progression analysis, development, and implementation of strategies and procedures for management of the docket from case filing to disposition across case types or with respect to specific aspects of the litigation process such as motions practice.

Qualifications

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Requires knowledge of theories, principles, and practices of civil and criminal procedure as well as substantive areas of criminal, civil, juvenile, and family law. Techniques used to conduct legal research. Court practices and procedures. Legal practices and procedures related to area of assignment. Legal terminology. Principles and practices of legal document preparation. Knowledge of theories, principles, and practices of differentiated case management. General office practices, procedures, equipment, and technology including court-specific software.
Requires skill in: Organizing and prioritizing substantive legal work. Reviewing and evaluating legal sufficiency and soundness of submissions to the court from litigants. Applying legal principles and theories to unique factual circumstances. Efficient, timely analysis of complex legal issues across multiple areas of substantive law. Conducting effective legal research and drafting sound legal documents. Identifying and investigating the facts of legal matters. Using spreadsheet, database, word processing, presentation, financial/accounting and other software to gather, organize, analyze, and present information. Resolving problems and making decisions. Functioning collaboratively as part of a judicial litigation/docket management team to include, understanding and applying recognized principles and techniques of differentiated case management. Understanding and using Court-specific computer applications to manage court processes, gather and analyze statistics, and create reports. Maintaining confidentiality. Building sustainable working relationships with other County personnel, officials, and the public. Communicating effectively orally and in writing with judges, coworkers, litigants, lawyers and the public.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience incomplex civil litigation
• Desire to providesubstantive legal research, analysis, and writingfor civil cases

Education and Experience

Juris Doctorate degree required; and three or more years of experience practicing law (at least one year lead or supervisory experience is preferred).

Licensing Requirements

Member in good standing with the State Bar of Georgia. May require a valid Georgia driver’s license.

Physical Requirements

Work is typically performed in an office-like environment. May work in high conflict situations and with difficult, sometimes dangerous parties. Positions in this class typically require sitting, standing, mobility, fingering, lifting, carrying, driving, talking, hearing, and seeing.
Sedentary Work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met.

This job description indicates, in general, the nature and level of work, knowledge, skills, abilities, and other essential functions (as covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act) expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of all activities, duties, or responsibilities. Incumbent may be asked to perform other duties as required. Superior Court of Fulton County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the County will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer. Applicants may request a copy of the County’s EEOP Utilization Report by contacting Superior Court Human Resources at [e-mail].

Department: Judges' Chambers
This is a full-time position
Salary grade: K9: $117,794 (Salary may be adjusted based on qualifying experience and available funding)
Closing date: Open Until Filled