SENIOR STAFF ATTORNEY, APPOINTED

Fulton; Georgia; Hybrid; USD 100,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

Superior Court of Fulton County, Georgia, seeks a Senior Staff Attorney, Appointed assigned to Judge Nikia Smith Sellers. This on-site position supports fairness, efficiency, and accessibility in the judiciary, with a career-track opportunity in a busy trial court.

Responsibilities include legal research, drafting orders, advising the judge, and managing docket and teams within chambers. A Juris Doctorate and at least three years of practice are required; Georgia bar membership is expected.

Qualifications

• Requires Juris Doctorate and three or more years of legal practice.
• Member in good standing with the State Bar of Georgia; GA driver’s license may be required.

Responsibilities

• Conduct legal research and draft proposed orders.
• Advise judge on legal issues and prepare memoranda.
• Assist in docket management and litigation processing.
• Supervise chamber personnel and coordinate with attorneys and staff.

Skills

Legal research and writing

Court procedures

Oral and written communication

Team leadership

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
Unclassified Position
(Current Vacancy in Judge Sellers's Chambers)
CLOSING DATE: Open Until Filled

THIS POSTING MAY BE USED TO FILL MULTIPLE POSITIONS

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, Appointed assigned to Judge Nikia Smith Sellers,where 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.
If you are looking to build a rewarding career while making a difference every day, we invite you to apply and become part of our committed and service‑focused team.

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: Judge Sellers's Chambers
This is a full‑time position
Salary grade: K9: $117,794
Closing date: Open Until Filled

Personal Information

• First name
• Last name
• Email
• Address
• City
• State
• Zip code
• Phone number

Attachments

• Attach your Resume Attach Dropbox
• Attach a Cover letter Attach Dropbox
• Attach Legal Writing Sample Attach Dropbox
• Attach three (3) professional references Attach Dropbox
• Federal Government Notice of Termination or Release of Retirement Attach Dropbox

Other Information

• 1)This is an on‑site position. Are you willing and able to work on‑site as required for this position? Yes No
• 2) Do you have a Juris Doctorate degree?
• 3) Do you have three (3) or more years of experience practicing law?
• 4) Describe your legal research experience. Include in your response a) the years of experience, b) type of legal documents drafted, c) how do you stay current on relevant laws?
• 5) Are you a former federal employee that has been recently released or accepted early retirement because of DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency)? If answered yes, please upload your notice of termination, release or retirement in the attachment portion of this application. Please note, this letter will be required for interview consideration.
• 6) Are you currently working or have you ever worked for Superior Court or Fulton County Government?
• How did you hear about this position?