Staff Attorney

This is a professional-level attorney position responsible for providing legal research, analysis, advisory support, and guidance regarding matters affecting the Clerk of Superior, State, Magistrate, and Juvenile Courts. The position reports to the Chief Deputy Clerk and serves as a legal resource to the Clerk, Chief Deputy Clerk, executive leadership, and division management.

The incumbent conducts legal research; analyzes statutes, court rules, case law, legislation, and other legal authorities; assists with complex legal and procedural matters affecting court and administrative operations; drafts and reviews legal and administrative documents and correspondence; and provides recommendations regarding the statutory, procedural, and administrative responsibilities of the Clerk's Office.

Assignments may include matters involving court operations and procedures, court and administrative records, statutory duties of the Clerk, legislative and regulatory changes, policies and procedures, accessibility and accommodations, agreements, and other legal or compliance matters affecting Clerk operations.

The position works independently on assigned matters, develops recommendations for Clerk leadership, and collaborates with Clerk's Office leadership and staff. The position may also coordinate with County departments, legal counsel, court and justice partners, governmental agencies, and other stakeholders as necessary to support the legal and operational needs of the Clerk's Office.

This position provides legal research, analysis, and advisory support to the Clerk's Office and does not provide legal advice to litigants or members of the general public.

• May supervise staff to include prioritizing and assigning work; conducting performance evaluations; ensuring staff are trained and follow policies and procedures; maintaining a healthy and safe working environment; and making hiring, termination, and disciplinary recommendations.
  
• Conducts legal research and analysis regarding statutes, court rules, case law, legislation, regulations, and other legal authorities affecting the duties and operations of the Clerk's Office.
  
• Researches and analyzes complex or unusual legal, procedural, administrative, and operational matters and provides legal guidance and recommendations to Clerk leadership.
  
• Serves as a legal resource to senior leadership regarding matters affecting court operations, records, statutory responsibilities, compliance, and administration of the Clerk's Office.
  
• Prepares and reviews legal and administrative documents, correspondence, policies, procedures, agreements, responses, and other materials involving legal or operational considerations.
  
• Monitors changes in laws, court rules, regulations, and other legal requirements affecting the Clerk's Office; evaluates potential impact and assists with implementation of necessary operational changes.
  
• Provides legal research, analysis, and guidance regarding court and administrative records, public access, confidentiality, disclosure, retention, and other records-related requirements.
  
• Provides legal and compliance support regarding federal, state, and local requirements applicable to Clerk operations and assists with the development and review of policies, procedures, and internal guidance.
  
• Consults and coordinates with judges and judicial staff, the County Attorney's Office, elected officials, County departments, governmental agencies, justice partners, attorneys, and other stakeholders regarding matters affecting Clerk operations.
  
• Develops legal guidance and reference materials; provides training to Clerk's Office employees; and assists with special projects and initiatives involving legal, statutory, regulatory, procedural, or compliance considerations.
  
• Performs other duties of a similar nature or level.

Training and Experience (positions in this class require): Juris Doctorate; ten years of experience as an attorney; or an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job such as those listed above.

Licensing Requirements (positions in this class require):

• Member in good standing with the Georgia Bar and admitted to practice in the Superior Courts of Georgia, The Court of Appeals for the State of Georgia and the Georgia Supreme Court and other courts as necessary.

Knowledge (position requirements at entry):

• Applicable laws, rules, and regulations
• Court procedures
• Research methods

Skills (position requirements at entry):

• Operating a computer and applicable software
• Applying laws, rules, and regulations
• Analyzing complex information
• Preparing legal documents
• Presenting legal arguments in support of legal positions
• Conducting legal research
• Communication, interpersonal skills as applied to interaction with coworkers, supervisor, the general public, etc. sufficient to exchange or convey information and to receive work direction

Positions in this class require: talking, hearing, seeing and repetitive motions. 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. Incumbents may be subjected to blood and other bodily fluids, disruptive people, imminent danger, threatening environment, and travel