Program Assistant Jobs in Canton, GA (NOW HIRING)

Office of Public Defenders

Legal Program Assistant II

Posting Expires: September 24, 2026

Salary: $42,581 - $52,000/annually 

General Description and Classification Standards:

This position plays a role in providing comprehensive legal support to the Office of the Public Defender or designated representatives throughout the pre- and post-adjudication process. Responsibilities encompass prosecution duties spanning General Traffic, Criminal DUI, and Code Enforcement cases. The individual in this position is qualified through education, training, and/or work experience to perform work that requires extensive knowledge of legal concepts and performs legal work for an assigned division, where the attorney assumes professional responsibility for the final work product. This is a skilled position in pre and post adjudication in legal support.

Supervision Received:

Works under supervision. May work with others on the completion of assigned tasks.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: These are typical responsibilities for this position and should not be construed as exclusive or all inclusive.

    Responsible for the daily demands of case preparation ensuring court packages post and pre adjudication are detailed, complete, and accurate which aids in effective and efficient case prosecution.
    Reviews and drafts pleadings and pretrial motions for Discovery on litigation cases and disseminate to the appropriate division(s).
    Assist with training with less experienced personnel.
    Assist with the case management process of assigned division(s).
    Ensures retrieval of police reports and any other necessary documents required for case preparation pre and post adjudication.
    Requests and obtains for review necessary documentation from outside agencies, and other facts pertinent to case preparation pre and post adjudication.
    Provides effective customer service, communication, and interpersonal techniques regarding interaction with coworkers, supervisors, and the public.
    Computer skills and knowledge and works with databases, spreadsheets, word processing, presentation, e-mail, and other related software.
    Confers with appropriate staff to obtain necessary signatures and receive instructions; and performs other duties as necessary to process cases.
    May work independently or with other staff with responsibility for completion of assigned tasks.
    Routinely provides work group leadership, guidance, and/or training to less experienced staff.
    Assist Solicitor with special projects as needed.
    Complete Discovery Packets and DUI packets as assigned.
    Stay up to date on all training and certifications as needed.
    Develop case files for attorneys.
    Draft, review, and revise subpoenas.
    File important court documents.
    Track cases for eligibility of social programs.
    Assist Public Defender's in the courtroom.
    Document Client case files and case management system.
    Volunteer for outreach programs.
    Assist with mailing out documents.
    Cover front desk, as needed.
    May perform other duties as assigned.
 

The above statements reflect the general duties, responsibilities and competencies considered necessary to perform the essential duties and responsibilities of the job and should not be considered as a detailed description of all the work requirements of the position. COA may change the specific job duties with or without prior notice based on the needs of the organization.
 

Knowledge Skills and Abilities: This is a partial list of necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform the job successfully, it is not an exhaustive list.

    In-depth knowledge of most legal concepts and methods.
    Knowledge of legal terminology.
    Well-developed arithmetic and verbal skills. 
    Skill in using a variety of computer tools, including text and data tools, and specialized data systems.
    Ability to plan and carry out complex work assignments that may commonly require in-depth knowledge of systems and processes. 
    Ability to use office equipment daily such as fax machines, copiers, printers, computers.
    Ability to work with confidential documents and maintain confidentiality.
 

Minimum Qualifications:

Education and Experience - 

High school diploma, or equivalent.

One (1) year of experience in legal environment. Or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience that may provide the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities for this job.

Licensures and Certifications - 

None required.

Preferred Requirements -

One (1) year of direct experience working in a Law firm, Court setting or public defender office.

Work Environment:

Required physical, lifting, and sensory capabilities are requirements to perform the job successfully. Typical environmental conditions associated with job.

Lifting Requirements: 

Sedentary work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body.

It is the policy of the City of Atlanta ("COA") that qualified individuals with disabilities are not discriminated against because of their disabilities regarding job application procedures, hiring, and other terms and conditions of employment. It is further the policy of the COA to provide reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities in all aspects of the employment process. The COA is prepared to modify or adjust the job application process or the job or work environment to make reasonable accommodations to the known physical or mental limitations of the applicant or employee to enable the applicant or employee to be considered for the position he or she desires, to perform the essential functions of the position in question, or to enjoy equal benefits and privileges of employment as are enjoyed by other similarly situated employees without disabilities, unless the accommodation will impose an undue hardship. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact the Human Resources Director for your department.

The City of Atlanta is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not unlawfully discriminate based on race, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, ender identity, marital status, veteran's status or national origin, or any other basis prohibited by federal, state, or local law.  We value and encourage diversity in our workforce.