Staff Attorney

• Are you an experienced defense attorney who wishes you could spend more time with each client
• Have you seen the challenges your clients face and wanted to provide holistic support and resources to support successful reentry?
• Do you know that the system works against your clients in small and big ways and want to do something to change that?
• Do you want to be part of a creative, interdisciplinary team that works together to find solutions
• This is the position for you.

ABOUT US

Georgia Justice Project (GJP) serves individuals, families, and communities impacted by the criminal legal system. GJP approaches change in three ways: by providing direct legal and social services – including holistic criminal defense, early termination of probation, criminal record clearing, and other reentry legal services; by advocating for systemic policy change, working closely with impacted communities, advocates, and systems stakeholders to achieve legislative and administrative improvements; and by educating officials and community members on criminal justice and reentry issues. GJP’s goals are lowering the number of Georgians under correctional control and reducing barriers to reentry.

ROLE OVERVIEW

GJP is looking for an experienced attorney to join our defense team. The attorney will work across a broad range of initiatives including representing clients with pending charges in Fulton and DeKalb counties, representing clients across metro Atlanta (and occasionally beyond) through GJP’s Warrant Resolution Project, providing legal services at the Metro Reentry Facility, and working with the defense and policy teams to develop and implement systemic solutions. Most recently the team helped draft the Survivor Justice Act (HB 582), which becomes effective this July.

Criminal Defense & Other Programs

GJP provides zealous representation to people with pending criminal cases who cannot afford an attorney. Defense attorneys maintain a small caseload and devote substantial resources and time to each client. Clients with complex needs are assigned a social worker who is an essential part of the team. We use a trauma-informed approach to address issues the client may face, from mental health services or substance use treatment to finding housing or securing employment. We continue to work with our clients while under sentence and visit them if they receive a prison sentence, help maintain contact with their family, advocate for parole, and assist with reentry planning.  The defense team also represents individuals around the state with early termination of probation and works with the Department of Community Supervision to ensure effective implementation of SB 105, which GJP drafted.

This attorney will represent individuals and work with community partners through GJP’s Warrant Resolution Project in Fulton County – a project connected to the newly created Center for Diversion and Services. A joint effort between the City of Atlanta, Fulton County and various community partners, the Center provides alternatives to placing people in the County jail and City detention center who suffer from behavioral health issues, substance use disorder, and/or extreme poverty. GJP assists individuals who have a probation violation, bench warrant or failure to appear (FTA) notice to remove obstacles to participating in diversion or help facilitate their release from jail.

GJP assesses the legal needs of the men at the Metro Reentry Facility (MRF) to identify and address legal barriers to reentry, including holds and detainers for outstanding warrants and violations of probation and driver’s license suspensions. This attorney may assist with providing services at MRF.

Our Defense attorneys participate in other initiatives including pre-trial release, diversion and parole pilot projects in partnership with systems stakeholders, as well as education and training, resentencing, and supporting self-advocacy and restorative justice solutions for justice-involved people and their families.

The ideal candidate will have:

• A minimum of 6 years of defense experience; felony trial experience as first chair
• Working knowledge of how the system works in metro Atlanta
• The ability to tell each client’s unique story and a commitment to engaging with clients in a meaningful way to seek the best resolution
• A desire to work collaboratively with a team to keep multiple projects and goals moving forward
• An interest in identifying and implementing systemic solutions to improve the justice system - locally and on a state level

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Licensed Attorney with the State Bar of Georgia
• A demonstrated commitment to social and racial justice and an understanding of how poverty and race factor in the criminal legal system
• Ability to engage respectfully with diverse groups of people
• Experience working with student interns and volunteers
• Willingness to perform some administrative tasks (GJP has a small support staff, and we all pitch in to help where needed)
• Ability to occasionally work evenings or Saturdays for special events or projects, occasional travel
• Driver’s license (required)

GJP offers a comprehensive benefits package, including employer paid premiums for medical, dental, and vision insurance and generous PTO.  Salary range is $77 – $90k, depending on experience. 

TO APPLY

Interested candidates should send a cover letter addressed to GJP’s Managing Attorney Rachel Holmes, resume, and brief writing sample (no more than five pages) combined as a single PDF document to careers@GJP.org. Subject line text and name of the single pdf must be, “2025 Defense – Last Name.” For example, if your last name is Jones, “2025 Defense – Jones” would be the name of the pdf attachment and the text in the subject line.

GJP is an equal opportunity employer, committed to building a diverse staff and welcomes qualified applicants of all races, colors, religions, national origins, sexes, gender identities, sexual orientations, and disability statuses. GJP particularly encourages people who are formerly incarcerated or justice-involved to apply.