The Athens-Clarke County Attorney's Office provides an exciting opportunity for students to participate in a diverse and interesting array of legal topics, many of which are novel and/or developing issues. The Office provides legal advice to the entire Unified Government, including the Mayor and Commission; thirty-eight different Departments and stand-alone offices; multiple elected officials; many boards, authorities, and commissions; and the courts. In addition, the Office works on personnel and EEOC complaints, defends the Unified Government in lawsuits, drafts ordinances and resolutions, prepares legal and policy recommendations, negotiates and reviews contracts, prosecutes ordinance violations, and engages in an active litigation practice on many different topics.
This placement is an ideal opportunity for students to gain exposure to the practical realities of municipal law and local government, while also being exposed to a wide array of general practice areas, including: local government law, constitutional law, land use and zoning, tax law, elections, emergency management, administrative law, civil litigation, diversity and inclusion, criminal law, contracts, social media, federal grants, real property, and much more. Students are encouraged to let their site supervisor know of their areas of interest so that projects can be assigned, where possible, with that preference in mind. Student projects primarily include legal research, drafting memorandums, and assisting with prosecution and litigation. The Office is a small office, and as such, students have a unique opportunity to work closely with each of the attorneys, in addition to their site supervisor, on a diverse array of topics that directly affect the Athens community.