The Federal Defender of the Middle District of Georgia, Inc., (FDMDGA) has an
opening for an Assistant Federal Defender in its Macon, GA office. This office handles trial level
cases before the United States Magistrate and District Courts within the Middle District of
Georgia and appeals before the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme
Court.
AFPDs represent persons who are charged with violating federal law and are financially
unable to afford an attorney. The FDMDGA believes in the power of a holistic, multidisciplinary
approach to defense advocacy. There is value in a diversity of voices, thoughts, and experiences
when approaching the representation of someone accused of a federal criminal offense. To that
end, at the FDMDGA attorneys work in teams composed of an attorney, a paralegal, a trial
investigator, and a mitigation investigator. Each team has full responsibility for its cases from
bail/detention issues to the conclusion of the case; at the same time the FDMDGA promotes an
interactive and collaborative atmosphere amongst all personnel so as to benefit from the diversity
of experience within the office. The FDMDGA prides itself on being diverse, inclusive, and
providing zealous representation through a client-centered approach.
The FDMDGA believes that there is great power in embracing, and utilizing, the unique
skills and contributions our employees can bring to the FDMDGA because of their backgrounds,
social identities, and lived experiences. The ideal candidate we seek shares this belief also. We
are interested in applicants’ talent, intelligence, dedication, persistence, work ethic, and desire to
see that all people are treated fairly and respectfully. The FDMDGA seeks applications from a
diverse group of qualified individuals in terms of race, ethnicity, nation of origin, culture, sex,
gender identity and expression, sexual identity, education, opinions, age, languages spoken,
veteran status, disability, religion, and socioeconomic circumstance, and lived experience.
Applicants must be an active member in good standing of the bar of any state and eligible
to practice in a United States District Court. Preferred experience and skills include criminal trial
experience, knowledge of federal criminal trial practice, proficiency of legal research, writing
and oral advocacy; the ability to work collaboratively and the ability to respect and appreciate
differences. Compassion for accused persons and an appreciation for the impact that arrest,
accusation, and detention, as well as conviction and sentencing, have on clients, their families,
and their communities is a necessary component of the work. Fluency in Spanish is a plus, but
not required.