Paralegal Assistant Jobs in Atlanta: How to Get Hired and Where to Look

Looking for paralegal assistant jobs in Atlanta is a smart move if you’re interested in law but not ready (or planning) to become an attorney. Atlanta’s strong mix of law firms, corporate headquarters, government offices, and courts creates steady demand for legal support staff at different experience levels.

This guide breaks down what paralegal assistant roles look like in Atlanta, where the jobs are, what skills you need, and how to stand out locally.

What Is a Paralegal Assistant in Atlanta?

In Atlanta, a paralegal assistant (sometimes called a legal assistant, junior paralegal, or legal secretary) provides administrative and basic legal support to:

• Attorneys
• Paralegals
• Legal departments
• Government agencies

You’re not practicing law, but you’re a critical part of the legal workflow.

Typical Duties

Most Atlanta paralegal assistant jobs include tasks like:

• Drafting and formatting documents
  • Letters, basic pleadings, discovery shells, memos
• Case file management
  • Organizing paper and electronic files
  • Uploading documents into case management systems
• Scheduling and coordination
  • Attorney calendars, hearings, depositions, client meetings
• Court filing support
  • E-filing in Fulton County, DeKalb County, and federal courts
  • Tracking filing deadlines and hearing dates
• Client communication
  • Answering phones, taking messages, scheduling consultations
• Basic research and data entry
  • Looking up case information, pulling court records, updating databases
• Billing and time entry (especially in private firms)

The exact mix varies by employer type and practice area.

Where the Paralegal Assistant Jobs Are in Atlanta

Atlanta offers a wide range of legal environments. Understanding them helps you target your job search.

1. Law Firms (Midtown, Downtown, Buckhead & Perimeter)

Law firms are the largest employers of paralegal assistants in Atlanta. You’ll find opportunities in:

• Large national and regional firms in Downtown and Midtown
  • Often have structured legal support teams and clearer promotion paths
• Mid-size firms in Buckhead, Sandy Springs, and the Perimeter area
• Small and boutique firms spread across neighborhoods and suburbs

Common practice areas hiring paralegal assistants:

• Personal injury and workers’ compensation
• Family law (divorce, custody, support)
• Criminal defense
• Real estate and landlord–tenant
• Immigration
• Business and commercial litigation
• Estate planning and probate

If you’re just starting, plaintiff personal injury, family law, and criminal defense firms often offer more entry-level roles.

2. Corporate In‑House Legal Departments

Atlanta is home to major corporate headquarters (especially in Downtown, Midtown, Buckhead, and Central Perimeter). Many companies have in-house legal departments that hire legal and paralegal assistants.

Typical duties in corporate settings:

• Managing contracts and document tracking
• Maintaining corporate records
• Handling compliance paperwork
• Coordinating with outside counsel

These roles may be called “Legal Assistant,” “Legal Coordinator,” “Contracts Assistant,” or “Legal Operations Assistant.”

3. Government and Public Sector Roles

Government jobs can offer stability, benefits, and predictable hours.

Common Atlanta-area public employers:

• Fulton County Government
  • Fulton County Courthouse
    136 Pryor St SW, Atlanta, GA 30303
• DeKalb County Government
  • DeKalb County Courthouse
    556 N McDonough St, Decatur, GA 30030
• City of Atlanta – Law Department
  • 55 Trinity Ave SW, Atlanta, GA 30303
• Georgia state agencies headquartered in or near downtown Atlanta
• Public defenders and prosecutors’ offices, such as the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office

Job titles may include Legal Assistant, Legal Secretary, Legal Support Specialist, Administrative Specialist (Legal), or Court Clerk.

4. Courts and Legal Aid Organizations

Atlanta’s courts and legal service nonprofits also use legal support staff.

Examples of places that frequently use paralegal or legal assistants:

• Superior, State, Magistrate, and Probate Courts in Fulton and DeKalb Counties
• United States District Court – Northern District of Georgia
  75 Ted Turner Dr SW, Atlanta, GA 30303
• Legal aid and public interest organizations based in Atlanta

These roles may focus more on forms, filings, and direct contact with the public, often in a high-volume setting.

Entry-Level vs. Experienced Paralegal Assistant Roles

Entry-Level Roles in Atlanta

For beginners, employers in Atlanta typically look for:

• Strong typing and computer skills
• Comfort with Microsoft Word, Outlook, and PDF tools
• Good grammar, spelling, and attention to detail
• Professional communication on the phone and by email

You may see job postings with titles like:

• Legal Assistant – Entry Level
• Paralegal Assistant – Training Provided
• Legal Receptionist / Assistant
• File Clerk – Law Firm

Many small and mid-size firms in areas like Downtown, Sandy Springs, Decatur, and Marietta will train the right candidate if you are:

• Reliable
• Organized
• Able to handle fast-paced work

More Experienced Roles

With 2–5+ years of experience, you can qualify for:

• Senior Legal Assistant
• Litigation Paralegal Assistant
• Practice Group Assistant
• Executive Legal Assistant (supporting senior partners or general counsel)

These roles usually expect:

• Experience with e-filing in Georgia courts
• Familiarity with local court rules (for Fulton, DeKalb, and nearby counties)
• Ability to manage multiple cases or attorneys with limited supervision

Skills Atlanta Employers Look For

To stand out for paralegal assistant jobs in Atlanta, focus on these key skills.

Core Technical Skills

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (especially Word, Outlook, and Excel)
• Document management tools (various law firm or corporate systems)
• E-filing systems used by:
  • Fulton County Superior/State Courts
  • DeKalb County courts
  • Federal courts (PACER/CM/ECF)
• Basic legal terminology (complaint, answer, motion, discovery, affidavit, subpoena)

Soft Skills That Matter Locally

• Organization and time management
  Atlanta law practices often juggle heavy caseloads and strict court deadlines.
• Professional communication
  Many offices are client-facing, handling people under stress (injury, divorce, criminal charges).
• Adaptability
  You may work with multiple attorneys, each with their own style.
• Confidentiality and discretion
  Especially important in small communities and tight-knit professional circles.

Education and Training Options in Atlanta

You can get hired in Atlanta as a paralegal assistant with a high school diploma plus experience, but formal training often helps.

Common Educational Backgrounds

• Associate degree in Paralegal Studies or related field
• Paralegal certificate program (post-baccalaureate or stand-alone)
• Bachelor’s degree in any field, plus on-the-job legal experience

Local Training Resources

Around the Atlanta area, people commonly look into:

• Community colleges and technical colleges with paralegal or legal studies programs
• Four-year colleges offering pre-law or legal studies tracks
• Adult education programs that include legal office administration courses

When comparing programs, focus on:

• Whether the curriculum covers Georgia courts and procedures
• Internship or externship opportunities with Atlanta law firms or agencies
• Scheduling options if you’re working while you study

Formal paralegal certification is more often required for paralegal roles than for paralegal assistant roles, but having related coursework can still help you stand out.

How to Find Paralegal Assistant Jobs in Atlanta

Use a mix of online searches, local networking, and direct outreach.

1. Online Job Boards and Company Sites

Search using keywords like:

• “Paralegal assistant Atlanta”
• “Legal assistant Atlanta GA”
• “Entry-level legal assistant”
• “Legal secretary”
• “Law firm assistant”

Filter by location to Atlanta and nearby areas such as Decatur, Sandy Springs, Marietta, College Park, and Dunwoody if you’re open to commuting.

2. Law Firm and Corporate Career Pages

Many Atlanta law firms and corporations post openings only on their own sites. To find them:

• Search for “Atlanta law firm careers” or “Atlanta corporate legal jobs”
• Check the careers sections of large employers headquartered or based in Atlanta

3. Staffing and Recruiting Agencies

Legal-focused or administrative staffing agencies in the Atlanta area often place candidates into:

• Temporary (contract) legal assistant roles
• Temp-to-perm positions
• Direct-hire roles

These can be good for gaining local experience and references quickly.

4. Networking in Atlanta’s Legal Community

Local networking is powerful in Atlanta. You can:

• Attend legal or paralegal association events in the metro area
• Connect with paralegals, legal assistants, and attorneys on professional networking platforms
• Let friends or contacts know you’re seeking entry-level legal office work

If you’re a student, ask your program’s career office about Atlanta-specific employer connections.

What to Expect Day-to-Day in Atlanta Legal Offices

Your daily experience will depend on the type of practice and employer size.

Fast-Paced Litigation Firms

Common in Downtown, Midtown, and areas near major courthouses.

You may:

• Prepare and revise pleadings under tight deadlines
• Coordinate with court clerks in Fulton or DeKalb County
• Manage a high volume of cases and calls
• Assist with trial preparation (exhibit binders, witness lists, subpoenas)

Transactional or Corporate Environments

More common in corporate offices in Midtown, Buckhead, and Perimeter.

You may:

• Track contract dates and signatures
• Help maintain corporate records and compliance files
• Schedule meetings and maintain calendars for in-house counsel
• Work on longer-term projects with less court pressure

Public Sector or Legal Aid

In and around downtown Atlanta and county seats.

You may:

• Work with people facing serious financial or legal challenges
• Handle forms and intake interviews
• Communicate frequently with courts and government agencies
• Experience a predictable schedule but heavy caseloads

Typical Hiring Requirements for Atlanta Paralegal Assistant Jobs

While each employer is different, you’ll often see:

Baseline requirements:

• High school diploma or GED
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Typing proficiency and computer literacy
• Ability to work on-site (many legal offices prefer in-person roles)

Preferred qualifications:

• Prior experience in a law office or corporate legal department
• Familiarity with Georgia court systems
• Paralegal or legal studies coursework
• Bilingual skills (commonly English/Spanish in some practice areas)

Sample Comparison: Types of Paralegal Assistant Roles in Atlanta

How to Make Your Application Stand Out in Atlanta

Tailor Your Resume to the Local Market

Emphasize:

• Any office or administrative experience (even outside law)
• Experience working with deadlines, confidential information, or detailed paperwork
• Skills with Microsoft Office, data entry, and customer service
• Any direct contact you’ve had with courts, government, or legal documents

If you’ve lived or studied in the area, mentioning familiarity with Atlanta or Georgia courts can be a plus.

Write a Focused Cover Letter

Address:

• Why you want to work in Atlanta’s legal community
• Your ability to learn quickly and handle a busy office
• Examples of when you managed competing deadlines or high call volumes

Keep it clear, professional, and one page or less.

Prepare for Atlanta-Specific Interview Questions

Employers may ask:

• How you handle pressure and last-minute changes
• Examples of catching and correcting errors in documents
• How you prioritize tasks when multiple attorneys need help at once
• Your comfort level working in person in a downtown or metro office

If you’re new to the city, be ready to discuss reliability in commuting (traffic and transit can matter to some employers).

Practical Tips for Starting or Advancing Your Paralegal Assistant Career in Atlanta

• Consider a short commute: Legal offices cluster around Downtown, Midtown, Buckhead, Decatur, and Perimeter. Living near a MARTA line or major roadway can make daily work easier.
• Start with any legal exposure: Even working front desk at a small Atlanta firm can open doors to more complex paralegal assistant tasks.
• Learn the basics of Georgia procedure: Knowing the difference between Superior and State Court, or how e-filing works in Fulton vs. DeKalb, can set you apart.
• Ask about growth paths: Many paralegal assistants in Atlanta move up to full paralegal, case manager, or legal operations roles once they gain enough experience.
• Keep your skills current: Stay comfortable with office technology, scanning, PDFs, e-signature tools, and calendar systems commonly used in law firms.

With a clear understanding of local employers, court systems, and hiring expectations, you can navigate paralegal assistant jobs in Atlanta with confidence and find a role that fits your skills, schedule, and long-term goals.