About Jess
Jess Lill studied the mind in college and law in graduate school. She earned a B.S. in Psychology from Oglethorpe University in 2015 and completed her J.D. at Mercer University Walter F. George School of Law in 2018. Those years combined classroom work and hands-on legal training that shaped her early approach to practice.
While in law school she built a steady lineup of courtroom and research experiences. She served as a research assistant for Professors Patrick Longan and Linda Jellum, supporting doctrinal work and legal writing projects. Her internships placed her inside several Georgia courts and offices: the Houston County Solicitor General’s Office and Victim Advocate Unit in Warner Robins, the Cobb County Juvenile Court, Bibb County Superior Court, and The CP Law Group in Atlanta. The variety of placements gave her direct exposure to both trial and juvenile matters and frequent opportunities to observe courtroom procedure.
After graduation she joined The Manely Firm, P.C. as a law clerk in 2018. That position followed the practical training she had already accumulated and marked her entry into post‑graduate practice. She holds active memberships in the State Bar of Georgia and the SBA. She is admitted to practice in the State of Georgia, the Georgia Court of Appeals, the Superior Courts of the State of Georgia, and the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia.
Colleagues and supervisors have relied on her research skills and courtroom familiarity. Her time in prosecutor’s offices and juvenile court informed her understanding of procedure and case flow. She has experience preparing filings, assisting with motions, and supporting hearing preparation. Outside the courtroom she has continued scholarly work that began in law school, maintaining attention to legal writing and case analysis.
Her career path shows a steady progression from legal intern to law clerk and into client work. She has moved through roles that emphasize both front‑line court exposure and behind‑the-scenes research. That mix has shaped the kinds of matters she handles and the way she prepares for court appearances. She practices at The Manely Firm, P.C., and her current practice concentrates on courtroom representation in state and federal courts at that firm.
