Assistant District Attorney Buck Levins will participate in the 2011 Young Lawyers Division Leadership of the State Bar of Georgia, a competitive program that helps young attorneys hone leadership skills.

Levins has been with the district attorney's office since 2008 when he was hired by now-judge Ken Wynne.

Prior to that, Levins, a two-time graduate of the University of Georgia, interned with the Ocmulgee Judicial Circuit's district attorney and practiced as an associate at Gatewood, Skipper and Rambo, a private firm in Americus.

He was nominated to the prestigious program by local attorney Michael Geoffroy, who is also the president of the academy.

"Being nominated and selected for the Leadership Academy was a humbling experience," said Levins. "Now that the program is under way, I can already tell I'm going to learn important leadership skills, which will enable me to add value to my workplace and community.

Levins, who hold an undergraduate degree in political science and a juris doctorate, is the president of the Newton County Bar Association, president-elect of the Covington Kiwanis Club, active in the county's mock trial program and helps to coordinate the annual regional high school mock trial competition.