How to Protect Your CIVIL Rights

Civil rights are legal guarantees of equal social opportunities and protection under the law, regardless of race, religion, or other characteristics.

Learn more about how to protect your civil rights by clicking the links below:

AADM’s Guide on How to Protect Your Civil Rights

Covered in this guide:

• What are civil rights?

• What are YOUR civil rights?

  • Under the First Amendment

  • Under the Second Amendment

  • Rights of the Accused (AMENDMENTS IV AND V)

  • Voting Rights (AMENDMENT XIX, XXIV, AND XXVI)

  • Equal Protection Clause (XIV AMENDMENT)

  • Emancipation Clause (AMENDMENT XIII)

How to Protect Your Rights When Encountering Law Enforcement

You have rights when interacting with law enforcement. Learn more about how to advocate for yourself when encountering officers by clicking the link below.

AADM’s Guide on How to Protect Your Rights When Encountering Law Enforcement 

Covered in this guide:

• Types of Law Enforcement

• Police Stops & Questioning

• Searches

• Arrests

Also, check out this information on “What to Do if a Friend Has Been Arrested”  

How to Protect Your Rights in the Workplace

 As an employee, you have rights that protect you from discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and more. Learn more about how to advocate for yourself in the workplace by clicking the link below:
AADM’s Guide on How to Protect Your Rights in the Workplace

Covered in this guide:

• Federal Rights

  • Harassment & Discrimination

  • Equal Pay

  • Accomodations

  • Confidentiality

  • Protection from Retaliation

• GA Employment Rights

  • Age Discrimination

  • Judicial Work Absences

  • Breastfeeding Infants

  • Sex Discrimination

  • Persons with Disabilities

• Exceptions to GA Minimum Wage Law

How to Protect Your Rights If Incarcerated

Even when you are an inmate in jail or prison, you are afforded rights under the law. Click the link below to learn more about how to protect your rights if you are incarcerated.

AADM’s Guide on Inmate Rights

Covered in this guide:

• Background on Inmate Rights

• Assault & Excessive Force

• Transportation

• Sexual Assault & Harassment

• Health Problems & Pregnancy

• Access to Publications & Mail

Pro Bono Attorneys in GA

When advocating for your rights, it can be very helpful to receive legal advice and/or retain the services of an attorney. Click HERE for the contact information of pro bono attorneys in Georgia.

• In/Near Athens

• In/Near Atlanta

• Other Locations

Legal Services (Attorneys, Resources, Organizations)

Resources/Organizations

• GA Bar Association

  • For complaints/or to search for an attorney

• Georgia Legal Services

  • Provides assistance to those who cannot afford legal representation

  • Phone: 1-833-GLSPLAW (1-833-457-7529)

  • Address: Athens Regional Office :1865 West Broad St., Suite (706) 227-5362

• Advantage Behavioral Health Services -Criminal Justice/Court Services

• HUD Housing Discrimination Complaint Form

  • There are time limits on when an allegation can be filed with HUD after an alleged violation, so you should report housing discrimination as soon as possible.

  • When reporting housing discrimination, please provide as much information as possible, including: 1) your name and address; 2) name and address of the person(s) or organization your allegation is against; 3) address or other identification of the housing or program involved; 4) a short description of the event(s) that cause you to believe your rights were violated; and 5) the date(s) of the alleged violation

  • Phone: 1-800-669-9777

  • Mail a complaint form: https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/fair_housing_equal_opp/contact_fheo

  • Assistance for Persons with Limited English Proficiency: https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/fair_housing_equal_opp/complaint_filing_languages_other_english

• Gwinett County Pro Bono Project

  • Serves general low-income, disabled, homeless, immigrant, child populations by providing local pro bono attorneys for help with family law, bankruptcy, housing, probate

  • Phone: 678-376-4545

  • Address: 324 W. Pike Street Suite 200, Lawrenceville, Ga, 30046

• Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation

  • Provides free legal services for intimate partner abuse, landlord/tenant problems, unpaid wages, and evictions

  • Phone: 404-521-0790

  • Address: 235 Peachtree St NW, Atlanta, Ga, 30303

• Atlanta Legal Aid Society

  • Provides free civil legal help to individuals that cannot afford a private attorney

  • Phone: 404-524-5811

  • Address: 54 Ellis St. NE, Atlanta, Ga, 30303

• Dekalb Volunteer Lawyers Foundation

  • Pro bono legal assistance for low-income individuals. Provides assistance with landlord/real estate legal issues, divorce, child cusody, intimate partner violence, estate planning/probate issues

  • Phone: 404-618-0900

  • Address: 3562 Habersham at Northlanke Road Building J, Tucker, Ga, 30084

Attorneys/Law Firms

• Law Offices of Eric Keith Krasle

  • Full-service law firm specializing in personal injury, criminal, lawsuits, construction, business cases

  • Phone: 706-310-1684

  • Email: eric@krasle.com

  • Address: 12 Simonton Bridge Rd, Watkinsville GA 30677

• Alfred Fargione

  • Criminal defense, DUI, estate planning attorney in Athens area

  • Phone: 706-546-0999

  • Email: al@classiccitylegal.com

  • Address: 585 Research Dr A, Athens, GA 30605

• The Kline Law Firm, LLC

  • Special education and disability law and advocacy group

  • Phone: 678-695-7506

  • Email: akline@theklinefirm.com

  • Address: 138 Bulloch Ave, Roswell, GA, 3007

• Ira Foster w/ GA Legal Services ATL

  • African American attorney, represetns students in disciplinary and special educaiton cases. Work experience in ending school to prison pipeline.

  • Phone: 404-563-7710 ext 6497, 404-206-5175

  • Email: jfoster@glsp.org

  • Address: 104 Marietta St. Suite 250, Atlanta, GA, 30303

• Peter Steckel

  • Employment and labor lawyer in Athens, GA. Handles matters related to workplace discrimination, fair compensation, affirmative action programs, etc.

  • Phone: 404-717-6220

  • Email: peter@steckelworklaw.com

  • Address: 1120 Ivywood Drive, Athens, GA, 30606

• John Beasely

  • Employment and civil rights lawyer in Watkinsville, GA. Legal services for people experiencing workplace discrimination.

  • Phone: 706-769-4410

  • Email: jfbeasley@jfbeasleylaw.com

  • Address: 31 N. Main St. P.O. Box 309, Watkinsville, GA, 30677

• Thomas Reynolds

  • African American attorney specializing in personal injury, employment, criminal, immigration law

  • Phone: 404-907-1420, 888-677-1453

  • Email: treynolds@thomasreynoldslaw.com

  • Address: 3390 Peachtree Road Suite 1100, Atlanta, GA, 30326

• Nancee Tomlinson

  • Criminal Defense

  • Phone: 706-670-0676

  • Address: 264 N Jackson St Suite N, Athens, GA 30601

• James B. Cronon

  • Criminal Defense

  • Phone: 706-395-2759

  • Address: 269 N. Jackson St., Suite 5, Athens, GA 30601

• Mo Wiltshire Jr.

  • Criminal Defense

  • Phone: 706-543-0002

  • Address: 490 N. Milledge Avenue, Suite 600 C, Athens, GA 30601

• David Boyle

  • Criminal Defense

  • Phone: 678-304-0333

  • Address: 337 S. Milledge Avenue, Suite 220, Athens, GA 30605

• Anna G. Bolden

  • Criminal Defense

  • Phone: (706) 890-4999

  • Address: 150 East Washington Street Suite B Athens, GA 30601

• Howell Scott Basham

  • Criminal Defense

  • Phone: (470) 519-3855

  • Address: 120 Red Fox Run Athens, GA 30605

• Kenneth Dious & Associates

  • Criminal Defense

  • Phone: (706) 546-9013

  • Address: 337 S. Milledge Avenue Suite 101 Athens, Georgia 30605

• Daniels & Rothman

  • Criminal Defense

  • Phone: 706-621-5166

  • Address: 150 E Washington Street, Athens, GA 30601

• Stephens & Brown

  • Criminal Defense

  • Phone: 706-548-3933

  • Address: 1143 Prince Ave, Athens, GA 30606

• Olson Law Firm

  • Criminal Defense

  • Phone: 706-559-4800

  • Address: 220 College Ave Suite 616, Athens, GA 30601

• Hall Booth Smith, P.C.

  • Criminal Defense

  • Phone: 706-316-0231

  • Address: 1022 Prince Avenue, Athens, GA 30606

• Matthew Karzen

  • Criminal Defense

  • Phone: (706) 208-0663

  • Address: 191 E Broad St Athens, GA 30601

• Davidson Legal Services of Georgia

  • Landlord/Tenant

  • Phone: 706-549-6689

  • Email: ldavidsonesq@msn.com

  • Address: 2500 W Broad St, Building 600 Suite 680, Athens, GA 306060

• Fortson, Bentley & Griffin, PA

  • Landlord/Tenant

  • Phone: 706-548-1151

  • Address: 2500 Daniell’s Bridge Road, Building 200, Suite 3A, Athens, GA 30606

• O’Kelley & Sorohan, LLC

  • Landlord/Tenant

  • Phone: 706-543-1920

  • Address: 1360 Caduceus Way, Building 800, Suite 105, Watkinsville, GA 30677

• Hall Booth Smith, P.C.

  • Landlord/Tenant

  • Phone: 706-316-0231

  • Address: 1022 Prince Ave, Athens, GA 30606

• Andersen, Tate & Carr, P.C.

  • Landlord/Tenant

  • Phone: 770-822-0900

  • Address: 1551 Jennings Mill Rd., Suite 2800C, Watkinsville, GA 30677

• James, Bates, Brannan & Groover, LLP

  • Landlord/Tenant

  • Phone: 706-215-8321

  • Address: 1 Press Pl, Suite 200, Athens, GA 30601

• Gray Pannell & Woodward LLP

  • Landlord/Tenant

  • Phone: 706-510-1550

  • Address: 336 Hill St, Athens, GA 30601

• Lueder, Larkin & Hunter, LLC

  • Landlord/Tenant

  • Phone: 762-499-5831

  • Address: 1045 S Milledge Ave. #100, Athens, GA 30605

• Epps, Holloway, DeLoach & Hoipkemier, LLC

  • Landlord/Tenant

  • Phone: 706-508-4000

  • Address: 1220 Langford Drive, Building 200, Suite 101, Watkinsville, GA 30677