Civil Rights Lawyer

It is a well-known fact that the freedom and civil rights which are granted to the people should not be violated. However, in case if they are sullied or desecrated, a civil rights attorney can come to your rescue and help in putting things right. So, before we jump into topics like what does a civil lawyer do, what are his specializations, and how can these law professionals be helpful, it is imperative that you understand the meaning and purpose of ‘Civil Rights’.

The term ‘civil rights’ is derived from ‘Ius Civis’, the Latin words which mean ‘Rights of Citizens’. In the USA, these civil rights are constitutional and are well-outlined in the Bill of Rights. The main purpose of these civil rights is to safeguard people against harassment and discrimination on the basis of religion, gender, race, physical or mental abnormality, gender identity, age, sexual orientation, or national origin.

In addition to this, these civil rights also defend and look after individual rights such as religion, privacy, freedom of thought and conscience, the press, speech and expression, and movement. Therefore, certain civil rights laws have been formulated in order to cover the sundry assortment of freedoms and rights that have been acknowledged and are guaranteed to every US citizen.

As a matter of fact, civil rights laws are assorted, complex, and continually evolving, and hence, it is the practice area for lawyers who assist businesses, individuals, and government entities about various lawful issues infringing civil rights. Civil rights lawyers are responsible for researching, analyzing, and arguing cases which are dealing with identical protection under the law for all citizens. Such civil rights cases may include issues like the freedom from discrimination, the free right of assembly, lack of due-process by law enforcement, and many more.

Fortunately, a civil rights lawyer is well-specialized and experienced in handling issues regarding social freedoms, equality, and human rights and therefore, he is the best law professional to represent and argue your civil rights protection case in the courtroom.

Defining Discrimination

Civil rights laws excoriate all forms of discriminatory behavior. These laws usually occur when an entity (business or government entity) treats you differently on the basis of race, sex, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, or any other intrinsic trait that can trigger discriminatory behavior.

It is important for you to know that discriminatory acts can occur anywhere in public, as well as private locations. These unlawful acts usually happen at events where certain behavior and interaction standards have been set up by institutions, employers, or communities. Some of the common examples of discriminatory acts include:

• Housing – Inability to choose the right location to live, high mortgage rates, and disqualification for finances.
• Workplace – Unequal salaries, unfair hiring, employee policies, and promotions.
• Voting – Unfair voting, iniquitous challenges to registration, and voter suppression.
• Education – Inequality in college acceptance rates, school quality, de facto-segregation, and education funding.
• Public Accommodations – Inability to lease or reserve a hotel room or other public accommodations.

What Does a Civil Rights Lawyer Do?

A civil rights attorney is a law professional who is well specialized in protecting people’s civil rights as well as civil liberties. As a matter of fact, these civil rights and liberties are granted to the people by the US constitution, as well as the legislation. Although these civil rights are not specifically mentioned in the US constitution, the best civil litigation lawyer advocates civil rights lawsuits for defending and protecting the basic human rights.

A good, professional and certified civil rights attorney can protect individuals or group of people from different civil rights violations and discrimination through settlement negotiations and lawsuits. These civil rights may include:

• Freedom of religion, speech, and assembly.
• The right to routine due process.
• The right to appeal to the government.
• Freedom from discrimination on grounds of sex, race, and national origin.

Most civil rights cases include issues such as false arrests, use of excessive force by law enforcement officers, unlawful seizures and searches, violations of human rights and social freedom, and other cases of misconduct. So, once a petitioner hires a civil rights lawyer, the attorney takes over the lawsuit and performs various tasks such as:

1. The lawyer interviews everyone who is involved in the case.
2. Collects depositions from all witnesses.
3. File briefs, motions, and other documents, as required.
4. Communicates with the court, as well as the other party’s attorney.
5. Hires expert witnesses linked to the case.
6. Serves discovery requests on the opposite party to collect necessary information.
7. Negotiating settlement with the opposite party’s attorney.
8. Present the case before the judge.

Specializations of Civil Rights Lawyers

Since the area of civil rights law is so broad, it is quite common for professional civil rights attorneys to specialize in particular areas of civil rights law. However, acquiring specialization or expertise in a particular field of civil rights law is not so easy. Civil rights lawyers are required to draft legal documents, negotiate settlements, conduct research, and argue cases in the courtroom in order to accomplish their law specialization goals. As a matter of fact, civil rights law covers a broad range of subjects in which civil rights attorneys strive to acquire specialization.

• Landlord/tenant law
• Real estate law
• Divorce attorneys
• Personal injury law
• Toxic torts
• Contract law
• Gay rights attorney

It is important for you to know that most civil rights attorneys specialize in one or a couple of related fields. These law professionals usually find employment with insurers, health-care providers, and banks. So, if you want someone to fight for your civil rights protection and expansion in the courtroom, then a civil rights attorney could be the right person for your civil rights protection case.

What Kind of Cases do Civil Rights Lawyers Work on?

Civil rights attorneys are usually involved in cases where a public or private organization is accused of violating the civil rights of a person. No matter if these law professionals are monitoring civil rights conformity on behalf of any private or a government agency; a good and professional civil rights attorney can easily represent and argue your civil rights protection case in the courtroom.

Some examples of civil rights law cases which civil rights attorney usually work on may include court cases involving prison abuse, police brutality, right to free speech, or sexual harassment. These civil rights cases are mainly argued on the grounds of applicable legislation in the local, state, or federal jurisdiction, constitutional amendments, and other prior court decisions.

It is important for you to know that there are several government agencies at the local, state and federal levels that hire professional and certified civil rights attorneys in order to monitor the acquiescence of civil rights regulations. Different agencies such as the department of housing, labor, education and urban development have set up their bureaus with multiple civil rights attorneys responsible for monitoring the conformity of civil rights laws in specified areas. Certain non-profit organizations also often hire civil rights attorneys in order to represent their individuals’ cases before a judge. In addition to all this, civil rights lawyers also work for private entities and defend their clients in cases regarding employment, housing, and other civil rights issues.

Where do Civil Rights Lawyers Work?

Like other law professionals civil rights lawyers also work in a variety of settings. While some of them work in private law firms, some of them prefer working as solo practitioners or at a government agency. Some of these civil rights attorneys also offer pro-bono work in different civil rights fields, normally through non-profit organizations.

There are many other government agencies at the federal level which usually have professional and certified civil rights lawyers to focus on the protection of civil rights of US citizens. Some of these government agencies where civil rights attorneys usually work are as follows:

• US Department of Justice – It deals with disability discrimination.
• US Commission on Civil Rights – It aids in the enforcement of civil rights laws, as well as the development of civil rights policies.
• US Department of Education – It deals with resolving all complaints of discrimination in education.
• Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) – It represents and assists FAA in legal issues of equal opportunity and civil rights.
• US Department of Human Services – It protects people from any kind of discrimination in healthcare programs and social service programs.
• US Department of Housing & Urban Development – It enforces federal laws which ensure equal access to housing. This government entity also protects against any type of discriminatory act based on race, color, sex, gender, religion, origin, disability, and family status.
•  US Department of Labor – This government agency enforces all federal labor laws alongside fighting against discrimination in the workplace.

In addition to these government agencies, there are certain non-government employers of civil rights attorneys, some of which are listed below.

• American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
• Indian law resource center
• Disability rights and education defense fund
• Lambda legal defense and education fund

Do You Need a Civil Rights Lawyer?

If your civil rights have been violated, then you probably might need a professional civil rights attorney to argue and represent your case before the jury. A civil rights lawyer is a law professional who can assist your civil rights case and give you the right legal assistance if you’ve been mistreated on the basis of characteristics like race, religion, disability, or gender. Some of the most common cases of civil rights violations may include:

• Unusual or cruel punishment.
• Unreasonable seizures and searches.
• Abuse by a private or public official.
• Job loss or loss of promotion due to discrimination.
• Any kind of discrimination based on belief or superficial quality.

It is a well-known fact that civil rights laws are very much complicated and therefore, in order to file a civil rights violation claim or lawsuit, it is imperative that you hire the best constitutional law lawyer. Even if you have been discriminated on the grounds of age, sex, race, religion, or national origin, it’s always a good idea to consult with a professional civil rights attorney and seek legal guidance and advices from them.

Civil Rights Attorney Billing

As a matter of fact, civil rights attorneys use different methods of billing. While some lawyers charge an hourly rate from their clients, there are some civil rights law professionals who charge a flat fee or a contingent fee. Contingency basically means you won’t be required to pay anything to your lawyer.

However, if you win the case, you will have to give a particular percentage of your win to your attorney. In case you don’t win the case, your civil rights lawyer won’t receive any kind of payment. So, make sure to talk with your civil rights attorney beforehand and set up the right billing structure as per your needs and requirements.

What is the Right Time to hire a Civil Rights Attorney?

It’s probably quite difficult for you to determine whether or not someone has violated your civil rights. As a matter of fact, discrimination can be subtle and blatant, and hence, it may take the victim by surprise. So, as soon as any type of discrimination or civil rights violation is documented, make sure to contact the right constitutional law lawyer and seek necessary legal assistance and advices from them regarding your case.

Contact a Civil Rights Lawyer

Civil rights laws are very complex and it’s quite hard to prove a civil rights violation in the court. However, if your civil rights violation claim is contested, then your case could probably become a long process. So, make sure to do thorough research and pick out the best civil rights attorney who can offer professional legal assistance and advice regarding your case and increase your chances of winning the case.

Although the process of presenting a civil rights violation claim is quite intricate and time-sensitive, you can hire our civil rights attorney who can easily offer the right legal guidance alongside taking necessary actions to help you win your civil rights case. Feel free to consult and speak with our team of professional civil rights attorneys to discuss your case details.