The Role of a Civil Rights Attorney: Advocating For Justice

Here in the Land of the Free, many people feel that their civil rights are a given. After all, the Constitution promises those freedoms to everyone, doesn't it? Though it's designed to outline the nation's laws and define the rights of citizens, not everyone follows those guidelines. Countless people's civil rights are violated every day through various types of discrimination, harassment, abuse, and other infringements. It seems freedom and civil rights aren't necessarily to be taken for granted. 

With that being the case, thousands of civil rights cases arise each year in the United States. Civil rights attorneys help people stand up for the freedoms they're entitled to and ensure justice is served. Read on to learn more about situations in which you might need a civil rights attorney and the roles these legal professionals play in such cases. 

First Amendment Violations

First Amendment violations are common reasons people turn to civil rights attorneys. These cases involve freedom of speech, freedom of press, religious freedom, freedom of assembly, and the right to petition. From newspapers and websites to schools and businesses, people's rights to express themselves are being restricted and, in some cases, altogether denied. Censorship runs far deeper than many people want to believe. People's rights to practice their chosen religions are being suppressed, and many of them don't fully realize it. Those are only a few examples of people being denied their First Amendment rights. 

Discrimination

Discrimination is running rampant even in an age where so many people preach tolerance, acceptance, equity, and equality. It can happen because of race, age, gender, identity, religion, disabilities, and many other factors. People are discriminated against for housing, jobs, essential services, healthcare, and in an array of additional situations. Perpetrators often discriminate intentionally, but in some cases, it's a matter of simple oversight. Either way, people have the right to fight for their civil rights. 

Privacy

Privacy is also a growing concern with issues like covert surveillance coming into play. Data protection and privacy enter the mix as well. Though many feel this doesn't fully qualify as a civil matter, it can certainly infringe upon people's rights. That's particularly true in cases where people are wrongfully accused of crimes due to identity fraud. In instances where hackers target specific classes of people, such as the elderly and minorities, civil rights issues may also arise. 

Understanding the Roles of Civil Rights Attorneys

Civil rights attorneys play numerous roles in cases like these. One of the most important is serving as advocates for their clients. They work to ensure their clients' understand their rights and those rights are upheld. They develop legal strategies that revolve around the best interests of their clients and help them resolve disputes both in and out of court. They can also challenge laws that encroach upon people's civil rights and push for new laws that better protect their clients. 

That being said, attorneys' specific roles may vary from one case to the next. For some clients, they advocate for change. In other cases, they may fight for compensation for the emotional damage civil rights violations can cause. They help to ensure those who infringe upon people's civil rights are held accountable for their actions as well. People often have little chance of successfully fighting civil rights violations on their own, but attorneys can make a world of difference in many ways.