Civil rights attorneys bring claims against government actors and institutions: excessive force and wrongful arrest, unlawful searches, conditions of confinement, First Amendment retaliation, disability access under the ADA, discrimination in housing, education and public accommodation, and voting rights.
Most federal claims against state and local officials are brought under section 1983. They are hard cases — qualified immunity, notice requirements against public bodies and short deadlines all cut against plaintiffs — and they are also among the few ways institutional conduct gets changed.
Before you hire
- Preserve evidence immediately: photographs of injuries, medical records, witness contacts, body camera or surveillance footage requests, and incident numbers.
- Claims against municipalities often require a notice of claim within a very short window — sometimes a few months. Ask about it on the first call.
- Ask whether the firm litigates in federal court regularly and how it funds expert and deposition costs.
Employment discrimination is listed under employment law; criminal defence is a separate category.