The Heard Law Offices, LLC

Business Minded... Community Focused... Results Driven...

The Heard Law Offices, LLC provides compassionate, honest, and attentive legal representation and counseling to individuals, families, and business clients in a variety of specialized areas:

The firm represents individuals, small- and medium-sized businesses, churches, nonprofit groups, and other entities in connection with disputes involving contract and warranty claims, collection of overdue accounts, and violations of federal and state consumer protection statutes, such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act or the Georgia Fair Business Practices Act. We also provide general legal advice to clients who are seeking to enter into or terminate contractual or business relationships, or to form or modify a business entity such as a corporation, partnership, or limited liability company.

The firm has extensive experience in advising and zealously representing both employees and employers in a variety of contexts arising out of the employment relationship, including: employment contractual disputes, covenants not to compete, and severance agreements; wage and hour claims under the Fair Labor Standards Act and other laws; discrimination, harassment, and retaliation claims based on race, sex, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, and military/veteran status; family and medical leave issues; and defamation and workplace violence. We also assist small- and medium-sized businesses in drafting appropriate personnel policies and procedures, as well as training managers, so as to reduce the likelihood of disputes.

"Education is for improving the lives of others and for leaving your community and world better than you found it." – Marian Wright Edelman

Recognizing the fundamental value that education plays in the lives of all youth and in society in general, this firm is committed to assisting parents, students, and educators with ensuring that their rights to learn and work in a safe environment are protected. To that end, we have handled a variety of student discipline, teacher/student harassment, discrimination, and special education matters. We take a particular interest in ensuring that local school districts comply with federal and state education laws, including the Rehabilitation Act, the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act, the No Child Left Behind Act, and Georgia’s fair dismissal and discipline laws. We also provide quality representation to youth who are facing delinquency and unruliness charges in the Juvenile Courts.

The firm provides affordable legal assistance to families who are in need of legal advice or representation in connection with the preparation of simple wills, powers of attorney, name changes, etc., or in connection with uncontested divorce or child custody/support/visitation proceedings.

Mediation / Alternative Dispute Resolution

Through its PEACEFUL ALTERNATIVES ^SM division, the firm provides trained, registered conflict resolution professionals to assist parties with crafting their own resolution to a dispute instead of having to resort to the courts to decide the controversy.

Mediators act as neutral facilitators in a confidential and voluntary setting.  While they do not make decisions for the parties, mediators assist the parties by helping them to identify and focus on their ultimate needs and interests, rather than their legal rights and positions, in an effort to identify creative solutions that are amenable to both sides in a dispute. 

Arbitrators, similar to judges, act as neutral third-party decision-makers who listen to both sides of a dispute and then make a binding decision based on the evidence presented.  The arbitration process is similar to a traditional court proceeding; however, it is usually faster, cheaper, and (unlike court) confidential — thus making it a more attractive option for parties in a dispute.

For More Information on our PEACEFUL ALTERNATIVES ^SM services, please click Here to download a brochure.

NOTICE: The conflict resolution services provided by professional third-party neutrals through PEACEFUL ALTERNATIVES ^SM are not legal services and should not be construed as such. Many conflict resolution professionals are also licensed attorneys; however other specially trained professionals (i.e., psychologists, counselors, education specialists) may be qualified to perform certain conflict resolution services. No attorney-client relationship is formed by, through, or as a result of any conflict resolution services provided by or under the direction or auspices of PEACEFUL ALTERNATIVES ^SM . In particular, the confidentiality and conflict-of-interest principles that are applicable to conflict resolution professionals and participants differ in many material respects from the confidentiality and conflict-of-interest principles that apply to the attorney-client relationship.