Atlanta · Domestic Violence Guide
In Georgia a family violence arrest usually brings two cases at once: the criminal charge and a protective order hearing that can be set within 30 days and that can cost you your home and your gun rights before any trial. If you are choosing a domestic violence lawyer in Atlanta, we compared three firms on State Bar of Georgia licence records, the family violence work each firm actually lists, published fee terms and the Google review text itself, and set out who each one suits and where each falls short.
DJA Editorial · Legal Directory Research
Checked against state bar licensee records, court sources and public review platforms · Last updated September 2026
The short answer
Three Atlanta firms, each fitting a different kind of family violence case. This is a shortlist rather than a ranking, and the firm in the first slot is neither the oldest nor the one with the largest review base.
1
The Law Office of Ahmad R. Crews
Best for a defendant who wants the attorney himself on every call
2
Kohn & Yager, LLC
Best for a case where the police report is the main evidence
3
Sessoms Law Group, LLC
Best for a non citizen whose charge could affect immigration status
At a glance: Domestic Violence Lawyers in Atlanta, compared
| Firm |
Best for |
Focus |
Bar record |
Fees |
Rating |
| The Law Office of Ahmad R. Crews |
Best for a defendant who wants the attorney himself on every call |
Criminal defense only, solo attorney |
Ahmad R. Crews, Georgia 2017 |
Not published, consultation by phone |
4.7 · 88 Google |
| Kohn & Yager, LLC |
Best for a case where the police report is the main evidence |
Criminal and DUI defense, two partners |
Larry Kohn, Georgia 1998; Cory Yager, Georgia 2007 |
Free consultation, payment plans |
4.6 · 88 Google |
| Sessoms Law Group, LLC |
Best for a non citizen whose charge could affect immigration status |
Immigration, criminal defense and injury |
Kamala W. Sessoms, J.D. 2004 |
Not published |
4.8 · 366 Google |
Domestic Violence in Atlanta: the local picture
$600 to $1,440
The cost that comes on top of your lawyer
Georgia courts must order a 24 week Family Violence Intervention Program on nearly every family violence sentence and on most protective orders, unless the judge states on the record why not. The state commission says classes average $25 to $30 each with a $60 cap, so 24 sessions run roughly $600 to $1,440, paid by you. None of the three firms below publishes its own fee.
30 days
The hearing that arrives before the criminal case does
A protective order can be issued the same day it is filed, without you present, and can order you out of a shared home. The full hearing is generally set within 30 days. Miss it and the order can be extended, typically for six to 12 months. A second family violence battery conviction in Georgia is a felony carrying one to five years.
$50
What a public defender costs to apply for
If you cannot afford any firm here, you have a right to appointed counsel. Georgia treats income at or below 150% of the federal poverty guidelines as the eligibility line, and the application fee set by statute is $50, which the court must waive if you cannot pay it. Court appointed attorney fees can still be imposed at sentencing.
What clients in Atlanta say: Across all three firms, the reviews that carry weight describe the same thing: someone answering the phone at a bad hour and explaining the process before the client asked. Families write many of these reviews, often a parent describing a son’s case. The complaints run the other way, toward calls not returned and updates that had to be chased. Very few reviews on any of these listings describe a family violence case specifically, so ask each firm how many it handled in Fulton or DeKalb this past year.
How we chose these Domestic Violence Lawyers in Atlanta
We looked at firms handling family violence charges and protective order hearings for people in Atlanta, then compared them on points a reader can check independently: the State Bar of Georgia licence record for the named attorney, the family violence sub practices each firm actually publishes, whether fee terms are published, where the firm’s offices are relative to the Fulton and DeKalb courthouses, and the visible Google review text for each listing.
The three are a shortlist, not a ranking. Firm details come from each firm’s own site, cross checked against Google Business Profile listings, public attorney directories and Georgia statute and agency sources. Bar numbers we could not confirm during this update are flagged on the page rather than filled in, and any case result, review count or experience figure a firm publishes about itself is labelled as the firm’s own claim.
1. The Law Office of Ahmad R. Crews
Best for a defendant who wants the attorney himself on every call
★★★★½ 4.7 / 5 · Google · 88 reviews
A one attorney criminal practice in Midtown, and the pick here for someone who wants the lawyer they hired to be the person who calls back. Ahmad Crews takes no work outside criminal defense, and his site lists family violence alongside bond hearings, probation revocation and failure to appear warrants, which are the three problems that tend to follow a domestic violence lawyer in Atlanta into the first weeks after an arrest. Reviewers describe calls returned late in the evening by Crews personally.
Identity and footprint
Office1800 Peachtree Rd #335, Atlanta, GA 30309
Address noteTwo directories list the same building as Suite 300 rather than #335. Use the firm site and Google version.
Phone(404) 996-1366
AttorneyAhmad R. Crews, founder and the only attorney named on the site
Service areaAtlanta and Northern Georgia, with city pages for Alpharetta, Marietta, Kennesaw, Roswell, Sandy Springs, Cobb and Fulton counties
Office hoursWeekdays 9 to 5 on Google. The attorney profile states he takes client calls on nights and weekends.
Practice and scope
Core workCriminal defense only. The attorney states he does not practice in any other area.
Family violence scopeDefense of family violence charges, plus obtaining and challenging temporary and permanent protective orders
Related pagesBond hearings, probation revocation, failure to appear warrant removal, aggravated assault, appeals and habeas corpus
Trial postureStates he begins trial preparation on receipt of discovery and files motions to challenge the State’s evidence
Published resultsFirm lists dismissals in Fulton, DeKalb, Douglas and Clay County Superior Courts and a not guilty in Crisp County. These are the firm’s own entries and do not state the charge.
Credentials and licensing
State Bar of GeorgiaAdmitted 2017, shown as active and in good standing with no misconduct found
Law schoolHoward University School of Law, J.D. 2016, after a B.S. from Albany State University in 2011
AssociationsGeorgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers member
RecognitionListed by Super Lawyers as a Rising Star in multiple years
Other directoryAvvo client review score of 4.5 across 22 reviews
Fees and consultation
ConsultationInitial consultation offered, available by phone
PaymentCash and credit card listed, retainer used in some cases
What clients say
✓ Calls returned late in the evening
✓ Families of the accused write in
✓ Prepared early for trial
✗ Terse one star reviews in May 2026
· Few reviews name a DV charge
The detailed reviews are specific about access: a parent describes Crews answering late in the evening after a full day, and another client describes him explaining every step and keeping the family updated. Several credit him with pressing for trial rather than settling early. Against that, a short cluster of one line, one star reviews appeared in May 2026 without detail, so read them yourself and ask about them.
Why they fit Atlanta: The strongest fit of the three if you want one attorney accountable from bond hearing to disposition, with no case manager in between, and if your matter may also involve a probation or warrant problem. The trade off is capacity: a solo practice has one calendar, so ask how many open trials he carries, who covers a hearing if two courts collide, and whether the protective order hearing is included in the quoted fee.
2. Kohn & Yager, LLC
Best for a case where the police report is the main evidence
★★★★½ 4.6 / 5 · Google · 88 reviews
The pick when the case turns on what the officer wrote. Partner Cory Yager spent roughly nine years as a police officer with the Cobb County and Roswell departments before law school, and partner Larry Kohn has practised Georgia criminal defense since 1998. For anyone searching for a domestic violence lawyer Atlanta firms can staff from four metro offices, this is the most established operation on the list, with separate pages on false allegations, defense strategy and protective orders rather than a single general page.
Identity and footprint
Main office5600 Roswell Rd, Building H, Ste 200, Sandy Springs, GA 30342
Downtown office235 Peachtree St NE #400, Atlanta, GA 30303
Other officesMarietta and Alpharetta
Phone(404) 567-5515, answered 24 hours
PartnersLarry Kohn and Cory Yager, with William C. Head of counsel
LanguagesEnglish and Spanish listed for Larry Kohn
Practice and scope
Core workCriminal defense with a heavy DUI practice, plus record restriction
Family violence pagesSeparate pages on defense strategies, false allegations and protective orders
Who handles DVThe firm states Larry Kohn has handled more domestic violence cases than any other partner there
Police backgroundCory Yager served about five years with Cobb County Police and four and a half with Roswell Police, including as a field training officer
Firm claimsStates Kohn has close to 600 five star Avvo reviews and Yager has represented over 2,000 clients. These are the firm’s own figures.
Credentials and licensing
Larry KohnGeorgia bar member since 1998, J.D. magna cum laude from Georgia State, B.A. Emory
Cory YagerPassed the Georgia bar in 2007, J.D. from John Marshall Law School in Atlanta
PublicationsBoth partners are listed as co-authors of The Georgia DUI Trial Practice Manual
AssociationsLarry Kohn is a GACDL member
Fees and consultation
ConsultationFree, by phone 24 hours a day
Payment plansOffered where needed
What clients say
✓ Straight answers at consultation
✓ Free advice without a hire
✓ Cases routed to the better fit partner
· Rating is the Sandy Springs listing
· Reviews lean toward DUI
Reviewers describe Kohn as blunt about where they stood and willing to give a long consultation without charging for it. One describes meeting Kohn first and being passed to Yager as the better fit, which suggests the partners do split cases by type. Most of the detailed reviews concern DUI rather than family violence, and the Google rating belongs to the Sandy Springs office.
Why they fit Atlanta: The strongest choice of the three if the arrest report is thin or contradicts itself, because a former field training officer knows what a family violence report is supposed to contain and where officers cut corners. The caveat is focus: this is a DUI heavy firm, the partner with the police background states his own practice centres on motor vehicle cases, and the main office sits in Sandy Springs rather than downtown. Ask which partner would handle your file and how many family violence hearings that partner took this year.
3. Sessoms Law Group, LLC
Best for a non citizen whose charge could affect immigration status
★★★★½ 4.8 / 5 · Google · 366 reviews
The only firm here built around the point where a criminal charge meets immigration law, and the one to call first if you are not a U.S. citizen. A family violence conviction can carry immigration consequences that a plea offer does not mention. Founder Kamala Sessoms started as a public defender with the Conflict Defender’s Office, now practises immigration and criminal defense together, and runs a largely Spanish speaking staff. As an Atlanta domestic violence attorney, the firm also represents victims, including in civil claims.
Identity and footprint
Office2801 Buford Hwy NE #160, Atlanta, GA 30329
Location noteOn Buford Highway near the Brookhaven and Chamblee corridor, which puts it closer to the DeKalb courts than to downtown
Phone678-853-7402
FounderKamala W. Sessoms, with Allison Lukanich of counsel
LanguagesEnglish and Spanish, with a Spanish language version of the site and Spanish speaking staff named in reviews
Practice and scope
Core workImmigration, criminal defense and personal injury
Family violence scopeDefense of the accused and representation of victims, including protective orders and civil claims for damages (firm DV page)
Immigration overlapLists pages on vacating criminal convictions, deportation defense and U visas for crime victims
BackgroundBegan as a public defender with the Conflict Defender’s Office, founded her own practice in 2009
Criminal emphasisHer bio describes DUI and motor vehicle work as the main criminal focus
Credentials and licensing
State Bar of GeorgiaListed as a member
Law schoolMichigan State University College of Law, J.D. 2004, after a B.S. from Oberlin College in 1998
AssociationsAmerican Immigration Lawyers Association, GACDL and Gate City Bar Association
Bar servicePast chair of the Executive Office for Immigration Review Committee for the Georgia Alabama AILA chapter
Fees and consultation
ContactPhone and email listed, Google shows the listing open 24 hours
Billing questionOne detailed review describes about $8,000 paid over 11 months on an immigration detention case. Ask how fees are tied to milestones.
What clients say
✓ Largest review base here
✓ Staff named and thanked
✓ Spanish spoken throughout
✗ One account of poor communication
· Reviews mostly immigration
At 366 reviews this is the deepest record of the three, and reviewers repeatedly name legal assistants and case coordinators who explained each step, often in Spanish. Almost all describe immigration matters, not family violence. One long review describes missed calls and little contact over 11 months on a detention case. That is one account, but ask who would handle your criminal file day to day.
Why they fit Atlanta: The clear pick if you hold a green card, a visa or pending status, because a plea that looks minor in state court can be treated very differently by immigration authorities, and this firm assesses both at once. Go in knowing the trade off: the review base is overwhelmingly about immigration, the founder’s own bio centres her criminal work on DUI, and one detailed complaint concerns communication. Ask which attorney handles the criminal case and how often you will hear from them.
What to check before hiring a Domestic Violence Lawyer in Atlanta
✓ Look up the licence yourself
The State Bar of Georgia member directory is free and shows admission date and status for every Georgia lawyer. Search the individual attorney who will appear for you, not the firm. None of the three firms here publishes bar numbers.
✓ Ask whether the protective order hearing is in the fee
The criminal case and the protective order are separate proceedings in separate courts. A flat fee that covers only one of them can leave you unrepresented at the hearing most likely to decide where you live next month. Get the answer in writing.
✓ Do not contact the other person, even to make peace
Bond conditions and ex parte protective orders in Georgia routinely bar all contact, including texts and messages passed through friends. A violation can mean a new charge and revoked bond, and it is the most common way a defensible case becomes a hard one.
✓ Budget for the intervention program now
If your case ends in a plea or conviction, expect a court order for a 24 week Family Violence Intervention Program at roughly $25 to $60 a class. Ask your lawyer whether an outcome that avoids it is realistic, and if not, factor it into your cost.
✓ If you are not a citizen, say so at the first call
Some family violence dispositions carry immigration consequences regardless of how the state court labels them. Tell the lawyer your status before any plea is discussed, and ask whether they will consult an immigration lawyer on the offer.
✓ Ask about your firearms before you plead
Federal law bars gun possession after a misdemeanor domestic violence conviction and while certain protective orders are in force, even though Georgia classes the charge as a misdemeanor. If you hunt, carry, or work with firearms, raise it before any plea.
Domestic Violence Lawyers in Atlanta: frequently asked questions
How much does a domestic violence lawyer cost in Atlanta?
None of the three firms on this page publishes its fees, so ask for a written flat fee quote at the consultation. Ask whether it covers both the criminal case and the protective order hearing, and what it becomes if a misdemeanor is indicted as a felony. Separately, budget $600 to $1,440 for the 24 week Family Violence Intervention Program courts usually order.
Can the charge be dropped if the alleged victim does not want to press charges?
Not by the alleged victim alone. In Georgia the State brings the case, and prosecutors can proceed using 911 recordings, officer testimony, photographs and body camera footage even when the other person declines to testify. A request to drop charges can influence the prosecutor, but it does not end the case.
What happens at a protective order hearing in Georgia?
A judge can issue an order the day a petition is filed without hearing from you. The full hearing is generally set within 30 days, and both sides can present evidence and witnesses. If the judge grants the order it typically lasts six to 12 months and can later be extended or made permanent. There is no filing fee for the person seeking the order.
Is domestic violence a felony in Georgia?
It depends on the underlying charge and your record. A first family violence battery is a misdemeanor, but a second conviction against the same or another household member is a felony carrying one to five years. Aggravated assault, aggravated battery and strangulation allegations are felonies from the start.
Can I get a public defender for a domestic violence charge?
Yes, if you qualify. Georgia uses 150% of the federal poverty guidelines as the eligibility line and charges a $50 application fee, which the court must waive if you cannot pay it. Apply at or before your first court appearance. The court can still impose attorney fees at sentencing.
DJA Editorial
Legal Directory Research
Compiles Distinguished Justice Advocates city guides from state bar and attorney directory records, court and statute sources, and publicly visible client reviews. Firms appear as a shortlist rather than a ranking. Figures a firm publishes about itself are labelled as such, and anything that could not be verified is flagged on the page rather than estimated.
