Social Justice Law Collective

The Social Justice Law Collective (SJLC) is a dedicated team of attorneys fighting for equal rights and justice for all, regardless of race, gender, religion, age, sexual orientation, disability, familial status, or incarceration. We believe that everyone has the right to be treated fairly under the law, and we are committed to representing those who would otherwise have no voice.

Our mission is to take on cases involving the 2.3 million men, women, and children incarcerated in jails, prisons, and juvenile facilities across the country, as well as those affected by discrimination, exclusion, and civil rights violations. We are currently based in the Tampa Bay and Greater Kansas City areas, but we handle cases primarily in Florida, Kansas, and Washington D.C. Through collaboration with local attorneys across the country, we accept civil rights cases in all fifty states.

Our Services

The SJLC offers a wide range of services to protect and enforce the civil rights of our clients. Our practice areas include:

1. *Civil Rights for Incarcerated Individuals*: We handle cases involving the rights of incarcerated people, including issues related to confinement conditions, excessive force, and violations of due process.

2. *Housing and Disability-Related Discrimination*: We represent clients who have experienced discrimination in housing and related services due to their disability or familial status.

3. *Criminal Defense Litigation*: Our attorneys provide vigorous defense for those accused of crimes, ensuring that their rights are protected throughout the legal process.

4. *Impact Litigation and Class Actions*: We engage in large-scale litigation and class actions on behalf of indigent populations to create meaningful change and secure justice for our clients.

5. *Legislative Advocacy and Administrative Rule-Making*: We work with lawmakers and administrative agencies to promote policies that further the rights of our clients and protect their interests.

Our Attorneys

The SJLC is led by its two founding member attorneys, Joshua Glickman and Shawn Heller. Both bring significant experience in handling major, systemic litigation involving civil rights for incarcerated individuals, housing and disability-related discrimination, criminal defense litigation, and class actions for indigent populations.

*Joshua A. Glickman*, Founding Member Attorney, has a proven track record of advocating for the rights of prisoners and those affected by discriminatory practices. Josh has successfully litigated cases resulting in substantial monetary awards and policy changes.

*Shawn A. Heller*, Founding Member Attorney, is an experienced litigator with a passion for protecting the rights of the most vulnerable members of our society. Shawn's work has led to important victories in the areas of disability rights, housing discrimination, and criminal justice reform.

Our Impact

The SJLC has achieved significant results for our clients and the communities we serve. Some of our recent accomplishments include:

• Securing incentive bonuses as high as $20,000 for Class Representatives in illegal phone call and text message cases
• Negotiating a settlement in a federal ADA lawsuit against the LEGOLAND Florida Resort for violations of the ADA and the Florida Civil Rights Act
• Reaching a settlement in a federal lawsuit against the FDOC for confiscating millions of dollars of digital music from incarcerated people in Florida
• Achieving modifications to ticketing policies at Broward's BB&T Center for wheelchair users in connection with the sale of accessible seating
• Establishing new disability policies for the Smithsonian's Air and Space Museum's simulators in settlement of a federal lawsuit