Civil rights in the United States refer to any right you have as a citizen, as provided by laws and the 13th and 14th Amendments to the Constitution. Higher-court decisions also shape your civil rights. Civil rights attorneys typically get involved when state laws appear to violate your rights guaranteed under the U.S. Constitution.

Voting

The civil rights movement won African-Americans the right to vote. Civil rights attorneys challenged many requirements states placed on voting registration, which they implemented to deny African-Americans the vote in spite of the passage of the 15th Amendment to the Constitution, which granted voting rights to all citizens.

Speech

When protesting controversial issues, even peacefully, protesters are frequently arrested or otherwise prevented from marching for their cause. Civil rights attorneys argue that their Constitutional right to free speech and assembly is violated when they are arrested for exercising it.

Criminal

Civil rights attorneys argued for the defendant in Miranda vs. Arizona after he was arrested and questioned without notification that he was entitled to an attorney and had the right to remain silent. Attorneys argued that his right to council was violated as was his right against self-incrimination. This decision is why the police must read you your Miranda rights.

Housing

Suits have been filed by civil rights attorneys for numerous issues involving housing, including discrimination based on gender, sexual orientation and race. Most recently, suits have been filed for tenants evicted from their homes with little or no notice, violating their right to due process, because their building has gone into foreclosure.

Abortion

Probably one of the most controversial civil rights cases was Roe vs Wade, which, when decided, gave women the right to have an abortion. At the time, 1970, in Texas, having an abortion was a crime if the mother's life was not in danger. The case was based on the statute's denial of Roe's First, Fourth, Fifth, Ninth and 14th amendment rights. The outcome of this case has set the precedent ever since.

Source:

Meriam-Webster: Civil rights definition

Street Law and the Supreme Court Historical Society: Miranda vs Arizona

Street Law and the Supreme Court Historical Society: Supreme Court Collection