The Firm
Brave | Thoughtful | Compassionate | Intelligent
The Shelley Law Firm focuses on a unique and tailored defense against criminal charges. Karen does not take this responsibility lightly, and regards it as an honor and priviledge to stand beside you every step of the way.
Protect Your Freedom
The government spends a lot of time and money to take the things in life that we cherish. If you or your loved one has been arrested or is under an investigation, you can’t delay in standing up for yourself. Protecting what matters to you is our priority.
Understand Your Charges
Eliminate the uncertainty. Be aware of what is going on with your case every step of the way. Navigating criminal court procedures is intimidating and complicated. Karen understands the fears you are facing; her promise to every client is “…to take on your anxiety and stress while you focus on YOURSELF and your family. “
Your Advocate
Aggressive and compassionate representation is the hallmark of our practice. Karen Shelley has over thirteen years of trial experience. Hundreds of clients have received a uniquely tailored and aggressive defense. It is our privledge to become each individual’s advocate throughout a very stressful time in their lives.
Attorney Karen Shelley
Brave | Thoughtful | Compassionate | Intelligent
These are words clients use to describe Attorney Karen Shelley and the type of counsel she provides. With over fifteen years of courtroom experience, she has successfully represented thousands of people in Georgia as well as the U.S. Territory of American Samoa,
The Shelley Law Firm focuses on a unique and tailored defense against criminal charges. Karen does not take this responsibility lightly, and regards it as an honor and privilege to stand beside you every step of the way.
Our clients may come to us in a place of confusion, fear, and at risk of losing everything they’ve worked so hard for. It’s then that Karen takes her clients by the hand, offering her insight and guiding experience to relieve this stress. When things get harsh, we understand that you need a layer of fierce protection.

Your attorney is an advisor, confidante, and ally. They are the first person to talk to when anxiety and fear creep in.
Karen keeps herself available to her clients because no one should feel alone when a crisis threatens their freedom. The hallmark of her practice is client communication. Many attorneys are excellent and deserve accolades for the work they do, but they fail to let their clients know what is happening behind the scenes.
It’s fairly common that nothing will occur for long periods of time over the course of a case. From the perspective of a client, this may only feed into more confusion and fear…not to mention the anxiety. Karen takes the time to communicate things like this. After thirteen years of criminal defense practice she knows that the government is quick to arrest, yet slow to act.
Professional Recognition
- Present Client’s Choice Award AVVO
- Present Nationwide Criminal Defense Attorney of the Year, Imhoff & Associates
- Present City of Roswell Drug Task Force, attorney advisor for Pathways an alternative to arrest
- Present Member of Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
- Juvenile Advocacy Award, American Samoa
- Secretary of the American Samoa Bar Association
- Present Lions Club International member
- Governor’s Gubernatorial Debate committee, American Samoa Bar Association
- Bill Daniel Trial Advocacy Program Graduate
- State Bar of Georgia Robert Behnam Award for Community Service
- Law Student Ambassador, Georgia State University College of Law
- Johann Droogman Law Scholarship
- Georgia State University Foundation Scholarship
- Selected student pupil for Charles Weltner Family Law Inn of Court, Georgia State University
- State of Florida Academic Scholarship
Karen obtained her Juris Doctorate degree from Georgia State University in 2008, cum laude.
Karen is a native of Manchester, England. And, if you need to know her team – “There’s Only One Color in Manchester and its RED!”
During law school she interned with the Hon. Judge Wendy Shoob (ret.) in Fulton County, Georgia’s busiest court system. She also apprenticed with several prominent federal and state criminal defense firms, gaining valuable experience in family law practice and juvenile delinquency.
Karen’s legal career began in Fulton County, Georgia as a public defender. From there she continued in the public sector and defended indigent peoples in American Samoa (2011 – 2016); the Appalachian Circuit (2017 – 2019); and now practices criminal defense in Metro Atlanta, based out of Rockdale County, Georgia. The years practicing public defense in Georgia and in an underserved U.S. Territory provided her with a uniquely immersive and practical hands-on courtroom experience.
Our Advisor
Karen possesses compassion, grit, grace, as well as humanity, and she infuses her practice with each of those virtues. Her passion for justice has afforded her exposure to mental health awareness and treatment, addiction and crime, poverty crimes, racial bias in the courtroom, economic bias, and everything else that could possibly go wrong in an unassuming individual’s life after they are born. She is a strong supporter of recovery-based programs and alternatives to incarceration for people seeking relief from the burden of addiction.
Karen is a native of Manchester, England. And, if you need to know her team – “There’s Only One Color in Manchester and its RED!”


Karen Shelley
Georgia State College of Law, Juris Doctorate, Cum Laude 2008
University of Central Florida, Bachelor of Arts, Cum Laude 1999
We are available 24/7 for immediate assistance
If you or a loved one has been arrested or has been subjected to a law enforcement encounter, please rely on experienced criminal defence attorney Karen Shelley to immediately shroud the situation with the legal knowledge required to protect your freedom, your driver’s license, your home, or your children.

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Pratice Areas
- Battery & Assault
- Probation Violations
- Sex Crimes
Drop By Virtually
Text 470-231-8855 and we will make ourselves available for a FaceTime or Zoom call IMMEDIATELY.