AC

A. Craig Cleland, Employment Attorney in Atlanta, Georgia

focused on Employment and Litigation

Atlanta, GA

Trusted employment attorney serving Atlanta.

1
Bar admission

Are you A. Craig Cleland?

This profile was built from public bar records and is still unclaimed. Claim it free to control your photo, bio, and fees — and get client inquiries sent straight to you.

Claim this profile — free

Quick answer

A. Craig Cleland is an attorney based in Atlanta, GEORGIA. The practice focuses on Employment and Litigation.

Based in
Atlanta, GEORGIA
Experience
attorney
Known for
Employment · Litigation
  • Handles Employment and Litigation matters from Atlanta, GEORGIA.
  • Recognized with Lawyer of the Year — Employment Law - Management (Atlanta) (2025).

About A. Craig Cleland: A. Craig Cleland is an attorney based in Atlanta, GEORGIA. The practice focuses on Employment and Litigation.

Areas of practice

Legal matters A. takes on

A. concentrates on employment and litigation. Each area below outlines the kind of case A. handles, typical outcomes to expect, and how the intake process starts.

Employment cases in Atlanta, Georgia

A. takes employment matters in Atlanta, Georgia. Typical engagements include intake calls to scope the issue, review of any records or filings you already have, and a written strategy memo before A. agrees to represent you.

Litigation cases in Atlanta, Georgia

A. takes litigation matters in Atlanta, Georgia. Typical engagements include intake calls to scope the issue, review of any records or filings you already have, and a written strategy memo before A. agrees to represent you.

Biography

Meet A. Craig Cleland — employment lawyer in Atlanta

A. Craig Cleland is an attorney based in Atlanta, GEORGIA. The practice focuses on Employment and Litigation.

Craig Cleland defends employers in litigation—including in class actions—and counsels them on compliance and risk management. He is also Co-Chair of the Firm’s Class Action Practice Group. Craig has served on several Atlanta-area nonprofit boards, including as chair. He is currently on the Advisory Committee for the Atlanta Legal Aid Society as well as on the Board of the Atlanta Bar Labor and Employment Section. Craig is also named in Best Lawyers in America, Atlanta Magazine’s “Super Lawyers,” Georgia Trend’s “Legal Elite,” and Chambers USA’s Leading Business Lawyers. He is a contributor to the new editions of Black’s Law Dictionary and Garner’s Modern American Usage and a chapter editor and contributor to Lindemann & Grossman’s Employment Discrimination Law. He also teaches Employment Discrimination Law as an Adjunct Professor at Georgia State University College of Law. Recently, Craig was recognized as a BTI Client Service All-Star, one of 165 lawyers in the U.S. who “combine exceptional legal expertise with practical advice, business savvy and creative, effective solutions.” During law school, Craig was the Editor-in-Chief of the Law Review and winner of the McKenzie-McPhail Moot Court Competition. After graduating, he clerked for U.S. District Court Judge Marvin H. Shoob in Atlanta and then practiced at Paul Hastings before joining Ogletree Deakins. He has also completed the Harvard Law School Mediation Program and from time to time serves as a mediator.

A.'s approach to employment cases

Craig Cleland defends employers in litigation—including in class actions—and counsels them on compliance and risk management. He is also Co-Chair of the Firm’s Class Action Practice Group. Craig has served on several Atlanta-area nonprofit boards, including as chair. He is currently on the Advisory Committee for the Atlanta Legal Aid Society as well as on the Board of the Atlanta Bar Labor and…

Clients A. works with

A. reviews new inquiries case-by-case for employment and litigation matters in Atlanta and the surrounding Georgia area.

Credentials

Education, bar admissions, and languages

  • Georgia State University

    J.D. · 1992

  • Yale University

    — · 1983

  • Vanderbilt University

    — · 1981

  • Valdosta State University

    BA · 1978

Jurisdictions

A.'s state bar admissions

  • Georgia, State Bar o

    ACTIVE

A. studied at J.D. in Georgia State University, — in Yale University, and — in Vanderbilt University.

Law school and academic background

A. completed J.D. in Georgia State University, — in Yale University, — in Vanderbilt University, and BA in Valdosta State University. Formal legal training is one signal of substantive knowledge — the day-to-day practice A. runs in Georgia is where that training gets applied to real client questions.

Recognition

Recognition and thought leadership

A. has received 20 formal recognitions from bar associations, industry bodies, and peer-review services.

  • Lawyer of the Year — Employment Law - Management (Atlanta)

    2025

  • Lawyer of the Year — Litigation - Labor and Employment (Atlanta)

    2025

  • Lawyer of the Year — Employment Law - Management (Atlanta)

    2023

  • Lawyer of the Year — Employment Law - Management (Atlanta)

    2020

  • Lawyer of the Year — Litigation - Labor and Employment (Atlanta)

    2014

  • Best Lawyers in America — Employment Law - Management

    2026

  • Best Lawyers in America — Litigation - Labor and Employment

    2026

  • Best Lawyers in America — Special Focus:

    2026

  • Best Lawyers in America — Class Actions

    2026

  • Best Lawyers in America — Discrimination

    2026

  • Best Lawyers in America — Harassment

    2026

  • Best Lawyers in America — Management

    2026

  • Best Lawyers in America — Title VII Litigation

    2026

  • Best Lawyers in America — Awards:

    2026

  • Best Lawyers in America — American Jurispridence Awards - Property, Jurisprudence, Business Tax

    2026

  • Best Lawyers in America — Best Oralist & Runner-Up Best Best Brief - McKenzie-McPhail Moot Court Competition

    2026

  • Best Lawyers in America — Chambers USA Leading Business Lawyers

    2026

  • Best Lawyers in America — Atlanta Magazine’s “Super Lawyers”

    2026

  • Best Lawyers in America — Georgia Trend’s “Legal Elite”

    2026

  • Best Lawyers in America — BTI Client Service All-Star

    2026

Legal awards and honors

Lawyer of the Year — Employment Law - Management (Atlanta) (2025). Lawyer of the Year — Litigation - Labor and Employment (Atlanta) (2025). Lawyer of the Year — Employment Law - Management (Atlanta) (2023). Lawyer of the Year — Employment Law - Management (Atlanta) (2020). Lawyer of the Year — Litigation - Labor and Employment (Atlanta) (2014). Best Lawyers in America — Employment Law - Management (2026).

Locations

A. Craig Cleland's office in Atlanta

A.'s primary office is at 600 Peachtree Street NE, Suite 4300, Atlanta, Georgia, 30308. In-person meetings are by appointment; a phone intake usually comes first.

Main office

600 Peachtree Street NE, Suite 4300

Atlanta, Georgia 30308

Open in Google Maps

Client feedback

Client reviews of A. Craig Cleland

A. has not yet collected verified client reviews on LawyersListed. Reviews here are all from confirmed clients; anonymous ratings are moderated out.

No reviews yet

Only verified clients who have consulted with A. Craig Cleland can leave a review.

Schedule your consultation

Hiring guide

How to hire A. Craig Cleland — what to expect in your first consultation

Working with a new employment attorney should feel structured. Here's how the first two conversations with A. usually go, from the moment you request a consult to the day representation begins.

Consultation formats and pricing

A. charges for the initial consult. That fee is credited toward representation if you retain A.'s office.

What to bring to your first meeting

Bring any documents you already have — police reports, medical records, filed pleadings, correspondence from an insurer, a copy of the contract at issue. If you're not sure, err on the side of bringing everything; A. will tell you what matters and what doesn't.

Questions to ask a employment attorney in Atlanta, Georgia

A short list to run through before you commit: How many employment matters have you handled in the last year? What's your fee structure? Who else in the office will work on this? What's your realistic estimate of timeline and range of outcomes? How do I reach you between meetings?

Fees & payment

Fees, payment methods, and consultation options for A.

A. discusses fees during intake so the arrangement fits the matter. Contingency, hourly, and flat-fee options are all common in employment practice — ask which fits.

Hourly rates, contingency fees, and flat-fee options

Every employment matter is priced differently. Simple document review might be a flat fee. Injury litigation is often contingency. Complex commercial disputes usually run hourly with a retainer. A. confirms the model in the engagement letter before any work starts.

Payment methods and payment plans

A.'s office accepts standard payment methods. Ask about payment plans if the retainer is a stretch — many employment practices work with clients on structured schedules.

Frequently asked

Frequently asked questions about A. Craig Cleland

  • How much does it cost to hire A. for a employment case?

    Cost depends on the type of matter, the fee model (contingency, flat, hourly), and how contested the case becomes. A. walks through the likely range during the consult so there are no surprises.

  • Does A. offer a free consultation?

    A. charges for the initial consult; that fee is credited toward representation if you retain A.'s office. Some employment attorneys offer free consults — check A.'s current terms during booking.

  • How long do employment cases in Georgia typically take?

    Simple employment matters can wrap in a few weeks; disputed cases can run 6–18 months from intake to resolution, longer if the matter goes to trial. A. gives a realistic estimate for your facts at the consult — vague answers here are a red flag.

  • Can A. take my case if I'm outside Atlanta?

    A. is licensed in Georgia. Matters governed by Georgia law are the natural fit. Out-of-state matters are handled case-by-case, sometimes with local co-counsel. Ask during intake — A. will tell you if the case is a fit or refer you to someone closer to your court.

  • What should I bring to my first meeting with A.?

    Bring every document that touches the dispute: contracts, correspondence, police or medical reports, filed pleadings, invoices, photographs, insurance letters. Also bring a written timeline of what happened, in your own words. A. will filter what matters — over-preparing at intake is always cheaper than needing a second meeting.

  • Is A. accepting new employment clients right now?

    A.'s intake status shifts week to week. Submit the form; the office will confirm availability or refer the matter out.

Areas served

Employment attorneys serving Atlanta, Marietta and Savannah in Georgia

A. handles employment matters throughout Georgia. Each city below is a direct link into the search page for verified employment attorneys in that community.

More counsel

If A.'s intake is full or the fit isn't right, these employment attorneys in Atlanta handle similar matters. Every profile below is verified and open to consultations.