Insight

John P. Relman - Washington, D.C. 2021 Lawyer of the Year

Civil Rights Law Washington, D.C.

Headshot of John Relman
Best Lawyers

Best Lawyers

September 29, 2020 08:00 AM

The fight for equality has been a long one and continues today. John Relman, Washington D.C.’s 2021 “Lawyer of the Year” for Civil Rights Law, is passionate about the issues of racial justice and institutional racism.

“Racial and economic justice go together in this country,” Relman said. “They have always been connected. You can’t really understand how to address one without addressing the other.”

Relman, the founder and managing partner of Relman Colfax, has done extensive work in fair housing and fair lending cases that has widen the scope and reach of the Fair Housing Act.

“Where we live matters,” he explained. “It determines outcomes and opportunities. Discrimination in many of our cases is made possible because there is a defined minority community to target or exclude. If we could figure out how to maintain stable, integrated communities, it would go a long way toward reducing both economic and racial inequalities.”

And with the problem with fair housing, many consequences follow that attribute to the racial inequality that has plagued the country.

“Where one lives affects where you go to school, opportunities for jobs and connections, the right to vote, health outcomes, and so much more,” he said. “We need to protect that law. It is under attack as we speak.”

There are many rewarding aspects in practicing this type of law, but for Relman, it’s the idea of change for the better.

“We like to think that we have the opportunity to change the law,” he said. "We have the opportunity to open people’s eyes and change the way people think. When you empower people and you allow them to affirm their own dignity, their own self-worth, their right to live in our society with the same right and privileges as everybody else, it’s tremendously satisfying.”

With this line of work, there’s never a finish line. There is always something to work on.

“It’s not a problem that just gets fixed,” Relman said. “It’s an ongoing struggle. I think there’s the opportunity to have a more fair and just society, but the need for civil rights lawyers is never going to disappear. The work will never be done.”

Headline Image: Courtesy of Relman Colfax

Related Articles

Washington D.C. 2022 "Lawyer of the Year"


by Best Lawyers

Subhashini Bollini is honored as 2022 "Lawyer of the Year" in Civil Rights Law for Washington, D.C.

Washington D.C. 2022 Lawyer of the Year

Civil Rights Cases are Part of MLK’s Legacy, But Many are Moving to State Courts


by John Ettorre

We take a closer look at civil rights litigation and how cases are evolving.

Civil Rights Cases are Moving to State Courts

Anne W. White, Collaborative Law: Family Law, Washington, D.C.


by Best Lawyers

Washington D.C's, 2020 "Lawyer of the Year" Collaborative Law: Family Law

Anne W. White Washington, D.C. LOTY

Celia Roady, Washington, D.C. "Lawyer of the Year" for Tax Law 2018


by Nicole Ortiz

Celia Roady, of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, was named 2018 "Lawyer of the Year" for Tax Law in Washington, D.C.

Celia Roady, 2018 "Lawyer of the Year"

Marc Sorini, Washington, D.C. "Lawyer of the Year" for Food and Beverage Law 2018


by Nicole Ortiz

Marc Sorini, of McDermott Will & Emery, was named 2018 "Lawyer of the Year" for Food and Beverage Law in Washington, D.C.

Marc Sorini, "Lawyer of the Year" 2018

"Lawyer of the Year"


Lawyer with suit posing and smiling for headshot

Laurie R. Bishop

Education Law

Boston, MA

2024

"Lawyer of the Year"


Thomas B. Mooney

Thomas B. Mooney

Education Law

Hartford, CT

2024

"Lawyer of the Year"


Lawyer wearing suit poses for headshot

Ed Snow

Commercial Finance Law

Atlanta, GA

2024

"Lawyer of the Year"


Lawyer in suit poses for a headshot photo

Jeffrey A. Weissman

Family Law

Fort Lauderdale, FL

2024

"Lawyer of the Year"


Headshot of the D.C. Lawyer of the Year Honoree

Adam J. August

Corporate Law

Washington, D.C., VA

2024

A Roadmap for Safety in D.C.


by Justin Smulison

Three-time “Lawyer of The Year” Patrick Regan explains how we can protect cyclists from injury and the city from more litigation.

Several lawyers sitting and standing in a group in office

Announcing The Best Lawyers in Germany™ 2023


by Best Lawyers

The results include an elite field of top lawyers and firms from Germany.

Black, red and yellow stripes

Announcing The Best Lawyers in Switzerland™ 2023


by Best Lawyers

The results include an elite field of top lawyers and firms from Switzerland.

Red flag with white cross

Announcing The Best Lawyers in Austria™ 2023


by Best Lawyers

The results include an elite field of top lawyers and firms from Austria.

Red and white stripes

Announcing The Best Lawyers in Belgium™ 2023


by Best Lawyers

The results include an elite field of top lawyers and firms from Belgium.

Black, yellow and red stripes

Announcing The Best Lawyers in Italy™ 2023


by Best Lawyers

The results include an elite field of top lawyers and firms from Italy.

Green, white and red stripes

Trending Articles

2025 Best Lawyers Awards Announced: Honoring Outstanding Legal Professionals Across the U.S.


by Jennifer Verta

Introducing the 31st edition of The Best Lawyers in America and the fifth edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America.

Digital map of the United States illuminated by numerous bright lights

Unveiling the 2025 Best Lawyers Awards Canada: Celebrating Legal Excellence


by Jennifer Verta

Presenting the 19th edition of The Best Lawyers in Canada and the 4th edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in Canada.

Digital map of Canadathis on illuminated by numerous bright lights

Legal Distinction on Display: 15th Edition of The Best Lawyers in France™


by Best Lawyers

The industry’s best lawyers and firms working in France are revealed in the newly released, comprehensive the 15th Edition of The Best Lawyers in France™.

French flag in front of country's outline

Announcing the 13th Edition of Best Lawyers Rankings in the United Kingdom


by Best Lawyers

Best Lawyers is proud to announce the newest edition of legal rankings in the United Kingdom, marking the 13th consecutive edition of awards in the country.

British flag in front of country's outline

Announcing the 16th Edition of the Best Lawyers in Germany Rankings


by Best Lawyers

Best Lawyers announces the 16th edition of The Best Lawyers in Germany™, featuring a unique set of rankings that highlights Germany's top legal talent.

German flag in front of country's outline

Celebrating Excellence in Law: 11th Edition of Best Lawyers in Italy™


by Best Lawyers

Best Lawyers announces the 11th edition of The Best Lawyers in Italy™, which features an elite list of awards showcasing Italy's current legal talent.

Italian flag in front of country's outline

Combating Nuclear Verdicts: Empirically Supported Strategies to Deflate the Effects of Anchoring Bias


by Sloan L. Abernathy

Sometimes a verdict can be the difference between amicability and nuclear level developments. But what is anchoring bias and how can strategy combat this?

Lawyer speaking in courtroom with crowd and judge in the foreground

Things to Do Before a Car Accident Happens to You


by Ellie Shaffer

In a car accident, certain things are beyond the point of no return, while some are well within an individual's control. Here's how to stay legally prepared.

Car dashcam recording street ahead

The Push and Pitfalls of New York’s Attempt to Expand Wrongful Death Recovery


by Elizabeth M. Midgley and V. Christopher Potenza

The New York State Legislature recently went about updating certain wrongful death provisions and how they can be carried out in the future. Here's the latest.

Red tape blocking off a section of street

Find the Best Lawyers for Your Needs


by Jennifer Verta

Discover how Best Lawyers simplifies the attorney search process.

A focused woman with dark hair wearing a green top and beige blazer, working on a tablet in a dimly

Key Developments and Trends in U.S. Commercial Litigation


by Justin Smulison

Whether it's multibillion-dollar water cleanliness verdicts or college athletes vying for the right to compensation, the state of litigation remains strong.

Basketball sits in front of stacks of money

Prop 36 California 2024: California’s Path to Stricter Sentencing and Criminal Justice Reform


by Jennifer Verta

Explore how Prop 36 could shape California's sentencing laws and justice reform.

Illustrated Hands Breaking Chains Against a Bright Red Background

Is Premises Liability the Same as Negligence?


by Jeremy Wilson and Taylor Rodney Marks

In today's age, we are always on the move, often inhabiting spaces we don't own. But what happens when someone else's property injures you or someone you know?

A pair of silhouetted legs falling down a hole with yellow background

Woman on a Mission


by Rebecca Blackwell

Baker Botts partner and intellectual property chair Christa Brown-Sanford discusses how she juggles work, personal life, being a mentor and leadership duties.

Woman in green dress crossing her arms and posing for headshot

Why Backlinks Matter for Law Firm SEO


by Nancy Lippincott

The key ingredient to a law firm's online search visibility could lie within backlinks, a driving factor in the industry's efforts to build an SEO-based future.

Collection of search bars, menus and posts in front of gray background

Best Lawyers Celebrates Women in the Law: Ninth Edition


by Alliccia Odeyemi

Released in both print and digital form, Best Lawyers Ninth Edition of Women in the Law features stories of inspiring leadership and timely legal issues.

Lawyer in green dress stands with hands on table and cityscape in background