As a teacher and a criminal defense attorney, I have spent my adult life working closely with young people whose lives were often shaped by circumstances beyond their control. That gives me both firsthand insight into the challenges people face in the criminal legal system and the experience to help clients of any age through some of the most difficult moments of their lives with empathy, knowledge, and skill.
Quick Facts:
Erin King is a criminal and juvenile defense attorney with Ghanouni Teen & Young Adult Defense Firm, based in Atlanta, Georgia. She defends clients of any age facing DUI, juvenile, drug, theft, domestic violence, felony, and traffic charges, and appears regularly in the superior, state, and municipal courts of Fulton, DeKalb, Clayton, Gwinnett, and Coweta counties throughout metro Atlanta.
People ask me all the time why I became a criminal defense attorney, and the truth is, I didn’t start out planning to go to law school. I was actually a high school teacher first.
I taught at-risk students in Northwest Georgia, and that experience completely changed how I looked at young people and their loved ones. I had students who were funny, smart, and incredibly resilient. I remember students who would come to school exhausted because they were working jobs at night or taking care of younger siblings. They weren’t bad kids. They were kids carrying adult responsibilities in ways most people never noticed. It made me realize how quickly someone’s life can change because of one decision, or sometimes because of circumstances they never chose in the first place. That’s really what led me to become a lawyer.
One thing I’ve learned over the years is that when a teenager, young adult, or adult is facing criminal charges, it’s rarely just the legal case that’s affecting them. It’s their family, their education, their freedom, their future, financial obstacles, and often their confidence. My job isn’t just to understand the law. It’s to help people through one of the hardest moments of their lives and make sure they’re treated fairly throughout the process.
I don’t think any police report or criminal charge tells you who a client is. People are complicated. They make mistakes. Sometimes they’re falsely accused. Sometimes they need someone who will take the time to understand the whole story instead of making assumptions. I realized pretty quickly that the students and clients who got in the most trouble were often the same people who just needed someone to believe in them. It is our job as defense attorneys to take their names off paper and tell their stories, humanizing our clients and showing the government why we are exceptionally prepared and thorough, both legally and empathetically, as we walk shoulder to shoulder with our clients through these cases.
If I wasn’t practicing law, I’d still be teaching. Thankfully, I still get to teach and mentor, so it’s the best of both worlds. I find joy in watching people discover what they’re capable of and develop their confidence, and in a lot of ways I still get to do that. I just do it in a different classroom now, with the government as my audience. I take that very seriously, and I’m honored to help my clients when they’re facing a crossroads.
One of the things I appreciate most about our firm is that we don’t jump straight into giving advice. We take the time to understand the person we’re talking to before we start talking about strategy. By doing that, we learn what’s important to them and design our approach to help clients understand not only what’s happening in their case, but why we’re recommending a particular path forward. My goal is that when someone leaves that meeting, they have a clearer picture of what to expect and feel comfortable asking questions along the way.
I know that for many families, this is their first experience with the criminal legal system. It can feel confusing, intimidating, and overwhelming. I try to slow things down, explain the process in plain language, and make sure everyone understands what each step means before we move on. I never want a client or their loved ones to leave a meeting with more questions than they had before it started.
One thing I pay particular attention to is helping clients manage both the legal and emotional sides of a case. Court dates, investigations, and uncertainty can take a real toll on people. While I can’t eliminate that stress, I can make sure they know what to expect, where we are in the process, and that they have someone they can turn to when questions come up. Sometimes my job is delivering difficult news, but I believe clients make the best decisions when they understand the reality of their case, not just the outcome they’re hoping for. Transparently addressing the worst-case scenarios lets us work together as a team, so clients understand their options and make the best-informed decisions moving forward.
The feedback that means the most to me is when clients tell me they felt heard. Even when the outcome isn’t immediate or easy, knowing that someone took the time to listen, explain, and walk beside them can make all the difference. I want every client to leave our office feeling informed, respected, and prepared for whatever comes next.
Like the rest of our team, I handle the full range of cases the firm takes on: DUI, juvenile defense, drug charges, theft, traffic violations, domestic violence, and other misdemeanor and felony charges most commonly facing the clients we serve. What I focus on within that work is thorough preparation. I investigate, counsel, and build strategies and game plans so we’re ready for anything, whether that’s arraignment, motions, trial, or any other stage of a case. I’m not loud, and I’m not combative for the sake of it. I’m persistent, deeply prepared, and unwilling to leave important questions unanswered. My work is grounded in the belief that clients deserve to be seen as more than the worst moment of their lives, and that thoughtful advocacy begins with listening before acting.
Case types I handle:
Counties I regularly work in:
Fulton, DeKalb, Clayton, Gwinnett, and Henry
Courts I regularly appear in:
Bar admissions:
Court admissions:
Education:
Professional memberships:
Awards and honors:
Media appearances.
Speaking engagements.
Notable case press coverage.
Languages. English, Spanish
Prior roles. Volunteered under the student practice act with the Metro Conflict Defender’s Office in Fulton County (2015–2017), which built her relationships with judges and prosecutors and made Fulton a home-court advantage. Before joining the firm at the end of 2024, spent nearly eight years at a Decatur criminal defense firm focused on serious felony and abuse cases, and gained capital case experience (second-chair qualified). Extensive pro bono work with Atlanta Legal Aid, including uncontested divorces and name changes for domestic violence survivors, and name and gender-marker changes for LGBTQ+ clients.
I’m from Rome, Georgia originally, and I’ve been in Atlanta since 2013. I’m very involved with my family, both in Rome and my chosen family in Atlanta, and I like being the fun “auntie” to my friends’ kids, then getting to come home to peace afterward. My fiancé, David, is also a criminal defense attorney, and we live in Southwest Atlanta with our five-year-old white German Shepherd, Ghost, and our precocious two-year-old gray cat, Prince Caspian (both adopted; adopt, don’t shop!). We’ve been watching One Piece on Netflix, and diving into the anime version too. I’m good at whistling, grew up playing flute and piccolo, and can “cross my lips” like Carol Burnett. I love concerts of all types, especially seeing the oldies before they stop touring and jam bands like Phish, Spafford, Goose, and DMB. Once a week I go to Pilates and a soundbath meditation class. I’m extremely proud of the home we bought as millennial and gen-x “kids,” because owning property now is so rare, especially inside the city, and I love getting away to our family cabin in Southwest Maine when I can.
Who is Erin King?
Erin King is a criminal and juvenile defense attorney with Ghanouni Teen & Young Adult Defense Firm, based in Atlanta. A former high school teacher, she has spent her legal career defending people of all ages in the criminal legal system, with a focus on treating each client as a whole person rather than a case file.
What kinds of cases does Erin handle?
Erin handles DUI, juvenile, drug, theft, domestic violence, felony, and traffic matters, and has experience with cases ranging from traffic offenses to capital cases.
What courts does Erin appear in?
She appears regularly in the superior, state, juvenile, traffic, and municipal courts of Fulton, DeKalb, Clayton, Gwinnett, Henry, and Coweta counties, and has handled cases across metro Atlanta.
What did Erin do before joining the firm?
Before joining the firm at the end of 2024, Erin spent nearly eight years at a Decatur criminal defense firm handling serious felony and abuse cases, gained capital case experience, and did extensive pro bono work with Atlanta Legal Aid. Before law school, she taught at-risk high school students in Northwest Georgia.
Ghanouni Teen & Young Adult Defense Firm
As a teacher and a criminal defense attorney, I have spent my adult life working closely with young people whose lives were often shaped by circumstances beyond their control. That gives me both firsthand insight into the challenges people face in the criminal legal system and the experience to help clients of any age through some of the most difficult moments of their lives with empathy, knowledge, and skill.
Quick Facts:
Erin King is a criminal and juvenile defense attorney with Ghanouni Teen & Young Adult Defense Firm, based in Atlanta, Georgia. She defends clients of any age facing DUI, juvenile, drug, theft, domestic violence, felony, and traffic charges, and appears regularly in the superior, state, and municipal courts of Fulton, DeKalb, Clayton, Gwinnett, and Coweta counties throughout metro Atlanta.
People ask me all the time why I became a criminal defense attorney, and the truth is, I didn’t start out planning to go to law school. I was actually a high school teacher first.
I taught at-risk students in Northwest Georgia, and that experience completely changed how I looked at young people and their loved ones. I had students who were funny, smart, and incredibly resilient. I remember students who would come to school exhausted because they were working jobs at night or taking care of younger siblings. They weren’t bad kids. They were kids carrying adult responsibilities in ways most people never noticed. It made me realize how quickly someone’s life can change because of one decision, or sometimes because of circumstances they never chose in the first place. That’s really what led me to become a lawyer.
One thing I’ve learned over the years is that when a teenager, young adult, or adult is facing criminal charges, it’s rarely just the legal case that’s affecting them. It’s their family, their education, their freedom, their future, financial obstacles, and often their confidence. My job isn’t just to understand the law. It’s to help people through one of the hardest moments of their lives and make sure they’re treated fairly throughout the process.
I don’t think any police report or criminal charge tells you who a client is. People are complicated. They make mistakes. Sometimes they’re falsely accused. Sometimes they need someone who will take the time to understand the whole story instead of making assumptions. I realized pretty quickly that the students and clients who got in the most trouble were often the same people who just needed someone to believe in them. It is our job as defense attorneys to take their names off paper and tell their stories, humanizing our clients and showing the government why we are exceptionally prepared and thorough, both legally and empathetically, as we walk shoulder to shoulder with our clients through these cases.
If I wasn’t practicing law, I’d still be teaching. Thankfully, I still get to teach and mentor, so it’s the best of both worlds. I find joy in watching people discover what they’re capable of and develop their confidence, and in a lot of ways I still get to do that. I just do it in a different classroom now, with the government as my audience. I take that very seriously, and I’m honored to help my clients when they’re facing a crossroads.
One of the things I appreciate most about our firm is that we don’t jump straight into giving advice. We take the time to understand the person we’re talking to before we start talking about strategy. By doing that, we learn what’s important to them and design our approach to help clients understand not only what’s happening in their case, but why we’re recommending a particular path forward. My goal is that when someone leaves that meeting, they have a clearer picture of what to expect and feel comfortable asking questions along the way.
I know that for many families, this is their first experience with the criminal legal system. It can feel confusing, intimidating, and overwhelming. I try to slow things down, explain the process in plain language, and make sure everyone understands what each step means before we move on. I never want a client or their loved ones to leave a meeting with more questions than they had before it started.
One thing I pay particular attention to is helping clients manage both the legal and emotional sides of a case. Court dates, investigations, and uncertainty can take a real toll on people. While I can’t eliminate that stress, I can make sure they know what to expect, where we are in the process, and that they have someone they can turn to when questions come up. Sometimes my job is delivering difficult news, but I believe clients make the best decisions when they understand the reality of their case, not just the outcome they’re hoping for. Transparently addressing the worst-case scenarios lets us work together as a team, so clients understand their options and make the best-informed decisions moving forward.
The feedback that means the most to me is when clients tell me they felt heard. Even when the outcome isn’t immediate or easy, knowing that someone took the time to listen, explain, and walk beside them can make all the difference. I want every client to leave our office feeling informed, respected, and prepared for whatever comes next.
Like the rest of our team, I handle the full range of cases the firm takes on: DUI, juvenile defense, drug charges, theft, traffic violations, domestic violence, and other misdemeanor and felony charges most commonly facing the clients we serve. What I focus on within that work is thorough preparation. I investigate, counsel, and build strategies and game plans so we’re ready for anything, whether that’s arraignment, motions, trial, or any other stage of a case. I’m not loud, and I’m not combative for the sake of it. I’m persistent, deeply prepared, and unwilling to leave important questions unanswered. My work is grounded in the belief that clients deserve to be seen as more than the worst moment of their lives, and that thoughtful advocacy begins with listening before acting.
Case types I handle:
Counties I regularly work in:
Fulton, DeKalb, Clayton, Gwinnett, and Henry
Courts I regularly appear in:
Bar admissions:
Court admissions:
Education:
Professional memberships:
Awards and honors:
Media appearances.
Speaking engagements.
Notable case press coverage.
Languages. English, Spanish
Prior roles. Volunteered under the student practice act with the Metro Conflict Defender’s Office in Fulton County (2015–2017), which built her relationships with judges and prosecutors and made Fulton a home-court advantage. Before joining the firm at the end of 2024, spent nearly eight years at a Decatur criminal defense firm focused on serious felony and abuse cases, and gained capital case experience (second-chair qualified). Extensive pro bono work with Atlanta Legal Aid, including uncontested divorces and name changes for domestic violence survivors, and name and gender-marker changes for LGBTQ+ clients.
I’m from Rome, Georgia originally, and I’ve been in Atlanta since 2013. I’m very involved with my family, both in Rome and my chosen family in Atlanta, and I like being the fun “auntie” to my friends’ kids, then getting to come home to peace afterward. My fiancé, David, is also a criminal defense attorney, and we live in Southwest Atlanta with our five-year-old white German Shepherd, Ghost, and our precocious two-year-old gray cat, Prince Caspian (both adopted; adopt, don’t shop!). We’ve been watching One Piece on Netflix, and diving into the anime version too. I’m good at whistling, grew up playing flute and piccolo, and can “cross my lips” like Carol Burnett. I love concerts of all types, especially seeing the oldies before they stop touring and jam bands like Phish, Spafford, Goose, and DMB. Once a week I go to Pilates and a soundbath meditation class. I’m extremely proud of the home we bought as millennial and gen-x “kids,” because owning property now is so rare, especially inside the city, and I love getting away to our family cabin in Southwest Maine when I can.
Who is Erin King?
Erin King is a criminal and juvenile defense attorney with Ghanouni Teen & Young Adult Defense Firm, based in Atlanta. A former high school teacher, she has spent her legal career defending people of all ages in the criminal legal system, with a focus on treating each client as a whole person rather than a case file.
What kinds of cases does Erin handle?
Erin handles DUI, juvenile, drug, theft, domestic violence, felony, and traffic matters, and has experience with cases ranging from traffic offenses to capital cases.
What courts does Erin appear in?
She appears regularly in the superior, state, juvenile, traffic, and municipal courts of Fulton, DeKalb, Clayton, Gwinnett, Henry, and Coweta counties, and has handled cases across metro Atlanta.
What did Erin do before joining the firm?
Before joining the firm at the end of 2024, Erin spent nearly eight years at a Decatur criminal defense firm handling serious felony and abuse cases, gained capital case experience, and did extensive pro bono work with Atlanta Legal Aid. Before law school, she taught at-risk high school students in Northwest Georgia.
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