
EDUCATION
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North Carolina State University (2001 - 2005)
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Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), English Language & Literature
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Emory University School of Law (2005 - 2008)
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Doctor of Law (J.D.)
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PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND
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Assistant Public Defender (May 2010 - April 2012)
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Public Defender's Office - Augusta District
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Appeals Officer (June 2012 - January 2013)
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National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
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Assistant Solicitor General (February 2013 - February 2017)
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Solicitor General's Office Augusta Richmond County
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Attorney (February 2017 - Present)
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The Law Office of Ashanti A. Lilley, LLC
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At the tender age of five, I was drawn to the justice system. During the summers, I would often spend long hours with my grandmother who was known in our community as an advocate for troubled youth. My love for the law began when I would attend court with my grandmother, who at times would speak to judges on behalf of children in a role of a surrogate parent or community supporter.
I received my undergraduate degree from North Carolina State University and my law degree from Emory University School of Law. While at Emory, I served as the Community Service Chair for the Black Law Students Association. I also was a member of Emory’s Public Interest Committee and a recipient of Emory’s Public Interest Grant.
I have practiced law in Augusta for over a decade in multiple roles. The majority of my practice has been in Richmond County State Court. I began my career as a public defender. A couple of years later, I started working as the Lead Accountability Court prosecutor in the Richmond County Solicitor General’s Office. While at the Solicitor’s Office, I was instrumental in building the Richmond County State Court DUI, Drug and Veterans’ Courts. In 2017, I opened my law practice and continued to practice as a criminal defense attorney and a family law attorney. I also serve as the Richmond County State Court Judicial Compliance Officer. As the Judicial Compliance Officer, I have worked on multiple projects. One of them is Fresh Start, a program that created special court sessions to resolve cases in bench warrant status.
I am married to Antonio, and I have one daughter named Christian and two dogs, King and Prince. I am an Augusta Downtown Development Authority board member and the Wilson Branch YMCA.