Domestic Violence Courtroom Advocates Project
The Courtroom Advocates Project recruits, trains, supervises and mentors law students to provide legal assistance to battered women seeking protective orders. Victims of domestic violence typically enter family court seeking Orders of Protection against their abusers on the heels of an incident of severe violence. Student Advocates interview domestic violence victims, help them draft and file their petitions, advocate for them during court appearances, educate them about their legal rights and remedies, and provide them with safety planning and referrals to community resources, such as shelters and counseling. The Project has partnered with three seasoned legal services agencies (Legal Aid Society’s Volunteer Division Community Law Office, New York Legal Assistance Group, and Sanctuary for Families’ Center for Battered Women’s Legal Service) that supervise advocates in court and take over cases when they become litigated or too complex for student advocacy alone. The Project trains law students through initial full-day intensive training sessions accompanied by a thorough training manual and additional follow-up seminars. Students are directly supervised in court by experienced family law attorneys and receive ongoing supervision from the attorneys on the supervisory board.