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Legal Services

In-House Legal Liaison

Abusers often manipulate the court system to continue their pattern of power and control.

Legal Liaison services are available to current SHALVA counseling clients. When clients understand how the legal system works and what they can realistically expect from it, they become empowered and active participants in the process. At SHALVA, we believe that this knowledge and understanding will help lessen client anxiety or stress.

The Legal Liaison helps a SHALVA client by:

  • Explaining how the legal system works and providing support and information to clients.
  • Empowering SHALVA clients to become active participants in the legal process by providing education, information and referrals. The Legal Liaison will not represent clients or handle cases.
  • Meeting with clients to help them understand all aspects of the legal process.
  • Translating legal documents for clients.
  • Connecting the client, her attorney and her SHALVA therapist, so that the client works more effectively with her attorney.
  • Helping clients prepare for meetings with their attorneys.
  • Helping with post decree issues.

If you are not a current client or are a former client, you must first meet with a SHALVA therapist for an assessment. To schedule an assessment, call 773-583- HOPE (4673).

Legal Outreach and Education

The Education and Outreach Legal Liaison collaborates with the legal community to address gaps in the legal system on the issues of education, awareness, and access. SHALVA offers continuing legal education programs (CLEs) on issues related to the intersection between domestic abuse and the legal system.

How you can help:

  • Represent SHALVA’s clients. Experienced family law attorneys are always needed.
  • Host an educational program in your law office or at a legal group meeting.
  • Watch our past programs below to learn more about the intersection of domestic abuse and the legal process.

Continuing Legal Education Video Library

Domestic Violence and the Workplace

Drafting Persuasive Petitions for Orders of Protection

Negotiating With Difficult Parties: Strategies for Working with Narcissists and Those Who Abuse

Best Practices for SHALVA Referral Attorneys

Tips of Obtaining and Enforcing Orders of Proection

An Order of Protection (``OP``) must be enforceable to be effective. Our panel of experts discuss the additional steps needed for both litigants and their lawyers. Various agencies and individuals may be involved and survivors often encounter delays or difficulties along the way.

Advocating for Survivors of Domestic Abuse in Parenting Issues

Leaving the abusive relationship can lead to extraordinary challenges when survivors enter the family law system. Lundy Bancroft explores what happens when a parent shares children with a domestic abuser. This program teaches attorneys, guardians ad litem, child evaluators, parenting coordinators and mediators how to provide effective assistance and advocacy in a caring and professional manner.

The Jewish Divorce Process and Get Refusal

A Get is a religious divorce under Jewish law and can only be given by a husband to a wife. When a husband refuses to give a Get, the woman becomes an “agunah” or “chained woman”. As an agunah, she is unable to remarry within the Jewish tradition and have full control over her own life decisions. Get refusal is common form of domestic abuse, a way to keep power and control over a woman.

Domestic Violence, ACES and Trauma

Viewing Our Legal Work Through a Trauma Informed Lens
Continuing Legal Education Program

Strategies for Representing Survivors of Domestic Abuse

Our panel of experts discuss best practices in working with these clients, with an understanding of the trauma your clients have experienced.

Contact the Outreach and Education Legal Liaison if you are interested in learning more about the program or would like to be involved.