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What We Offer
The legal department consists of the Staff Attorney, Immigration Attorney and Coordinated Community Response Specialist. We offer legal technical assistance and training to state domestic violence programs and to those working within the legal system who come in contact with victims or perpetrators of domestic violence. The Immigration Attorney and the Coordinated Community Response Specialist also offer on-site technical assistance.
In addition to technical assistance and trainings, members of the legal department provide systems advocacy which includes working with legal, welfare, immigration and other institutions on issues which might impact victims of domestic violence. Also visit the Immigration webpage and Coordinated Community Response webpage for other legal department information.
The Legal department does not provide legal representation and cannot provide legal advice to victims.
Networking and Support
WCADV's legal department provides networking and support opportunities through:
- The legal department offers statewide trainings. Annual trainings are offered to Wisconsin domestic violence and sexual assault programs on restraining orders and family law. Immigration law and advanced legal trainings are offered periodically. An overview of legal issues impacting domestic violence programs is offered twice a year at the New Staff trainings. Visit our events section to see WCADV's 2003 training and meeting calendar.
- The legal department staff assists with development of training curricula about the dynamics of domestic violence and the laws impacting adult victims and perpetrators of domestic violence for the legal system, such as attorneys, court commissioners, clerks of court, judges, probation agents, prosecutors and law enforcement officers.
- The Legal department provides trainings to legal system professionals about the dynamics of domestic violence and the laws impacting adult victims and perpetrators of domestic violence.
- The legal department staff works with players in the legal system to change, create or monitor practices and policies which impact adult victims of domestic violence. For example, working with the State's Record Management Committee (RMC) to implement changes in restraining order petitions when a change occurs in the law. Also visit the CCR Program webpage for related information.
- The legal department provides trainings to statewide organizations who assist underserved populations, including: UNIDOS (serving the needs of the Latino population, including migrant workers), Refugee Family Strengthening Project (serving the needs of refugee populations, including Southeast Asian refugees such as the Hmong) and the AIAA (American Indians Against Abuse, serving the needs of American Indians). Visit the Immigration Program webpage or contact the Immigration Attorney at WCADV for more information. For more information about WCADV and communities of color visit the Communities or People of Color webpage.
Technical Assistance and Quality Improvement
WCADV's legal department assists local advocates, attorneys and others in finding information about legal options and remedies for victims of domestic violence and their children.
- Technical assistance includes researching, writing and distributing materials to domestic violence programs. Annually, the legal department updates the Legal Manual (a two volume, 1,600 page resource manual) created for domestic violence programs that addresses legal issues impacting victims of domestic violence. Specifically, the Legal Manual includes an overview of the legal system and legal issues affecting domestic violence programs; restraining orders; family law; criminal law; including mandatory arrest; miscellaneous legal issues such as housing laws, elder abuse, W-2 and federal laws, including the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).
- The legal department also manages two sets of legal funds. An applicant must apply through a local domestic violence program or through Legal Services Agencies for direct legal representation. The general legal funds may be requested for circuit court matters, such as divorce or restraining orders. WCADV distributes these funds equitably targeting Wisconsin's five geographic regions, people of color and for appellate cases. The second set of funds are available for battered immigrants or victims of abuse who are defendants in a criminal case.
- University of Wisconsin Law School Externship Program places up to three students with the legal department each semester. These law students provide technical assistance, including legal research and writing.
For more information on networking and support and technical assistance and quality improvement available from WCADV, please contact the Staff Attorney at (608) 255-0539 or click here and select legal department from the drop-down list to send an e-mail message.