ABA releases brochure to help lawyers screen for domestic violence

Victims of domestic violence seeking safety need many types of legal assistance — employment, tax, housing, bankruptcy, family, immigration, consumer — the list goes on. A 2003 study found that access to legal assistance is the most important factor in helping survivors become safe from violence. Victims of domestic violence or sexual assault by a partner may not automatically disclose to their lawyers that they are victims of violence in their homes; yet their status as victims could substantially impact the remedies their lawyer pursues.

The ABA Commission on Domestic Violence released a “Tool for Attorneys to Screen for Domestic Violence” in time for October, Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The brochure provides information for lawyers on how to screen their clients for domestic violence, including a checklist for lawyers who represent victims that includes safety precautions the lawyer and his or her staff should take. It includes sample questions to ask a client, as well as suggestions about what to do if the client discloses that he or she is a victim — or if the lawyer suspects the client is a victim but is not disclosing.

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