Correcting Myopia in Domestic Violence Advocacy: Moving Forward in Lawyering and Law School Clinics

64 Pages Posted: 20 Apr 2011 Last revised: 10 Jun 2014

See all articles by Camille Carey

Camille Carey

University of New Mexico - School of Law

Date Written: April 18, 2011

Abstract

Lawyers and law school clinics have become myopic in their approach to civil domestic violence lawyering. This article argues that domestic violence lawyering should expand beyond its current focus on family law to move domestic violence law and practice forward. Drawing on theoretical frameworks from criminal law and feminist legal theory, this article proposes a lawyering model that expands individual representation across a wide spectrum of case types while also challenging systems that enable battering or do not support victims in their efforts to secure safety.

Holistic representation in family law, public benefits, immigration, housing, mortgage foreclosure, tort, and financial matters, among other substantive areas, better serves domestic violence victims and reveals systemic problems facing victims. By taking a dual approach – broad holistic representation of individual victims combined with law reform efforts directed at systemic issues revealed through broad direct representation – lawyers and law school clinics can move domestic violence advocacy forward.

Keywords: domestic violence, family law, feminism, clinical law, criminal law

Suggested Citation

Carey, Camille, Correcting Myopia in Domestic Violence Advocacy: Moving Forward in Lawyering and Law School Clinics (April 18, 2011). 21 Colum. J. Gender & L. 220 (2011), UNM School of Law Research Paper No. 2011-04, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1809979

Camille Carey (Contact Author)

University of New Mexico - School of Law ( email )

1117 Stanford, N.E.
Albuquerque, NM 87131
United States

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
199
Abstract Views
1,642
Rank
276,074
PlumX Metrics