Licensed Legal Advocates: A Randomized Study of Non-Lawyer Services for Survivors of Domestic Violence

The purpose of this study is to empirically evaluate the success of a new model of legal services provision for survivors of domestic violence. The State of Arizona approved Licensed Legal Advocates to provide limited legal advice to survivors within a narrowly defined scope of service (e.g., family law, orders of protection). Licensed Legal Advocates will operate on a pilot basis in Pima County (Tucson), AZ, and field partner Emerge! Center Against Domestic Abuse will provide services. Consenting participants in Emerge programs for survivors will be randomized to work with a Licensed Legal Advocate (who may offer limited advice) or a Lay Legal Advocate (who may only offer information on legal procedures and forms). The current standard of care for legal information is provided by Lay Legal Advocates. The study team hypothesizes that the Licensed Advocates will have a measurable effect on whether and how efficiently survivors’ civil legal needs are met in Pima County. The results of this study will inform the expansion of limited-scope licensed advocacy for other legal issues and in other jurisdictions.