10.1 Basic Principles

Helping to secure and protect a client’s economic and consumer rights after separation from an abusive partner is essential to the client’s long-term personal and household well-being. The National Center for Survivor Agency and Justice is a national organization that provides excellent training and resources for attorneys on how to effectively identify and advocate for the economic needs of domestic violence survivors.1  A good place to start is this Consumer Rights Screening tool.2  Clients may need assistance with other issues such as public benefits, tax, subsidized housing, evictions, foreclosures, consumer debt, employment, etc.

• 1See Ctr. for Survivor Agency & Just.
• 2Leah A. Plunkett, Nat’l Consumer L. Ctr., & Erika A. Sussman, Ctr. for Survivor Agency & Just., Consumer Rights Screening Tool for Domestic Violence Advocates & Lawyers (2011).