Legal Momentum

LEGAL MOMENTUM'S MISSION IS TO ADVANCE GENDER EQUALITY FOR WOMEN UNDER THE LAW.

NATIONAL JUDICIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMENSURING FAIRNESS IN THE COURTS THROUGH LEGAL MOMENTUM'S NATIONAL JUDICIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM (NJEP): THE AWARD-WINNING NJEP IS THE NATIONAL SOURCE FOR JUDICIAL EDUCATION ON SEXUAL VIOLENCE. NJEP PROVIDES TRAINING MATERIALS, SEMINARS AND CONFERENCES, AND WEBINARS FOR JUDGES, PROSECUTORS, VICTIMS' ATTORNEYS AND ADVOCATES, AND OTHER JUSTICE SYSTEM PROFESSIONALS ABOUT THE WAYS IN WHICH GENDER BIAS CAN UNDERMINE FAIRNESS IN CRIMINAL, CIVIL, FAMILY, AND JUVENILE LAW. NJEP FOCUSES PRIMARILY ON SEXUAL ASSAULT CASES AND CASES INVOLVING THE INTERSECTION OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

LEGAL PROGRAMS:LEGAL MOMENTUM'S LEGAL DEPARTMENT FOCUSES ON A NUMBER OF ISSUES IMPORTANT TO ADVANCING GENDER EQUALITY FOR WOMEN, INCLUDING:WORKPLACE EQUALITY AND ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT: THROUGH OUR WOMEN VALUED INITIATIVE, LEGAL MOMENTUM IS IMPLEMENTING STRATEGIES TO ADVANCE GENDER EQUALITY IN THE WORKPLACE AND ENHANCE ECONOMIC SECURITY FOR WOMEN, WITH A FOCUS ON THE MOST VULNERABLE GROUPS, INCLUDING WOMEN OF COLOR, WOMEN WORKING IN LOW-WAGE INDUSTRIES, SURVIVORS OF GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE, AND IMMIGRANT WOMEN. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)(CONTINUED FROM PART III, LINE 4B) BY DEVELOPING A KNOW-YOUR-RIGHTS GUIDANCE ON THE BROAD SPECTRUM OF WORKPLACE RIGHTS AND RELATED BENEFITS AND PROVIDING TRAINING AND OUTREACH TO LOW-INCOME WOMEN, THE PROJECT AIMS TO PROMOTE EARLY INTERVENTION BY EDUCATING WOMEN ABOUT HOW TO ACTIVELY ASSERT THEIR RIGHTS IN THE WORKPLACE AND WHEN TRYING TO ENTER THE WORKFORCE. THE PROJECT ALSO RAISES AWARENESS AND ENGAGES IN LEGISLATIVE AND REGULATORY ADVOCACY FOR REFORM AT THE NATIONAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LEVELS TO ADVANCE GENDER EQUALITY IN THE WORKPLACE AND ENHANCE WOMEN'S ECONOMIC SECURITY.COMBATTING VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN: LEGAL MOMENTUM IS WORKING ON SEVERAL PROJECTS WITH THE GOAL OF EMPOWERING SURVIVORS TO ADDRESS GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE AND ENSURING INFORMED COMMUNITY RESPONSES AND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR VIOLENCE PERPETRATED AGAINST WOMEN AND GIRLS INCLUDING: A. NATIONWIDE LEGISLATIVE POLICY GUIDANCES (TOGETHER WITH ORRICK, HERRINGTON & SUTCLIFFE): TO ENSURE THAT EXTORTING SEXUAL ACTS OR IMAGERY IS RECOGNIZED AS A SEX CRIME FOLLOWING OUR JULY 2016 REPORT, A CALL TO ACTION: ENDING SEXTORTION IN THE DIGITAL AGE;B. LED EFFORTS TO PASS A REAUTHORIZATION OF THE FEDERAL VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT (VAWA) WHICH IMPROVES RESPONSES TO GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE AND INCREASES SERVICES FOR VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS;C. RESEARCH AND POLICY ADVOCACY GUIDANCES TO PASS A FEDERAL AND/OR STATE-BASED GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE CIVIL RIGHTS REMEDY TO REPLACE THE VAWA CIVIL RIGHTS REMEDY STRUCK DOWN BY THE U.S. SUPREME COURT IN U.S. V. MORRISON (2000);D. LITIGATION ON BEHALF OF SURVIVORS OF GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE WHO HAVE FACED DISCRIMINATION IN THE WORKPLACE ON THE BASIS OF THEIR STATUS AS A SURVIVOR OF DOMESTIC/SEXUAL VIOLENCE; E. THROUGH OUR NEWLY LAUNCHED ONLINE TRAINING, HELPING SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIMS NAVIGATE THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, LEGAL MOMENTUM PROVIDES TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO VICTIM ADVOCATES ON HOW TO PROVIDE EFFECTIVE ADVOCACY FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIMS AS THEY ATTEMPT TO NAVIGATE THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. F. LEADING EFFORTS TO ENACT BROADER WORKPLACE PROTECTIONS FOR SURVIVORS.REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE: LEGAL MOMENTUM IS EXPANDING OUR WORK ON REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS TO ENGAGE IN RESEARCH, OUTREACH, AND LITIGATION TO CHALLENGE GOVERNMENT SURVEILLANCE OF AND INTRUSION INTO THE LIVES OF PREGNANT PERSONS. ENSURING EQUAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS: LEGAL MOMENTUM, WITH EXPERTISE IN TITLE IX OF THE EDUCATION AMENDMENTS OF 1972, PROVIDES LEGAL ASSISTANCE AND COUNSELING TO VICTIMS OF CAMPUS SEXUAL ASSAULT AND TO STUDENTS WHO ARE PREGNANT AND PARENTING, AND LEADS NATIONWIDE POLICY ADVOCACY ON THESE ISSUES. ADDITIONALLY, LEGAL MOMENTUM IS BEGINNING THE SEVENTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR OF OUR SUCCESSFUL 'RIGHTS NOW!' PROGRAM, UNDER A GRANT FROM THE NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL YOUNG WOMEN'S INITIATIVE. THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, LEGAL MOMENTUM DEVELOPS TRAININGS, PEER EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING, AND RESOURCES TO EMPOWER YOUNG, AT-RISK GIRLS (PARTICULARLY GIRLS OF COLOR) IN NEW YORK CITY AND PROVIDE THEM WITH ACCESSIBLE INFORMATION ABOUT THEIR RIGHTS AS STUDENTS AND YOUNG WORKERS.HELPLINE - DIRECT SERVICES AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE:LEGAL MOMENTUM'S HELPLINE RECEIVES SEVERAL HUNDRED CALLS PER YEAR FROM WOMEN SEEKING ASSISTANCE FOR SUCH MATTERS AS EMPLOYMENT ISSUES (SEXUAL HARASSMENT, SEXUAL DISCRIMINATION, PAY EQUITY, PREGNANCY ACCOMMODATION), CAMPUS SEXUAL ASSAULT, GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE. CALLERS ARE PROVIDED WITH TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, OR REFERRALS TO OTHER LEGAL SERVICE PROVIDERS (INCLUDING THE PRIVATE BAR), AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES.