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Volunteer Attorneys (Retired) for Mommy's Heart, Inc. to Support Abused and Neglected Children
ORGANIZATION: Mommy's Heart, Inc.
This opportunity is provided by VolunteerMatch's partner.
Please visit the new page to apply.
Please visit the new page to apply.
- A group opportunity. Invite your friends.
-
2 people are interested
Volunteer Opportunity for Retired Family Law Attorneys at Mommy's Heart: Empowering Survivors through Justice
Organization Overview
Mommy's Heart, Inc. (EIN #87-4833078) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization providing free legal representation, mental health, and advocacy services to parents and children who escaped domestic abuse and face retaliatory lawfare by their abusers in court.
The Need
The cost of legal representation is a significant barrier to justice. Parents who cannot afford an attorney are unable to adequately protect their parental rights and advocate for their children's best interests. This disparity in access to legal representation contributes to 58,000 children per year being court-ordered to unsupervised contact, including sole custody arrangements, with an abusive parent. Every six days, a child dies due to family court failures.
Our Mission
Mommy's Heart aims to protect and defend the fundamental rights of all fit parents to direct the care and custody of their children. We are dedicated to bringing equal access to justice to all abuse survivors.
Volunteer Opportunity
Position Title: Volunteer Family Law Attorney
Duration: Flexible, based on volunteer availability
Location: Remote, in-office, or hybrid (based on personal preference)
Position Summary
Mommy's Heart seeks dedicated retired attorneys with family law experience to volunteer their time and expertise. This opportunity allows you to use your skills and knowledge to make a meaningful impact on the lives of abuse survivors while combating retaliatory lawfare.
Key Responsibilities
Legal Representation: Provide pro bono legal representation to abuse survivors in family court proceedings.
Initial client interviews and case assessment: Review court documents and case information provided by the parent, conduct an initial assessment interview via Zoom, and prepare a written assessment and legal brief summarizing the case details.
Case Strategy: Develop and implement legal strategies to protect survivors' rights and their children's best interests.
Document Preparation: Drafting and filing of legal documents, including petitions, motions, affidavits, and court pleadings.
Court Appearances: Represent clients in court hearings and trials.
Client Support: Offer empathetic support and guidance to survivors throughout the legal process.
Collaboration: Collaborate with our multidisciplinary team, including legal and mental health professionals, to ensure a holistic approach to survivor support.
Mentorship: Share your expertise with less experienced attorneys and legal staff within the organization.
Policy Advocacy: Contribute to discussions and research related to policy changes aimed at improving the legal system's response to abuse survivors.
Qualifications
Retired attorney with significant experience in family law
Active or emeritus bar membership
Strong commitment to social justice and empowering abuse survivors
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
Ability to handle sensitive information with discretion
Benefits of Volunteering
Make a meaningful contribution to a noble cause
Utilize your legal expertise to directly impact survivors' lives
Flexible commitment based on your availability
Opportunity to mentor and share knowledge with younger attorneys
Stay connected to the legal community in retirement
How to Get Involved
Interested retired attorneys are invited to contact Mommy's Heart at mommysheartinc@gmail.com. Please include "Volunteer Attorney Application - [Your Name]" in the subject line of your email.
Join us in making a difference in the lives of abuse survivors and helping them regain control of their futures through justice and support.
www.mommysheartfoundation.com
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About Mommy's Heart, Inc.
Location:
930 Fifth Avenue, 4H, New York, NY 10021, US
Mission Statement
Mommy’s Heart, Inc. is a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit organization, which provides free legal representation and mental health services to fit mothers and children, who have been subjected to intimate partner violence and have been victimized by the abuses and civil rights violations of the family court system.
Description
The family court system lacks essential domestic violence training and disproportionately favors men over women, allowing alleged abusers to weaponize the court system and use the child as a pawn to perpetuate the torture of their ex partner, who is often punished for speaking out about the abuse. In a 2019 study conducted by George Washington University Law school professor Joan S. Meier, mothers, who reported child abuse, lost custody of their children to their abusers 30 to 50 percent of the time. Custody litigation can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars and has depleted many families of the necessary resources to fight and protect the best interests of their children. High conflict custody cases further exacerbated by family court abuses and civil rights violations make finding competent legal counsel with expertise in this area that much more expensive and challenging. The stress of navigating a very dysfunctional family court system corrupted by special interests stacked against the protective mother and the safety and well-being of her child is traumatizing in and of itself, especially when that mother has just escaped an abusive partner and is now faced with the fear and possibility of losing her child to her abusive ex. Counseling and other therapeutic and supportive services by licensed mental health professionals are essential to helping these women validate their experiences, cope, heal, and maintain their emotional and psychological strength while combating a parent's worst nightmare.
CAUSE AREAS
Advocacy & Human Rights,
Children & Youth,
Justice & Legal
WHEN
We'll work with your schedule.
WHERE
930 5th Avenue4HNew York, NY 10021
(40.77379 ,-73.9657 )
DATE POSTED
June 23, 2025
SKILLS
- Child Welfare
- Family Law
- Child Advocacy
GOOD FOR
- People 55+
- Public Groups
- Private Groups
REQUIREMENTS
- Background Check
- NY Bar
Private Group Details
- Group Size Range 1 - 50+
- Event can be held virtually, at a volunteer group location (e.g. office, park) or at organization location(s)
- No Donation