Resources for Advocates

Legal Advocate Guide

Issued 2024

This guide is a tool for legal advocates working with survivors of sexual violence. It is an introduction to legal advocacy covering a range of topics from working with survivors to walking the line between legal advocacy and unlicensed practice of law. Each section provides a very basic introduction and can be read alone or as part of the entire guide. It also includes tips and infographics advocates can use to help prepare survivors for court.

Also available in Spanish.

Civil Protection Order FAQs

Issued 2025

These FAQs provide guidance for answering the many privacy questions that arise when victim service providers help children and teens who are survivors of sexual assault, dating and domestic violence, stalking, and sex trafficking.

Find additional guides, tools, and FAQs in VRLC Resource Library!

Hands-On Advocacy: Key Concepts in 5 Minutes or Less

Organizational Care Plan Template + Short Video Guide

Webinars for Advocates

Legal Information vs. Legal Advice

Recorded September 2025

This webinar explores what constitutes the unauthorized practice of law, or “UPL,” its consequences, and how advocates can best support survivors involved in the legal system without crossing into UPL.

Legal Issue Spotting and Referrals

Recorded February 2024

In this webinar for advocates, VRLC attorneys Maura Crossin and Alexia Tomlinson explore how to incorporate legal issue spotting into client intakes, and provide guidance on when – and how – to make an attorney referral.

Intentional Care: Recognizing and Addressing Vicarious Trauma

Recorded June 2025

Working as a legal advocate means walking alongside survivors facing difficult, emotional, and traumatic experiences every single day. Carrying through and continuing the good work requires intentional care for yourself and a network of support.

Collaborative Safety Planning with Dating Violence Survivors

Recorded February 2026

This webinar explores safety planning with dating violence survivors, emphasizing common challenges and best practices in order to better prepare advocates to assess survivor safety needs and engage in effective safety planning.

Check out our webinar archive for more content!

Safety Exit