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Holistic Legal Assistance to Sexual Violence Survivors
Thursday October 22, 2026 12:30pm - 1:25pm EDT
Cincinnati Convention Center
A sexual assault survivor walks into your office. She needs a protection order — but she also needs help with housing because her landlord is trying to evict her for calling the police. She's lost income and doesn't know about crime victim compensation. Her ex is using the family court system to maintain control. Her school mishandled her Title IX complaint. Her name and address are in public court records. Each of these is a separate legal problem, handled by a separate part of the legal system, and most survivors never get help with more than one — if they get help at all.
The OAESV Legal Clinic has built a model for holistic legal assistance that addresses the full range of civil legal needs arising from sexual violence: protection orders, victims' rights, compensation, Title IX and civil rights claims, housing, family law, and privacy. Caitlyn Benzo will briefly introduce the clinic's model and share data on what they're seeing — which legal needs survivors present with, which ones they don't know they have until someone asks, and where the biggest service gaps are.
One issue the clinic is addressing more often is the application of Marsy's Law now that several years have passed since its passage & implementation. Also included is how victim's representation within the criminal legal process is a vital piece of the holistic framework.
The conversation hour will continue with a group discussion: What barriers do survivors face in accessing legal help in your jurisdiction? How do you handle the intersection of trauma and legal process when a client can barely talk about what happened, let alone navigate a courtroom? What does collaboration look like between legal aid, victim services, prosecutors' offices, and housing providers — and where does it break down? Bring your own experiences serving survivors or your questions about how to start. 
This session is for legal aid attorneys, victim advocates, court staff, and anyone whose clients include people whose legal problems started with violence. Leave with a clearer picture of available civil remedies, connections to peers doing this work, and practical ideas for building holistic capacity in your own organization.

Speakers
CB

Caitlyn Benzo

Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence Legal Clinic
Caitlyn is an attorney with the Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence Legal Clinic, providing trauma-informed legal services across the state. Admitted to the Ohio bar in 2016, Caitlyn has dedicated her career to supporting those impacted by gender- and power-based violence. Caitlyn’s... Read More →
Thursday October 22, 2026 12:30pm - 1:25pm EDT
Cincinnati Convention Center 537 Elm St, Cincinnati, OH 45202
  Conversation Hour

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