Research

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If you are interested in a matter, please let us know as soon as possible by emailing Isis Bous and Allison Laubach through the “Ask About This Matter” button on the details page or directly (ibous@lexmundiprobono.org; alaubach@lexmundiprobono.org) and let us know which project(s) interests you. We will place matches with Lex Mundi member firms on a first-come, first-served basis.

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FreeFrom

Research on Legislation Involving Financial Security for Victims of Gender-Based Violence

Summary:

Assist a non-profit that supports victims of gender-based violence by conducting research on legislation related to survivor financial security.

Referred by:

  • Anonymous Collaborator
Jurisdictions: All States Excluding: AK; NV; NC; WA; WI
About the Organization: FreeFrom creates pathways to financial security and long-term safety for survivors of gender-based violence.
Legal Entity Type: Nonprofit/Charity
SDG(s):End Poverty, Gender Equality, Reduced Inequalities
Legal Issue(s):

FreeFrom has compiled a National Survivor Financial Security Policy Map and Scorecard, an online tool that measures how well (and not so well) states have prioritized survivor financial security in their laws. They are now seeking assistance conducting research to find state-level legislation related to survivor financial security that has been introduced in the last two years.

They’d love to have the research completed by August 31, 2022 if possible. This could be a great project for summer associates! Freefrom needs assistance in 45 states. Attorneys can pick the jurisdictions they’d like to cover.

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FreeFrom

Research on Legislation Impacting Victims of Gender-Based Violence

Summary:

Assist a non-profit that supports victims of gender-based violence by conducting research on legislation impacting survivors.

Referred by:

  • Anonymous Collaborator
Jurisdictions: AL; AK; AR; CA; CO; DE; DC; FL; GA; HI; ID; IN; IA; KS; KY; LA; ME; MD; MI; MS; NV; NH; NM; NC; ND; OH; OK; OR; SC; SD; VT; VA; WV; WI
About the Organization: FreeFrom creates pathways to financial security and long-term safety for survivors of gender-based violence.
Legal Entity Type: Nonprofit/Charity
SDG(s):End Poverty, Gender Equality, Reduced Inequalities
Legal Issue(s):

Last year, FreeFrom launched their National Survivor Financial Security Policy Map and Scorecard, an online tool that measures how well (and not so well) states have prioritized survivor financial security in their laws.

Over this next year, they are working to make sure each state’s scorecard is up to date and plan to add more policy categories. This project will be 2-fold 1) checking for any changes in the state’s respective laws based on the current policy categories and 2) conducting research for each state for each new policy category.

They’d love to have the research completed by August 31, 2022 if possible. This could be a great project for summer associates! Freefrom needs assistance in 30 states. Attorneys can pick the jurisdictions they’d like to cover.

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Jayla’s Dream

Research on Ownership of Tribal Land

Summary:

Assist a nonprofit founded by members of the Oglala Lakota tribe by conducting research to determine whether the federal government currently owns a parcel of land and if there is a vial legal avenue to have the land returned to the tribe.

Referred by:

Jurisdictions: U.S. (SD based nonprofit – issues deals with tribal land)
About the Organization: Jayla’s Dream is a nonprofit organization founded and run by members of the Oglala Lakota tribe to assist in humane dog population control strategies on the Pine Ridge Reservation. The tribe currently has limited funds for animal control. So, the Jayla’s Dream team works with the local community to both care for animals and develop strategies to curb dog attacks (which have become commonplace and sometimes deadly) in an ethical and culturally appropriate manner.
Legal Entity Type: Nonprofit/Charity
  • Visit Jayla's Dream
SDG(s):Good Health and Well Being
Legal Issue(s):

Jayla’s Dream plans to open an animal shelter, as well as a non-profit restaurant with proceeds going towards animal control. They would like to do so on land that was (and potentially still is) owned by the founder’s family. The land is on Sheep Mountain in South Dakota, which is historically and culturally significant to the tribe (additional details can be provided upon request). The land was acquired by the Department of Interior through eminent domain in 1942 for a bombing practice range. In 1968, through a court order, the land was returned to the Oglala Sioux Tribe. However, in 1969, under Public Law 90-468 some of the land was carved out to be used/managed by Badlands National Park, which the Oglala Sioux Tribe opposed. Some tiospayes (families) have been able to get their land back, while others haven’t.  The Jayla’s Dream team is seeking assistance determining: (i) who owns the land and/or has the power to transfer the land back to the founders’ family (largely for use by Jayla’s Dream); (ii) and whether there are any viable legal avenues for having the land returned (the attorney would not be obligated to pursue any legal action, simply to answer the questions above) . The founder is retrieving documents from various archives this week that include: (i) land transfers/documents; (ii) receipts, lists of payments made for accommodation and land sales; (iii) reports on bombing families evacuated; (iv) correspondence with landowners and the Tribal Council; and (v) related civil cases (all will be scanned and reviewed by their team). This project is particularly exciting given the recent uptick in cases around tribal lands/rights!

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