The AAUW Legal Advocacy Fund does not give direct legal assistance, but it does offer referrals through a network of attorneys and experts. Network partners provide initial consultations to individuals considering or conducting sex discrimination litigation against colleges and universities. Each year, LAF receives hundreds of calls from individuals and their attorneys and friends who seek legal advice. The Network — more than 300 participants in 48 states and the District of Columbia — provides plaintiffs and potential plaintiffs with the information they need to make the best decisions about their legal recourse. Referrals to Network participants are provided at no charge and network participants area encouraged to provide a consultation free or at a reduced rate.

Network partners include attorneys with expertise in Title VII, sexual harassment, Title IX, pay equity, and other areas. Network experts, who are often called on as potential expert witnesses, specialize in areas relevant to sex discrimination such as the psychological effect of discrimination on professional women, and institutional practices that can be discriminatory.

Litigation battles are exhausting and expensive; the toll on personal, professional, and financial resources is heavy. Network partners can advise plaintiffs and potential plaintiffs on the following:

• Identifying whether they have a claim for sex discrimination
• Locating research reports, statistics, and other resources
• Gauging the strength of their suit and pinpointing legal strategies
• Determining alternatives available to fight the sex discrimination
• Assessing the ramifications and consequences of their options

As a service to Network partners, LAF provides a listserve through which those in the Network can exchange resources and ideas with their fellow colleagues in the field. LAF also provides Network partners with Network News, an electronic newsletter that delivers the latest developments in court cases and research concerning gender equity issues in higher education.

Attorneys and experts who have relevant expertise and an interest in becoming part of the Network can download and complete the appropriate questionnaire below. Completed questionnaires can be e-mailed to legal-ntwk@aauw.org.

 Download the questionnaire for attorneys

 Download the questionnaire for experts

The questionnaires above are in MS Word format. You should be able to fill in the form on your screen (If not, please save the document to your desktop and open in your MS Word application. If you cannot access these forms or would like a hard copy, please e-mail legal-ntwk@aauw.org or call 202/785-7750.

 Please also see "Questions to Ask an Attorney"

 Learn the basics about navigating the legal system

 Read the latest issue of Network News