“Legal services are a critical part of the support network for domestic violence survivors because so many aspects of safety and stability are tied to legal rights and protections.”

Samantha Schaal is a fairly new attorney at Legal Aid of WV (LAWV), serving domestic violence survivors out of our Charleston office. However, like many of our staff attorneys, she started her journey with LAWV as an intern.

“In law school, I interned in the Wheeling and Morgantown LAWV offices. I enjoyed my time learning from and working with attorneys who genuinely care about the work they were doing,” Samantha explains. “It was also impactful seeing the effect their work had in their clients’ lives. So, I always knew that I would want to come back and work at Legal Aid.”

Immediately following law school, Samantha returned home to the Wheeling area, where she clerked for a federal judge. Her time clerking gave her a better impression of the dynamics of the legal system and working with the people in it—from judges to clients.

In June 2024, she moved to Charleston to take a position with LAWV.

From the beginning, she has worked in family law, helping domestic violence survivors on different levels. This summer, she became a full-time VOCA attorney: a LAWV position funded by the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) dollars designated to help West Virginians experiencing abuse.

“VOCA attorneys assist survivors of domestic violence in domestic violence protective order cases, custody, divorce, housing matters—cases that impact survivors of domestic violence,” she says. “During my time at Legal Aid, especially as a new attorney, it’s been wonderful to have amazing people that I can turn to with questions about cases. I am lucky to work with people who care so much about the work that we do at LAWV.”

LAWV staff work with community partner groups like the West Virginia Coalition against Domestic Violence and the network of domestic violence shelters across the state.

“My work has changed the way I view community service and the community itself by showing me how important it is to have groups in the community that can provide support to survivors of domestic violence,” says Samantha. “While others can provide emotional support, safety planning, and other vital resources, LAWV attorneys can take actions that directly impact survivors safety and long-term independence by assisting clients with DVPOs, custody, divorces, child support cases, and housing matters.”

Many of our clients may not know that there is a legal side to domestic violence, so many come as a referral from other survivor resource groups.

The first step an attorney takes is often finding out if there is a Domestic Violence Protective Order (DVPO) in place for a client. If there is not one, they will often pursue that. From there, attorneys work with clients to address their needs with the end goal of safety, stability, and support.

“Working with survivors of domestic violence requires not only legal knowledge, but patience and empathy. Survivors come to us at very challenging times,” Samantha says. “Our role goes beyond just helping them navigate the legal system. We also must listen without judgement and help survivors make informed choices. 

“Legal issues are very interconnected for our clients. For example, if a client comes to us for help obtaining a domestic violence protective order but is married and has children, they may also need help with a divorce and a child custody case as well.”

Though she has only been in her current role for about a year, Samantha has made herself an invaluable part of the LAWV team. She works closely with other attorneys but also paralegals and legal assistants to provide thorough, quality legal assistance to survivors.

Survivors often only have fragments of what many of us take for granted in terms of their possessions, financial independence, and even their memories.

Our attorneys are a vital part of picking up those pieces.

“One of the most important aspects is just being there to support our clients—whether it’s giving advice to a client on how to navigate the system, listening to survivors stories and helping them, or physically showing up to court with clients to help them tell their stories. I’ve seen first-hand how tough it can be for survivors to go into a court room alone. I have seen how having someone with them can make a big difference.”

When not at work, Samantha is close with her family. She says spending time with them, and walking her golden retriever, help her unwind after a long week at work.