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The Legal Aid Justice Center partners with clients and communities across Virginia to fight for racial, social, and economic justice. Maria Prieto Morales is the Legal Assistant-Client Advocate for their Richmond office.
Tell us a little about your agency and your role there.
The Legal Aid Justice Center combines individual legal representation, impact litigation, communications, policy advocacy, and organizing to achieve community goals. I am a Legal Assistant-Client Advocate for the Richmond office. In my role, I conduct intake, help with case management and document preparation, maintain calendars, organize files, participate in community events, and other administrative tasks as assigned.
When and how did you and/or your agency become involved with the GRTICN?
The Legal Aid Justice Center was first introduced to SCAN [the GRTICN's backbone agency] about two years ago through Trauma-Informed Trainings we completed as a community partner.
How has your agency’s participation in the GRTICN impacted its practices and policies?
The Legal Aid Justice Center's participation in the GRTICN has positively impacted our practices and policies by strengthening resource sharing and fostering meaningful collaboration with other organizations in the network. This has helped us gain a better understanding of the resources available in the community, enabling us to make more informed referrals when needed.
What are some trauma-informed/resilience-building initiatives or goals your agency is currently working toward?
The Legal Aid Justice Center intentionally integrates trauma‑informed practices across our work through ongoing staff training and effective de‑escalation techniques. We prioritize self‑care and collective wellness to strengthen staff resilience and sustainability in this work. By investing in our staff, we ensure we can provide consistent, respectful, and empowering advocacy that meets community members where they are and supports lasting community impact.
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