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Allison Mahoney        

Social Justice Lawyer; Sexual Abuse & Domestic Violence Awareness Advocate; Storyteller, Writer, and Founder of the Estorie Agency

Allison Mahoney is the Founder and Managing Attorney at ALM Law, where she represents survivors of sexual abuse, image-based sexual abuse, and intimate partner violence as well as children harmed while in the custody of child welfare systems. She has over a decade’s worth of experience litigating on behalf of survivors of abuse and civil rights violations.

Mahoney began her legal career at O’Melveny & Myers LLP, where she was a member of the firm’s pro bono committee and represented survivors of sexual abuse and intimate partner violence from around the world. She was later a prosecutor in New York City and investigated sex crimes, public corruption, and human trafficking rings. For the next several years, Mahoney worked at Lawyers for Children, Inc. and represented children in foster care in New York City in various family court proceedings. As LFC’s Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Project Attorney, she carried a specialized caseload and served as the in-house legal expert for cases involving those sensitive issues. Mahoney was most recently the Interim Deputy Director at A Better Childhood, where she investigated child welfare systems across the country, formed partnerships with local organizations and national law firms, and filed class action lawsuits on behalf of foster children, alleging violations of their civil and federal statutory rights.

Today, Mahoney is on the Board of Directors at Response, an organization that works with survivors of domestic and sexual abuse in the Roaring Fork Valley in Colorado, and she is on the Board of Directors at YouthZone, a diversion and advocacy program for youth in Colorado. Mahoney served as the Secretary of the New York City Bar Association’s Children & the Law Committee and is the Chair of Fordham University’s School of Law Government and Public Interest Affinity Group. She was also part of a working group to reimagine intimate partner violence services for abusers. The goal of the working group was to change abusers’ behaviors and stop the cycle of trauma.

Mahoney is admitted to practice in New York; Washington, D.C.; Colorado, and Illinois.

Speech Topics


The Rise of Cyber Sexual Abuse

Cyber abuses, including image-based sexual abuse, are skyrocketing and communities, legal systems, and policymakers are scrambling to keep up. Allison will give an overview of these new and constantly evolving abuses, what our legal and justice systems are doing to address them, and areas for improvement. She will also discuss why victims are reluctant to come forward and what we can do to prevent these abuses.

Child Welfare System Reform

Approximately 400,000 children are in foster care in the United States, a staggering number. All too often the systems charged with protecting those children fail. But child welfare systems can be reformed—from the inside out or through litigation, if necessary. Allison has spent several years investigating child welfare systems and launching class action lawsuits against state actors, alleging violations of children’s civil rights. She will highlight some of the common issues facing child welfare systems in the United States and ways in which they can improve

Leveraging Public Relations and Trauma-Informed Communications Strategies for Lawyers and Advocates

Lawyers and advocates often shy away from proactive interaction with the media for fear that engagement risks having a negative impact on their cases or will further traumatize their clients. But, if done correctly, informing the public can be a powerful tool. It can give victims a voice, put pressure on the opposing side to engage in settlement negotiations, and establish a supportive audience for clients. Allison explains how lawyers can tell their clients' sensitive stories and provide litigation updates to the media, while being mindful of their pending court cases.

Trauma-Informed Advocacy

Does your organization work with victims of abuse with individuals who have experienced severe trauma? Do you struggle to effectively communicate with and support them? Allison will explain how trauma manifests in clients and why it is critical that advocates prioritize both survivors' rights and wishes as well as the wellbeing of staff. Allison will explain how to create sound organizational policies and communication strategies around these issues.

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