CARA STEWART
Attorney, Mediator, & Policy Advocate
•Justice & Joy, LLC •
Licensed in Kentucky & Ohio
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Child & Family Well-Being
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Civil Rights & Economic Justice
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Housing Justice & Stablity
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Policy, Training & Strategy
The Story Behind the Advocacy
Image by: Murphy Meador Communications
For 15+ years, Cara Stewart has served the people of Kentucky and Ohio. She is a Public Interest Attorney and Advocate who believes the law should be a tool for dignity, stability, and real-world problem solving. Her work sits at the intersection of litigation, policy, and community partnerships. Stewart has represented clients in Kentucky and Ohio, advised policymakers, and built coalitions around housing, child, and family well-being, economic security, and health access.
Cara channels this deep experience into a dedicated law and justice studio. She focuses directly on the legal issues that most impact daily life and stability: appealing wrongful denials of essential benefits like Medicaid and SNAP, securing access to healthcare, and protecting economic security. Her practice is built on the conviction that skilled legal advocacy can restore critical support and bring tangible peace of mind to individuals, families, and communities that are up against complex systems.
Cara’s unique approach blends direct client representation with systemic advocacy. She is a respected voice in health and public benefits policy, often providing expert testimony and analysis to shape laws that affect thousands across the region. This dual perspective — understanding both the individual case and the broader policy landscape — informs every aspect of her work.
Whether fighting for a single client at an administrative hearing or collaborating with community partners on strategic initiatives, her goal is to achieve justice that is both personal and far-reaching.
Cara is committed beyond the courtroom through community education, clear communication, and empowering partnerships.
The Three Pillars of Change
Litigation &
Direct Representation
Standing with individuals and families in court, securing their rights to housing, safety, and family integrity. This is on-the-ground work that informs everything.
Related Services: Eviction defense, family court advocacy, civil rights litigation
Mediation &
Strategic Facilitation
A belief that conflict can be a catalyst for better outcomes. As a mediator, helping landlords and tenants, agencies and communities, or within organizations—find durable solutions outside of adversarial courtrooms.
Related Services: Case mediation, coalition facilitation, conflict resolution.
Policy Advocacy &
Systems Reform
Individual cases reveal systemic flaws. Translating on-the-ground experience into policy change through legislative testimony, model policy drafting, coalition strategy, and data-driven advocacy.
Related Services: Legislative analysis, policy training, coalition strategy.
Feedback from the Community