Meet Stephanie Maurice: The First Voice You'll Hear
When families are navigating the overwhelming world of criminal appeals, Stephanie Maurice is often the first person they speak with. As Senior Intake Manager, Stephanie guides potential clients and their families through the initial steps of the case-review process, helping them understand their options during one of the most challenging times of their lives.
We sat down with Stephanie to learn more about her role, what families can expect when they first reach out, and the advice she offers to people going through this difficult journey.
Interviewer: You're the senior intake manager. What does that mean?
Stephanie: That means that I walk potential clients or their family members through the case review process, answer any questions they have, try to figure out if their case would be a good fit for our law firm, and then if they want to continue, then I schedule a consultation call with the attorney and just walk them through the intake process.
In your job, I imagine you're dealing with very difficult situations, given that it's criminal appeals post-conviction work. Is that fair to say?
Stephanie: Yes. This is a difficult time for many people in their lives and their family members because it really affects the whole family when someone is incarcerated. So it's good to have empathy and understanding for what they're going through.
Do people sometimes ask you for legal advice on what they should do with their case?
Stephanie: They do, but I just let them know that I'm an intake manager, I'm not an attorney, and I can't give them legal advice. But I suggest to them scheduling a consultation call with the attorney to answer any legal questions that they may have.
What is the case review?
Stephanie: A case review is a deep dive into a client's case so that the attorney has the chance to thoroughly review the case and try to figure out what the best next step is for that particular client. There are a lot of confusing laws and rules out there that are difficult to navigate. When I first started this job I imagined that you basically need a lawyer for an appeal, but it did not occur to me that there are many different types of appeals out there, and an attorney can also help a client or family figure out even which appeals might apply or not apply.
Why have people wanted to do case reviews first instead of just jumping right into an appeal?
Stephanie: I think the case review is beneficial for a couple of different reasons. One is, as I mentioned, so that the attorney can try to figure out what the best next step is to try to get the client the best possible outcome. And the second reason it's helpful is because if a client were to just hire us for an appeal and then if there aren't really any appeal options, they would want to know that before spending lots of money on an appeal. On top of that, appeals can take a long time — so if someone is spending nine months or a year and a half on an appeal, only to find out at the end that there was a different appeal that had a deadline, and they missed the deadline because they did not have clarity at the beginning, that would be really frustrating.
Have you had circumstances where the case review revealed a different appeal that was better, or had a deadline coming up?
Stephanie: Yes. Most people know that an appeal can be done, but it's not uncommon for someone to come to us saying "I want to do this appeal" but later it turns out what they wanted was not viable, and there's something else that has a better chance of winning.
Are you mostly talking to inmates or their family members?
Stephanie: Both. I would say more often than not, I speak to the family members because communication is just easier than to go through the facility. But I do get incoming calls from inmates, too.
What is your background?
Stephanie: My background is actually in the mortgage industry. A lot of times clients that were going through foreclosures were also going through a difficult time in their lives, so that experience helps with this position — being organized, being proactive, thinking creatively. My career has spanned a few industries, but everything I've done has a common element, which is helping people who are going through difficult times.
Do you have any non-legal, human advice for the people you're speaking with?
Stephanie: Just to take it one day at a time, not to get overwhelmed with the process. I tell people to write down any questions they may have for the attorney prior to the consultation call and be prepared, so they can ask all of their questions at that time. And people have to know that they are not alone in this process. That's probably one of the biggest changes that I think people feel after they've joined the law firm family, so to speak. An appeal can be very hard, but to no longer be alone — that makes a difference.
If you or a loved one needs help with a California appeal or post-conviction case, Stephanie's team is the place to start. Call, or submit the contact form below, and the firm will call you back.