2026 BWJP Rising Stars – Meghan Dunlap
“When it comes to gender-based violence, you just never know what’s going on behind closed doors, so you have to…
BWJP Welcomes Megan Belden, Esq. as the Senior Attorney Advisor for the National Center on Protection Orders and Full Faith and Credit
Megan Belden is a Senior Attorney Advisor at the National Center for Protection Orders and Full Faith and Credit with Battered Women’s Justice Project, where she provides training and guidance to community allies on local, state, tribal, and nationwide protective order issues. Megan has been committed to combating gender-based violence since 2004 when she served as an advocate and crisis hotline worker. She spent over ten years litigating civil cases on behalf of domestic and sexual violence survivors in both Virginia and Washington, D.C. She received her Juris Doctorate, cum laude, from Western New England University, School of Law, and a Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, in political science from Eastern University.
"Megan's dedication to combating gender-based violence and her expertise in protection orders make her an invaluable addition to our team. We're thrilled to welcome her. " - Amy J. Sánchez, CEO BWJP
Meet Megan
Q: What brought you into the field of gender-based violence?
- Growing up I saw how domestic violence hurt people very close to me. For many survivors, having a lawyer was often crucial for the survivor’s safety. I then decided to dedicate my career to working in the field of gender-based violence.
Q: What drew you to BWJP?
- When I first became a lawyer, I participated in a training on full faith and credit and interstate custody issues, presented by NCPOFFC. I learned firsthand the value of BWJP’s training and technical assistance and saw an opportunity to help lawyers and other community allies better serve survivors of domestic violence.
Q: What are you most looking forward to working at BWJP?
- I am looking forward to working with allied professionals to remove barriers to survivor safety.
Q: How do you like to spend your time outside of work?
- I love to be active and spend time outdoors. When I am not working, I am often hiking, running, biking, or camping.
