Mick Addison-Lamb says he knows some women are initially taken aback at the approach of a strange man who "might just be some dude trying to hit on them." But once he explains who he is, he finds most women are relieved.

Addison-Lamb of Springfield, Ill., helps women in their legal battles against those who have hurt them.

A self-described "'60s veteran," he was just coming out of a divorce 15 years ago and "the question of 'why' was going through my head," he recalls.

At the same time, he was discovering feminist theory and its critique of male domination. Ultimately, Addison-Lamb would join the effort to undo the destructive power relationships that underlie domestic violence.

He started out running groups for men who batter. Today, he's with Sojourn Shelter and Service, Inc., and spends his days at the district courthouse helping women file charges against the men who batter them. He offers free assistance with court papers.

While his court advocacy helps women navigate a sometimes-hostile judicial system, Addison-Lamb believes it is also important for men to participate in counseling and similar roles to show domestic-violence victims "that men can be different from how they've come to expect most men to be."

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